Miami football one of biggest winners nationally in 2021 NFL Draft early entry deadline
The Miami football program was named one of the winners in the “Winners and losers from the 2021 NFL Draft early-entry deadline” by 247 Sports posted on Wednesday. Miami lost defensive ends, Jaelan Phillips and Quincy Roche, kicker Jose Borreagales and tight end Brevin Jordan early to the NFL Draft.
Miami returns quarterback D’Eriq King, safety Bubba Bolden, defensive end/linebacker Zach McCloud, defensive tackles Jon Ford and Nesta Silvera, offensive tackle Jarrid Williams, running back Cam’Ron Harris and wide receiver Mike Harley who all had considered entering the 2021 NFL Draft.
Miami was named a winner with the players they have returning with Ohio State, Clemson, Georgia and Iowa State. ACC Coastal rival North Carolina, Texas, USC and Stanford were labelled the losers with the players they lost early to the NFL Draft. The experience Miami has will be important in their battle with North Carolina.
The return of King was the biggest news for the Miami football team in 2021. King gave a huge boost to the Hurricanes offense that lacked leadership and playmaking ability in 2019. King will lead a very experienced Miami offense in 2021. Jordan was the only early entry Miami lost to the 2021 NFL Draft.
"WINNER: MIAMI HURRICANESD’Eriq King coming back for a second season in Coral Gables is big enough (here’s to a quick recovery to the ACL injury King suffered in the bowl game). Miami won’t have to play a third quarterback in three seasons, guaranteeing continued offensive continuity.Wide receiver Mike Harley, the only reliable option on the outside, is coming back. Offensive tackle Jarrid Williams is, too. Two reliable defenders in DT Nesta Jade Silvera and safety Bubba Bolden can fortify a unit that needs to be much better. This will be the most experienced Miami team in years."
In addition to Bolden and Silvera, the Miami defense will also return defensive tackle Jon Ford who chose to take advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA to all fall sports athletes to return in 2021. Miami lost defensive ends Jaelan Phillips and Quincy Roche who chose to enter the 2021 NFL Draft.
Replacing Phillips and Roche will be the biggest task for Manny Diaz and his staff. The return of Rhett Lashlee as offensive coordinator and King is the first time Miami will have a QB and OC returning since Brad Kaaya and James Coley in 2015. The Hurricanes defense does have a good base of experience to build on for 2021.