New UM QB rises in Heisman odds race, discusses why he picked Canes. And Patchan in portal
UM feels fortunate to have lured Houston grad transfer D’Eriq King, its most accomplished starting quarterback in many years.
But King also feels fortunate that UM wanted him.
“There’s a lot of history here, a lot of winning traditions and I was excited they even wanted me, to be honest with you,” King told the school’s web site, in his first interview since enrolling at UM earlier this week. “Just being here, and making the best of the year I have here. … It’s a big deal. I don’t take it lightly. I know the history of the program is winning, has always been winning. I’m coming here just ready to work, get to it and try to win as many games as possible.”
King believes the transition to Rhett Lashlee’s spread offense will be manageable because it’s similar to the schemes used at Houston.
“I’m very excited,” he said. “I played in an offense pretty similar to it in Houston … just coming down here, in this offense, I’m ready to go. I’m ready to work.”
Here’s what also drew him to UM:
“Coach [Manny] Diaz is a great guy. That’s the first thing I noticed about him. He’s real genuine. He’s not loud and screaming. He’s just a good guy. And Coach Lashlee, he was also in the same conference as me and [new UM defensive end and Temple grad transfer Quincy Roche], so I kind of knew his offense a little bit playing against him and kind of had a relationship. We just built on that relationship.”
What kind of leadership can fans expect from King?
“I feel like I’m a lead-by-example type of guy, but [I can] also be vocal at times. I’m not a big ‘rah-rah’ guy, but I come into the building every single day to try and do as much work as possible to get better and build a relationship with the guys,” King said. “I also feel that’s important, just having a relationship in the locker room and everybody being on the same page, I think that can help a team win. That’s what I bring.”
Roche also spoke to the school’s web site in that piece.
And here was my piece from earlier this week with lots of feedback and tidbits on King.
PATCHAN ENTERS PORTAL
Faced with the likelihood of being a backup, UM defensive end Scott Patchan announced on Saturday that he’s entering the transfer portal.
“I have decided to enter the transfer portal,” Patchan said on Twitter. “It has always been my dream to play at the University of Miami. I will cherish the relationships fostered with my teammates, coaches and others. I will be a Cane for life. I now look forward to new challenges. God bless.”
Patchan - who was recently granted another season of eligibility - had 63 tackles, including 18.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 24 games at UM over the past three seasons. He spent the 2017 season at tight end before moving back to defensive end in 2018.
If he had stayed at UM, he likely would have been competing with highly-regarded UCLA transfer Jaelan Phillips, redshirt freshman Jahfari Harvey, Cameron Williams (didn’t appear in a game as a freshman last season) and incoming freshmen Chantz Williams, Quentin Williams and Elijah Roberts for backup defensive end snaps behind Greg Rousseau and Roche.
QUICK STUFF
▪ According to a UM source, the hiring of UM legend Ed Reed for a job with the program has been discussed. According to a person briefed on the situation, it appeared not especially likely as of Thursday but not entirely out of the question. The situation is fluid.
▪ One web site, bovada.com, lists King with the third-shortest odds to win the 2020 Heisman Trophy, at plus-1000. Ahead of him on the list: Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields (plus 225) and Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence (plus 400).
▪New UM running back Don Chaney Jr. underwent minor shoulder surgery and isn’t expected to participate in contact drills during spring practice.
That will leave UM with three scholarship tailbacks for the spring (Cam’Ron Harris, Robert Burns, newcomer Jaylon Knighton), plus fullback/H-back Michael Parrott, who was recently given a scholarship.
▪ Two former UM offensive coordinators found jobs this past week: Jedd Fisch, for an undisclosed job with the New England Patriots and James Coley as the tight ends coach at Texas A&M.
This story was originally published January 25, 2020 at 12:05 PM.
