Ex-NFL evaluator sends word to UM’s QB; here was tight end’s response. And opponent added.
A six-pack of Miami Hurricanes notes on a Wednesday:
▪ We’ve always found Jim Nagy — the executive director of the Senior Bowl and a longtime former NFL scout — to be a very good judge of talent.
So it was notable when Nagy tweeted this last week about UM quarterback D’Eriq King:
“QB D’Eriq King is one of the most dynamic players in college football, but at under 5’9” some scouts think his best pro position will be slot WR. If he comes to @seniorbowl, we’ll play him wherever the NFL wants to see him — maybe both spots.”
That drew this Twitter response from UM junior tight end Brevin Jordan, who’s considered a potential second- or third-round pick:
“No sir, keep DK1 behind the O-Line and put the ball in his hands every play & watch him work. He’s a QuarterBack. #NoCap.”
I asked Nagy what King can do to make himself more of a legitimate quarterback prospect, just as similarly undersized Kyler Murray (who’s 5-10) did at Oklahoma. Murray became the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft, to the Arizona Cardinals.
“Just play at a consistently efficient level,” Nagy said via text message, “with little signs of the gross height deficiency being an issue [vision, batted balls].”
King hasn’t spoken to the general media since March, but he told UM’s web site that being named the team’s starting quarterback last week “meant a lot. I had no idea they were going to tell me that, but it was pretty exciting.
“As soon as they told me, I thought about my dad, how proud he would be of me right now. … Everyone started clapping and cheering, so that made me feel pretty good. It was a special moment.”
King’s father, Eric, died earlier this year.
“I just want to win as much as possible. I know that sounds boring, but that’s honestly all I want to do,” King said. “I want to have a winning season. … I want to help change the program around....
“Four, five years ago, I never thought I’d be the University of Miami quarterback. Being named the starter feels surreal. I still can’t believe it. But I’m excited and ready for whatever’s coming.”
▪ We hear UAB will be UM’s opponent in its one non-conference football game this season. Temple also received consideration.
UAB was originally scheduled to play Miami on Thursday, Sept. 17 at Hard Rock Stadium. But the new date for their game in Miami is undetermined.
Atlantic Coast Conference teams are playing 10 conference games and one non-conference game.
Miami’s home opponents: Florida State, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Pitt and Virginia.
Miami’s road games: Clemson, Louisville, North Carolina State, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.
Dates and times haven’t been announced.
UM begins fall camp practices with night sessions on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
▪ While neither of UM’s top two NFL prospects — defensive end Greg Rousseau nor tight end Brevin Jordan — has specifically declared publicly whether either intends to play college football this season amid the COVID-19 pandemic (and there’s no reason to believe they won’t unless they tell us otherwise), Rousseau sure sounded intent on playing in a conversation with the UM web site.
“There are so many things I could still accomplish and so many ways I can get better,” he said in that piece. “I want the young people in our room to see that I’m still a hard worker, and no matter what, you can always improve your game and get better....
“[Former Canes defensive end Jonathan Garvin] showed me the playbook, taught me the ins and outs on how to play defensive end. He showed me everything. He taught me moves, all that. Just for me to be able to give back to the program and teach the younger guys what I know, it means everything, honestly.”
Minnesota wideout Rashod Bateman and Penn State linebacker Michah Parsons are among the top NFL prospects expected to opt out this season. (Batemon has announced his decision; Parsons hasn’t.)
▪ Key upcoming recruiting dates for UM: Palmetto four-star defensive tackle Leonard Taylor will pick UM or UF at 1 p.m. Thursday. It’s viewed as a toss-up, though 247 Sports is predicting he will choose UM because of a chance to get early playing time. … On Aug. 10, Palmetto four-star safety Corey Collier will pick among UM, UF and LSU. Some would be surprised if he picks UM. … Per 247, UM now is the leader for Palmetto four-star cornerback Jason Marshall, with Alabama and UF also in pursuit.... Tweets from Manny Diaz and other UM coaches over the weekend suggest UM landed a big silent commitment on Saturday, but it has remained a secret for five days.
▪ Quick stuff: While more than 100 Pac-12 players have threatened not to play this season unless their demands are met, we’ve heard of no groundswell of UM players to do the same. As one player conveyed to a parent, UM players are eager to enjoy and maximize their time here and move on to NFL careers or NFL employment without trying to overturn the system....
UM said it plans to use the same capacity for Hurricanes games as the Dolphins are using. The Dolphins haven’t determined that number, but they’ve previously acknowledged the possibility of having in the range of 15,000 to 20,000 fans attend games....
Miami Northwestern linebacker Ja’Corey Hammett flipped from UM to West Virginia, leaving the Canes with 20 nonbinding commitments for the 2021 class.
Here’s my piece this week on five percolating battles on UM’s offense.
Here’s my piece this week on five looming battles on UM’s defense.
This story was originally published August 5, 2020 at 2:44 PM.
