ESPN Miami Hurricanes biggest offseason question: When will D’Eriq King be healthy?

Dec 5, 2020; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Mandatory Credit: Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2020; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Mandatory Credit: Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports /
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The biggest question for the Miami Hurricanes entering the 2021 offseason according to ESPN is When will D’Eriq King be healthy. The question was posed by the mothership as part of a larger article “Biggest offseason question for each college football team in the Way-Too-Early Top 25.”

King transformed the Miami Hurricanes offense on and off the field in 2020. King gave Miami a true dual-threat QB on the field. The importance of the leadership King provided on and off the field was critical for Miami in 2020. King is one of 10 starters returning for Miami on offense in 2021.

Tight end Brevin Jordan declared for the NFL Draft following the 2020 season as a junior. King tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the 37-34 Miami loss to Oklahoma State in the Cheez-it Bowl in December. All the reports on King thus far expect him to be ready for training camp in August.

Behind King, redshirt freshman Peyton Matocha, freshman Tyler Van Dyke and 2021 signee Jake Garcia will compete during spring practice to earn first-team snaps and to eventually be the second-team QB this fall. Having King ready for the opener will be essential against defending National Champion Alabama.

"25. Miami Hurricanes: When will D’Eriq King be healthy?Will quarterback D’Eriq King be recovered from a right knee injury in time to start the opener against Alabama?We will not have an answer to that until we get closer to the start of the season, but there is no question that all eyes will be focused on his rehab, and how quickly he can return to form after tearing his ACL in the bowl game. Miami has not given a timetable, other than it expects him to be available for the start of fall camp.But much of that will depend on how he recovers over the next six months. Without him this spring, Miami will have an excellent opportunity to develop its young quarterbacks behind King as they begin to find their quarterback of the future.Redshirt freshman Peyton Matocha, true freshman Tyler Van Dyke and early enrollee Jake Garcia — who flipped from USC late — will get extensive snaps and gain much-needed experience. — (Andrea) Adelson"

Having the savvy and experience King will bring against Alabama will be important versus the possibility of Garcia, Matocha, or Van Dyke starting their first college game against Alabama with Nick Saban game-planning against them. King is the first returning starter at QB since Malik Rosier in 2018.

With King playing under the same offensive coordinator for a second straight season for the first time in his collegiate career he can eye a record-setting year for Miami. Rhett Lashlee and King are both entering their second seasons in Coral Gables. King running the Lashlee offense greatly improved the Miami attack.

Next. Miami finalist for top QB prospect Jacurri Brown. dark

King and leading receiver Mike Harley developed a good rapport during the 2020 season and decided to return to improve their NFL Draft stock. Another season of King and Harley working together could turn into record-setting campaigns for both. If King is healthy Miami is a contender in the ACC Coastal Divison.