Miami Hurricanes rival coach impressed how D’Eriq King elevates team

The addition of quarterback D’Eriq King to the Miami Hurricanes has elevated the entire football program. Miami improved from 6-7 in 2019 with mediocre QB play to 8-3 in 2020 led by King. The Hurricanes are counting on King continuing to recover from a torn ACL he suffered in the Cheez-It Bowl loss to Oklahoma St. in December.

King is as valuable to Miami as any player in college football is to his team. King threw for 2,686 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions and ran for 538 yards and four TDs. Those numbers were impressive, but King meant more than that for Miami. King elevated the play of his teammates throughout the roster.

Mike Harley played his best football in the second half of last season. Knowing he could rely on the consistent King would bring every game, Harley performed at a high level. Harley had 40 receptions for 625 yards and six TDs in the last half dozen Miami games in 2020. Harley needs consistency throughout the entire 2021 season.

The addition of Charleston Rambo provides Miami with a much-needed deep threat in the passing game in 2021. Harley and Rambo provide King with two consistent WRs entering the 2021 season. An unnamed rival ACC Coach spoke to Athlon Sports as quoted by David Lake of Inside the U about the impact King has made for Miami.

"“Maybe the most impactful injury in the country was D’Eriq King going down. Him tearing up his knee was just awful because everything went as he went. The pieces around him were good, but not great. The backs were good, but not special, same at wide receiver, same all over the offense.He really elevated them to something special. We were shocked he came back, that’s a huge decision, and it helps them tremendously.”"

The Miami Hurricanes return Cam’Ron Harris, Don Chaney Jr. and Jaylan Knighton at running back and signed Thad Franklin and Cody Brown in the Class of 2021 to add depth in the backfield. Harley and Rambo have the potential to be special at WR in 2021. Brevin Jordan was a special tight end when healthy in 2020.

Will Mallory who signed with Jordan in 2018 will succeed him as the starting TE for Miami in 2021. Given the chance to be the primary pass-catcher at TE, Mallory has a chance to be special this fall. King helped the Miami offense improve dramatically in 2020. In the second year under Rhett Lashlee, the Miami offense can improve again.