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Offseason Additions: D’Eriq King (Transfer from Houston), Tyler Van Dyke (2020 signee)
Offseason Departures: Jarren Williams (Transfer to JUCO)
There was nothing innovative or cutting edge about Miami’s passing offense last season, as Dan Enos’ system was ultimately a mix of what didn’t work under Mark Richt and a feeble attempt to add modern elements without a feel or understanding of how best to implement and execute those concepts. In 2019, the Hurricanes finished 52nd in the country at 249.2 passing yards per game. While that was an improvement from Richt’s 2018 passing offense, overall, both the passing game and QB play were extremely inconsistent, regularly trading the highest of high’s (Jarren Williams’ school-record 6 TD’s vs. Louisville) with the lowest of lows (inability to make simple throws in FIU loss the following game). Once the Panthers put on tape how to stop Enos and his RPO mid-slants, the Canes’ season ended with a sputter against Duke and Louisiana Tech in losses marked by impotent QB play.
In 2020, however, it’s out with the old and in with the new. Enos is gone, replaced by a high-octane spread offense led by new OC/QB coach Rhett Lashlee, who directed SMU’s 13th-ranked passing attack in 2019 (309 ypg). The former Mustangs coordinator didn’t come to Coral Gables empty-handed, though, bringing with him some firepower in the form of Houston senior grad transfer QB D’Eriq King, who was recently officially named UM’s starting QB for the 2020 season. King is coming off a year where he sat out most of the Cougars’ games to retain his redshirt eligibility, but he is the type of talent that was able to put his name into the Heisman conversation after a 50 total TD (36 passing/14 rushing) season as a true junior in 2018 during his last full season of play.
Watching King during the week of spring practices in March, there was never any doubt he would be the leader for this team. The Houston transfer showed off better than anticipated accuracy to go along with his trademark athleticism, putting the vast majority of passes right on the money for his receivers and demonstrating he could work each part of the field. Miami has been dying for a superstar QB that can lead both on and off the field for what seems like decades now, and King certainly has the potential to be that guy for Lashlee and Manny Diaz.
2020’s fall camp will be a change-up from last year’s version, where the drama was focused on who would emerge as Miami’s starting QB. With King now cemented as QB1, the attention at this position now turns to the backup role, the spot in which many see junior N’Kosi Perry occupying to begin fall camp. No, Perry isn’t going to live up to the potential many saw in him coming out of Vanguard in 2017, but in an age where transfers are prevalent at the position, Perry is really almost as good as it gets when you’re talking about experienced backup QB’s: He has played a lot of football, starting 9 career games and seeing action in 19 games total with 374 career passing attempts, and he has proved in the past he can deliver if called upon in pressure moments (comeback win vs. FSU in 2018, defeated #19 UVA in 2019). If for any reason Miami needs to turn to him at some point, they at least know what they’ll get out of Perry.
That doesn’t mean Perry has the backup job completely locked up, though, as Tyler Van Dyke is the talented freshman that currently has the “Quarterback of the Future” label to his name. Van Dyke enrolled early and saw some number 2 reps in spring, displaying a strong cannon and quick feet to go along with a well-built, 6’4”, college-ready frame. Many around the program who watched him in spring and over the offseason feel Van Dyke is already the second-best arm on campus, and he is expected to push Perry throughout fall camp and into the season.
Junior Tate Martell was unable to show anything to inspire much confidence in 2019 after a highly-anticipated transfer from Ohio State, as accuracy difficulties compounding with off-field issues sunk his debut season in Coral Gables. Simply put, he has a lot of work to do to see time as a QB at UM. Peyton Matocha redshirted as a freshman last season and will attempt to work his way into the mix as well.
Bottom Line
How quickly King can efficiently operate Lashlee’s offense and how he will adjust to a bump up in competition in the ACC will be key questions for the Hurricanes to answer that could swing their season in either direction, but there’s no doubt King offers upside UM hasn’t seen in years at the position. King’s addition also really helps to give some order and stability to this QB group that has been plagued by maturity issues and unreliability in the recent past, plus allows Miami to organize down the line with more natural roles for Perry (experienced backup) and Van Dyke (QB of the future). Keep your eyes on the #2 battle between Perry and Van Dyke this fall and how the reps are divided up; Perry will surely get the bulk to start, but the pace at which Van Dyke can get comfortable both at the college level and within the offense could be the ultimate deciding factor.
Offseason Departures: Jarren Williams (Transfer to JUCO)
There was nothing innovative or cutting edge about Miami’s passing offense last season, as Dan Enos’ system was ultimately a mix of what didn’t work under Mark Richt and a feeble attempt to add modern elements without a feel or understanding of how best to implement and execute those concepts. In 2019, the Hurricanes finished 52nd in the country at 249.2 passing yards per game. While that was an improvement from Richt’s 2018 passing offense, overall, both the passing game and QB play were extremely inconsistent, regularly trading the highest of high’s (Jarren Williams’ school-record 6 TD’s vs. Louisville) with the lowest of lows (inability to make simple throws in FIU loss the following game). Once the Panthers put on tape how to stop Enos and his RPO mid-slants, the Canes’ season ended with a sputter against Duke and Louisiana Tech in losses marked by impotent QB play.
In 2020, however, it’s out with the old and in with the new. Enos is gone, replaced by a high-octane spread offense led by new OC/QB coach Rhett Lashlee, who directed SMU’s 13th-ranked passing attack in 2019 (309 ypg). The former Mustangs coordinator didn’t come to Coral Gables empty-handed, though, bringing with him some firepower in the form of Houston senior grad transfer QB D’Eriq King, who was recently officially named UM’s starting QB for the 2020 season. King is coming off a year where he sat out most of the Cougars’ games to retain his redshirt eligibility, but he is the type of talent that was able to put his name into the Heisman conversation after a 50 total TD (36 passing/14 rushing) season as a true junior in 2018 during his last full season of play.
Watching King during the week of spring practices in March, there was never any doubt he would be the leader for this team. The Houston transfer showed off better than anticipated accuracy to go along with his trademark athleticism, putting the vast majority of passes right on the money for his receivers and demonstrating he could work each part of the field. Miami has been dying for a superstar QB that can lead both on and off the field for what seems like decades now, and King certainly has the potential to be that guy for Lashlee and Manny Diaz.
2020’s fall camp will be a change-up from last year’s version, where the drama was focused on who would emerge as Miami’s starting QB. With King now cemented as QB1, the attention at this position now turns to the backup role, the spot in which many see junior N’Kosi Perry occupying to begin fall camp. No, Perry isn’t going to live up to the potential many saw in him coming out of Vanguard in 2017, but in an age where transfers are prevalent at the position, Perry is really almost as good as it gets when you’re talking about experienced backup QB’s: He has played a lot of football, starting 9 career games and seeing action in 19 games total with 374 career passing attempts, and he has proved in the past he can deliver if called upon in pressure moments (comeback win vs. FSU in 2018, defeated #19 UVA in 2019). If for any reason Miami needs to turn to him at some point, they at least know what they’ll get out of Perry.
That doesn’t mean Perry has the backup job completely locked up, though, as Tyler Van Dyke is the talented freshman that currently has the “Quarterback of the Future” label to his name. Van Dyke enrolled early and saw some number 2 reps in spring, displaying a strong cannon and quick feet to go along with a well-built, 6’4”, college-ready frame. Many around the program who watched him in spring and over the offseason feel Van Dyke is already the second-best arm on campus, and he is expected to push Perry throughout fall camp and into the season.
Junior Tate Martell was unable to show anything to inspire much confidence in 2019 after a highly-anticipated transfer from Ohio State, as accuracy difficulties compounding with off-field issues sunk his debut season in Coral Gables. Simply put, he has a lot of work to do to see time as a QB at UM. Peyton Matocha redshirted as a freshman last season and will attempt to work his way into the mix as well.
Bottom Line
How quickly King can efficiently operate Lashlee’s offense and how he will adjust to a bump up in competition in the ACC will be key questions for the Hurricanes to answer that could swing their season in either direction, but there’s no doubt King offers upside UM hasn’t seen in years at the position. King’s addition also really helps to give some order and stability to this QB group that has been plagued by maturity issues and unreliability in the recent past, plus allows Miami to organize down the line with more natural roles for Perry (experienced backup) and Van Dyke (QB of the future). Keep your eyes on the #2 battle between Perry and Van Dyke this fall and how the reps are divided up; Perry will surely get the bulk to start, but the pace at which Van Dyke can get comfortable both at the college level and within the offense could be the ultimate deciding factor.
