I said there would be no quarterback controversy this coming spring in Coral Gables, Florida.
I was right.
Redshirt senior D’Eriq King was named Miami’s starting quarterback for the 2020 football season, head coach Manny Diaz announced Monday.
“D’Eriq’s hard work both on and off the field has earned him the starting quarterback position,” Diaz said. “His leadership qualities have been evident since he arrived on campus, continuing through mat drills, spring practice, our virtual meetings, and summer activities. We’re excited to see him lead this offense, and I know his teammates are excited as well.”
King, a graduate transfer from the University of Houston, racked up 78 total touchdowns, 4,295 passing yards, and 1,421 rushing yards in 22 starts for the Cougars. He was recently named to the 2020 watch lists for both the Davey O’Brien Award, honoring the nation’s top quarterback, and the Maxwell Award, which is presented annually to the most outstanding player in college football.
It was a close call. Since entering the NCAA transfer portal, King had also been linked to Arkansas, LSU, Oregon, and Maryland.
In 2018 at Houston, the 5-foot-11, 195-pound playmaker accounted for 50 total touchdowns (36 passing, 14 rushing), completing 63.5 percent of passes, throwing for 2,982 yards and rushing for 674 more. After playing four games last season, in which King completed 52.7 percent of passes for 663 yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions while rushing for 312 yards and six more touchdowns, he shut himself down to remain eligible for a redshirt senior season.
King is the starter. Importantly, will he even play this season?
It is unclear if the NCAA Football season will be played. The Hurricanes are in a hot zone for the Covid-19 pandemic in Miami, Florida, which holds the highest cases with nearly over 125,000 cases and deaths with almost 1,200 and counting.
Testing, testing, and more testing will be needed daily; however, it will be costly. The safety of these athletes who are students will be important in the final decision.
