Miami Hurricanes QB D’Eriq King could wow at 2022 Pro Day
Miami Hurricanes quarterback D’Eriq King is returning for a sixth season of college football with a chance to improve his draft stock. King is often doubted because of his lack of height listed at 5’11 but is likely shorter. Miami Pro Day and the potential return of the NFL Combine will give King a chance to perform in front of scouts.
CBSSports.Com examined “Staff picks: College football stars poised to wow scouts at their future NFL Draft pro day workouts.” King has a unique skill set at QB that with the success of undersize QBs in the NFL will give him a chance to succeed at the next level. With less depth at QB in the 2022 QB class, King could rise in the draft.
In his first season with the Miami Hurricanes, King completed 64.1 percent of his passes for 2,686, averaged 8.2 yards per attempt, threw 23 touchdown passes to five interceptions and ran for 538 yards and another four TDs. In the second season of the Rhett Lashlee offense, King has a chance to improve on those numbers.
The Pro Football Network projects four QBs to be taken in the first 10 picks of the 2022 NFL Draft. Sam Howell of North Carolina is expected to go first followed by Desmond Ritter of Cincinnati, Kedon Slovis of USC and Malik Willis of Liberty to also be drafted in the top 10. King seems like to be a day three pick.
"Ben Kercheval: Miami (FL) QB D’Eriq KingI truly can’t believe that, given the baseline of this piece was two quarterbacks throwing insane passes in a controlled environment, no one else picked King. No, he doesn’t possess the ideal size for the position at 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds (listed).But prototypical size isn’t the catch all for quarterback evaluation like it used to be. I also attribute his decision to return for one more NCAA-granted year based on this year’s loaded quarterback class.King is a twitchy athlete and he showed off some nice ball placement on his throws last year, including times when he was rolling to his left. He doesn’t possess the pure live arm that Kyler Murray, another undersized quarterback, does, but he makes up for it with his mobility.Next year’s quarterback class figures to be a step back. I think when scouts see King’s athleticism in person, his stock will rise considerably."
The two QBs Kercheval wrote about as the baseline throwing insane passes at 2021 Pro Days were Zach Wilson of BYU and Justin Fields of Ohio State. King’s performance during the 2022 Miami Hurricanes Pro Day and the potential of the combine could depend on if he is willing to be versatile and play other positions besides QB.
Next. Miami QB D'Eriq King can make 2021 All-ACC run. dark
King could play multiple positions and be used at QB occasionally similarly to how the New Orleans Saints use Taysom Hill. King has 61 receptions for 520 receiving yards and three TDs in his college career, 11 kickoff returns for 260 yards and one TD and six punt returns for 29 yards. That versatility will help him entering the NFL Draft.