Miami football national media reaction to coaches poll 16th ranking

The Miami football program is ranked 16th in the USA Today Coaches Poll preseason poll that was released on Wednesday. Twenty years after their last National Championship and 19 seasons after their last title game appearances the Hurricanes remain polarizing. National media had varying takes on Miami being ranked 16th.

By all accounts quarterback, D’Eriq King will be ready when the Miami football team plays Alabama on September 4 in the season opener in Atlanta. Some sites have reported King will be ready while others have questioned what the health will be for King against Alabama. The Miami coaches report King is healthy.

King suffered a torn ACL when Miami lost 37-34 to Oklahoma State in the Cheez-It Bowl in December. The Miami coaching staff has reported that King has smashed all of his milestones during recruitment in his eight months of rehabilitation. King leads 10 returning starters on the Miami offense in 2021.

King has proven during the first week of training camp for the Miami football team that he can plant and run without issue. Information out of training camp from coaches and media indicate King should be ready for Alabama. In their analysis of Miami being ranked 16th, 247 Sports praised King’s health.

"16. Miami — By all accounts, star quarterback D’Eriq King is in good position to return from knee surgery. Injured in the Hurricanes bowl game, King returned to practice last week and put on a show.“My knee feels fine,” King said following the practice. “Going through a real practice feels good for me. Obviously we had summer workouts, but coming out here and testing it on a football field and I was able to pull some [read-options] and ran. It feels pretty good right now.”Miami finished 22nd in last year’s coaches poll with an 8-3 overall record and three-point loss to Oklahoma State in the Cheez-It Bowl."

USA Today who hosts the coaches’ poll had a more skeptical tone regarding the health of King entering the 2021 season despite all accounts to the contrary. Wide receivers Mike Harley and Charleston Rambo and safety Bubba Bolden were praised by USA Today. Miami has to replace DEs Jaelan Phillips and Quincy Roche.

"USA TodayNo. 16 Miami (Florida) (8-3)(Preseason USA Today Coaches Poll) Points: 575. Previous ranking: 22.Opens: Sept. 4 vs. No. 1 Alabama in Atlanta (ABC, 3:30).Outlook: Whether the Hurricanes live up to their preseason projection largely will depend on the health of QB D’Eriq King, who suffered a torn ACL in Miami’s bowl game. He expects to be ready, but won’t have time to ease back into game shape with the ‘Canes opener coming against Alabama.His top target, Mike Harley, is back, and Oklahoma transfer Charleston Rambo’s arrival should provide a good complement. There are holes to fill on defense, but DB Bubba Bolden returns to anchor the secondary.”"

Tennessee transfer De Andre Johnson and converted linebacker Zach McCloud will replace Phillips and Roche at defensive end. The holes on defense referenced by USA Today are Phillips and Roche moving on to the NFL. Miami returns their other nine starters on defense led by Bolden. Upgrading the linebacker play is also critical.

Miami was inconsistent stopping the run in 2020. Improving their run defense will be another point of emphasis for the Miami coaching staff this fall. King has training camp to ease back into shape. Living up to its preseason ranking of 16th will not solely rely on how the outcome for Miami against Alabama.

After the opener against the Crimson Tide, Miami has an advantageous schedule other than its October 16 showdown at North Carolina. Miami has its home opener on September 11 against Appalachian State. Games September 18 against Michigan State and 25 against Central Connecticut State close non-conference play.