After an exhilarating first season with the Miami Hurricanes, D’Eriq King is one of the top returning quarterbacks in college football. On Wednesday Brad Crawford of 247 Sports named King of the top 10 QBs in college football entering the 2021 season. King is projected to return healthy from a torn ACL suffered in December.
King tore his ACL In the Miami Hurricanes 37-34 Cheez-It Bowl loss to Oklahoma State in December. The expectation is for King to return completely healthy and start the season opener against Alabama on September 4 in Atlanta. King is ranked as the 10th best QB by Crawford in his top 25 for the 2021 season.
If King can prove he is healthy he should rise up the list as the 2021 season develops. King was exceptional during his first season playing for Miami. The Miami Hurricanes signal-caller proved to be one of the best dual-threat QBs in college football. King is by far the best dual-threat QB in Miami history.
King immediately became a team leader for Miami after transferring from Houston in January 2020. Entering his sixth season of college football, King provides Miami with one of the most experienced leaders nationally. King has been lauded throughout the offseason for being ahead of schedule in his rehab.
"10. D’ERIQ KING, MIAMICareer numbers: 580-of-926, 7,611 yards, 73 TDs, 15 INTs; 1,959 yards rushing, 32 TDs; 520 yards receiving, 3 TDsThe elder statesman of the Top 10 entering his sixth season of college football, D’Eriq King is coming off a major knee injury suffered in Miami’s bowl game, but is expected to be ready for fall camp in a few months.The unknown is the only reason he isn’t higher in this ranking, given his career numbers as a dual-threat playmaker. In his only season with the Hurricanes, King provided stability at quarterback and often bailed his team out of challenging situations with his mobility.Coach Manny Diaz needs his best offensive player to return to form this fall."
King struggled last season against Clemson. The Tigers pressured King to try and beat them passing. King ran 14 times for 84 yards and a TD. Clemson was able to hold King to 12 completions in 28 attempts for 121 yards, no TDs and two interceptions. The 42.9 completion percentage was the lowest of King’s career.
King will need to elevate his game for Miami to have a chance to upset Alabama. A second opportunity against one of the two elite programs in college football over the past five seasons should bring out the best in King. Alabama has a young defense that King MIGHT be able to exploit.