Have Miami football fans forgotten what D’Eriq King means to the program?

D’Eriq King led the Miami football team to an 8-3 record in 2020. King attacked rehab so he could return for the season opener against Alabama. With King and the Hurricanes struggling through their first four games of the season, a small part of the Miami fanbase has seemed to forget what King accomplished in 2020.

King practically willed Miami to victories over North Carolina State and Virginia Tech in 2020. Recovering from the torn ACL he suffered in the Cheez-It Bowl loss to Oklahoma State last season, King did not get off to a good start in 2021. King exasperated the knee injury suffering an injured shoulder against Michigan State.

Because of the shoulder injury, King sat out on Saturday against Central Connecticut State. King is likely to be out for Thursday’s game against Virginia but is still listed as the starter on the depth chart. In three games this season, King has completed 66.4 percent of his passes for 767 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions.

King was not running as much this season with 96 yards on 40 carries. In 2020, King completed 64.1 percent of his passes for 2,686 yards, 23 TDs and five interceptions. King ran for 538 yards, which is a Miami record for a QB and five TDs. Some Miami football fans have created a QB controversy.

Freshmen Tyler Van Dyke and Jake Garcia both excelled against Central Connecticut State on Saturday. Those numbers have to be taken in context against an FCS opponent. Some Miami fans have suggested that former Miami QB N’Kosi Perry was better. Perry has only completed 55.3 percent of his collegiate pass attempts.

In his most recent game, now playing for FAU, Perry completed 11 of 33 for 78 yards with no TDs and one interception. King does have to do a better job taking care of the ball this season with two lost fumbles added to the four interceptions. Van Dyke and Garcia will likely get their first playing time against an FBS opponent.

Van Dyke was 10 of 12 for 270 yards, three TDs and no interceptions against Central Connecticut State. Garcia went 11-14 for 147 yards, two TD and no interceptions against the Blue Devils. If King cannot play on Thursday expect Van Dyke and Garcia to share playing time against the Cavaliers.

Following the game against Virginia, the Miami football team has 16 days off before playing at North Carolina on October 16. The Hurricanes will have optimal time to evaluate King’s shoulder. Depending on how well Garcia and Van Dyke play on Thursday, QB controversy has arrived in Coral Gables.