When the Miami Hurricanes added D’Eriq King as a transfer in January 2020, the purpose was to improve the play and quarterback and the unit as a whole. King had a breakout 2020 season before suffering a torn ACL in the Cheez-it Bowl. This season, King suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in week three versus Michigan State.
King will finish his Miami Hurricanes career completing 64.7 percent of his passes for 3,453 yards, 26 touchdowns, nine interceptions with 634 yards rushing and four TDs. The 538 rushing yards King had in 2020 are the most ever in a single season by a Miami QB. King will be honored on Senior Day on Saturday.
The Miami Hurricanes have an extensive list of seniors with numerous players taking advantage of the COVID year granted by the NCAA. Few meant more to Miami than King. Despite only starting 14 games over two seasons, King became a leader in 2020 and a mentor to the young Miami QBs this season.
Second-year freshman Tyler Van Dyke has thrived with the support King has provided him. King wants to be a coach when his playing career is finished. This season has helped springboard that as King has worked with Van Dyke, true freshman Jake Garcia and third-year freshman Peyton Matocha.
"“He’s been great, supporting me all the way and giving me that confidence to just go out there and be myself as a player. He’s been helpful in meetings, helpful on the field…In the summer, we were in the quarterback room, just drawing defenses up and he’d try to quiz me and stuff like that.I can definitely see him coaching one day…He’s going to be pretty good at it."
Van Dyke made the above comments during his meeting with reporters on Wednesday as transcribed by Christy Cabrera Chirinos of MiamiHurricanes.Com. Head coach Manny Diaz has spoken about the importance of re-setting the culture to the players leading younger ones on the roster. Diaz praised King.
"“I think D’Eriq has a big-time future in coaching. Really big-time. And I think he’s gotten his first dry run at it this year,…Sometimes, when players say [things] to other players, maybe they say it in a way that unlocks the message. To have a guy like D’Eriq doing that.You can’t tell the Tyler Van Dyke story of the success he’s had this year without giving D’Eriq a major assist in that.”"
UM OC Rhett Lashlee passionate re his offense this season losing D'Eriq King & battling back with the fight and heart it has, despite losses. Devastating to lose, he said, but you can still be really proud of the teamwork, attitude, perseverance (more)
— Susan Miller Degnan (@smillerdegnan) November 15, 2021
King understood what Diaz wanted when he transferred to Miami. In addition to the excitement and skill he brought on the field to Miami in 2020, King became much bigger than that as a leader for the entire team and specifically the QB unit. Miami will benefit from King’s presence for years. King discussed his Miami experience.
"“I think, really, watching TVD have success was really big for me. I wanted to leave the quarterback room better than when I first got here…But I think in all, the relationships I made here, was the biggest thing for me. I think that was the highlight, even this year. I made relationships that are going to last a lifetime…They took me in as family when I came here and I’m forever grateful for that.”"
Van Dyke, Garcia and Matocha will become the leaders of the future from what they learned from King. That is how Miami build a dynasty. The Hurricanes QB room of the 1980s and early 1990s went from Jim Kelly to Bernie Kosar, Vinnie Testaverde, Steve Walsh, Craig Erickson and finally Gino Torretta.
Those four quarterbacks led Miami to four national championships and Testaverde and Torretta won Heisman Trophies. Kelly led the way and they all passed the knowledge down from there. Van Dyke and Garcia both have bright futures because of the mentorship they received from King.