Miami Hurricanes quarterback D’Eriq King will be among the favorites to win the Maxwell Award after being named to its watch list on Monday morning. D’Eriq King was one of about 80 players named to the Maxwell Award Watch list on Monday. King is on the shortlist of Heisman Trophy favorites entering the 2021 season.
Three Miami QBs have won the Maxwell Award. Vinny Testaverde in 1986 and Gino Torretta in 1991 won the Maxwell Award and the Heisman Trophy. Ken Dorsey won the 2001 Maxwell Award. King threw for 2,686 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions and ran for 538 yards and four TDs.
King is among the leading returning passers and runners at QB entering the 2021 season. With offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee entering his second season leading the Miami offense, King can improve his numbers in 2021. The Maxwell Award Watch List is exclusively made up of QBs, running backs and wide receivers.
The Maxwell Award is billed as honoring the best all-around player in college football. Although no defensive players are on the 2021 Maxwell Award Watch List, Notre Dame linebacker Manti T’eo was the last defensive player to be honored in 2012. King was named a 2020 semifinalist for the Maxwell Award.
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Alabama WR DeVonta Smith was the fifth player in the last six college football seasons to earn the Maxwell Award and the Heisman Trophy. King is one of only six 2020 Maxwell Award Semifinalists that return in 2021. That bodes well for King’s candidacy for 2021 postseason awards. King will have to have a bigger season in 2021.
As the Miami Hurricanes offense evolves in 2021, King should increase his numbers. The return of 10 starters on offense and transfer WR Charleston Rambo from Oklahoma should make Miami’s offense more dynamic and explosive in 2021. Tight end Will Mallory is in line for a big year after Brevin Jordan left for the NFL.
Eight Miami opponents are on the Maxwell Award Watch List. How King plays in those games could impact his candidacy for postseason awards. Miami will face Maxwell Award Watch list players Alabama RB Brian Robinson and WR John Metchie and Appalachian State RB Camerun Peoples in the first two weeks of 2021.