Miami Hurricanes QB D’Eriq King ranked in second tier by CBS Sports
Miami Hurricanes quarterback D’Eriq King was ranked in the second tier of quarterbacks by CBS Sports writer Ben Kercheval. King should be higher. Ahead of King were QBs from Group of Five programs Central Florida and Coastal Carolina. King was sensational in his first season for Miami and at the Power Five level in 2020.
The first tier features the top five quarterbacks nationally. Sam Howell of North Carolina is ranked first followed by Spencer Rattler of Oklahoma, Dillon Gabriel of UCF, Grayson McCall of Coastal Carolina and J.T. Daniels of Georgia. King is ranked first in the second tier. King is recovering from ACL surgery in December.
The consensus from the national media has been hesitant where to rank King entering the 2021 season due to their question about his recovery. King has smashed all his milestones in recovery according to the Miami Hurricanes coaching staff. King is expected to be ready for the season. Expect King to be elite again in 2021.
King threw for 2,686 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions and ran for 538 and four TDs. King ranked 22nd nationally with a passer rating of 152.7, was 29th averaging 244.2 passing yards per game and 13th in TD passes. King should be one of the favorites for the Heisman Trophy with Howell and Rattler.
Kercheval graded experience higher than potential and efficiency is the primary focus. King is elite in both criteria. Kercheval had six stats that figured into his rankings. Touchdown to interception rate, percentage of TDs per attempt, interception percentage, percentage of first downs, air yards per attempt and passer rating.
Other ACC QBs ranked in the top 50, which is who Kercheval graded are Malik Cunningham and Phil Jurkovec of Notre Dame in Tier III, D.J. Uiagelelei of Clemson, McKenzie Milton of Florida State and Brennan Armstrong of Virginia in Tier IV. Former Miami Hurricanes QB N’Kosi Perry who is now at FAU is in Tier V.
By the end of the 2021 season expect to break into the top tier. King has a chance for a breakout game in the season opener against Alabama. King was 19th last season among QBs, averaging 48.9 rushing yards per game. That included the Cheez-it Bowl when King suffered the ACL injury in the second quarter.
Next. Miami will improve 2021 record per national website. dark
Kercheval said, “King, if fully recovered from his ACL injury, is as entertaining as any quarterback in the country.” King was one of the most versatile QBs in college football in 2020. He might have been the most valuable player to his team. King hopes to exceed 2020 numbers in his final season of college football.