Mike Harley and Charleston Rambo have a chance to become one of the best wide receiver duos in college football for the Miami Hurricanes in 2021. Harley chose to return for a fifth season to take advantage of the NCAA freezing eligibility during the 2020 season. Rambo transferred to Miami from Oklahoma in January.
The most productive WR tandem in college football in 2020 was Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith and John Metchie of Alabama. Smith and Metchie combined for 172 receptions, 2,772 yards and 29 touchdowns. Smith became the first WR since Desmond Howard in 1991 to win the Heisman Trophy.
Smith had 117 receptions for 1,856 yards and 23 TDs. Metchie who Miami faces in the 2021 season opener had 55 receptions for 916 yards and six TDs last season. Harley had a career season in 2020 leading the Hurricanes with 57 receptions and 799 receiving yards and tied for the team lead with seven TD receptions.
Rambo has the potential to put up big numbers with the Miami Hurricanes as a featured receiver more than just being part of a committee of receivers with Oklahoma. Rambo had his best season with the Sooners in 2019 when he finished second on OU with 43 receptions for 743 yards and five TDs.
Harley and Rambo can exceed their career-best seasons in the Rhett Lashlee offense. Harley was one of four Miami receivers in 2020 with at least 30 receptions. Juniors
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need to decrease the number of drops they have in 2020 or they are likely to have a reduction in snaps.
Lashlee starts three WRs and often uses four WRs sets with occasionally utilizing five WRs. Harley and Rambo seem likely to be the go-to receivers for Miami quarterback D’Eriq King in 2021. Rambo will provide King and the Miami offense a more consistent downfield threat than the Hurricanes had in 2020.
Although his numbers were down in 2020, Rambo averaged 17.3 yards per reception in 2019. Rambo finished 23rd nationally in 2019 with 10 receptions of at least 30 yards. Brandon Aiyuk was one of the best downfield threats in college football in 2019 for Arizona State where Likens was the offensive coordinator.
Miami was one of the top 20 teams nationally producing big pass plays in 2020. The return of all but tight end Brevin Jordan on offense and the addition of Rambo plus three four-star receivers should continue to allow the Miami offense to continue to make big plays. Harley and Rambo will lead the explosiveness of the Miami offense.