Miami Hurricanes quarterback D’Eriq King was named as the third-best returning signal-caller in college football in 2021 by Pro Football Focus. Oklahoma QB Spencer Rattler and Miami ACC Coastal Division rival Sam Howell of North Carolina are the only QBs ranked ahead of King.
King completed 64.1 percent of his passes for 2,686 yards 22 touchdowns and five interceptions. King ran for 538 yards and four TDs. Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee and King will have a chance to work together for a second straight season. That will be the first time King has the same OC in consecutive seasons in college.
The entire Miami offense is returning in 2021 except for tight end Brevin Jordan. Miami also added wide receiver, Charleston Rambo from Oklahoma. Rambo will provide Miami the explosive WR they did not have in 2020. Rambo will team with senior Mike Harley to give King a pair of reliable WRs in 2021.
D’Eriq King is a true dual-threat QB. If King can improve his numbers from the 2020 season, he will challenge Rattler, Howell, or someone from the field for the Heisman Trophy in 2021. Miami should improve running in 2021. The Hurricanes offense made a huge leap from 2019 and should continue to improve in 2021.
Top-10 QBs returning to CFB (@PFF_Anthony): pic.twitter.com/xeWxccAekR
— PFF College (@PFF_College) February 3, 2021
"3. D’ERIQ KING, MIAMI (FL.)King was everything The U hoped for in 2020: an elite dual-threat. He made tons of plays both through the air and on the ground in his first season with the Hurricanes, resulting in a 90.6 PFF grade for the season (10th in the FBS). And now they get him for another year.On 111 runs (85 designed, 26 scrambles), King totaled 26 rushes of 10 or more yards. He produced more than 10 yards after contact on 13 of those, the most at the position. As a passer, King hardly put the ball in harm’s way. He consistently made the right decision and came in at No. 3 in the FBS in turnover-worthy play rate (1.7%).Miami is going to be a dangerous team in 2021, assuming King recovers fully from his torn ACL suffered in the Cheez-It Bowl and is ready to rock Week 1 like expected."
The key for the 2021 season and probably any Heisman Trophy contention will be how well King recovers from the ACL tear. The opening game against Alabama will provide D’Eriq King and Miami a chance to make a statement against Alabama. How well Miami performs against the Crimson Tide can set the tone for 2021.
Following the game against Alabama, the showdown with Howell and North Carolina on October 16 in Chapel Hill will impact the QB rankings nationally and the ACC Coastal Division standings. The diversity that King brings to the Miami football team as a dual threat QB will continue to make him one of the best nationally.