Rehabbing QB King doing his part to assist other signal-callers
Miami Hurricanes standout quarterback D’Eriq King is not one to leave his younger teammates to fend for themselves in spring football as he recovers from a torn ACL in his right knee.
While Tyler Van Dyke, Peyton Matocha and freshman early enrollee Jake Garcia take the spring spotlight for practice reps during King’s rehab, UM players are noticing how active King is in guiding them over the first three practices of spring drills.
“Every time you see him, he’s helping a younger guy, helping the quarterbacks, sending them signals,” said striker Gilbert Frierson. “You’re going to see him throughout the whole practice next to [a] coach… every time a quarterback comes off the field, you see him going to the quarterback, helping him with adjustments, helping him recognize the defense.”
King’s efforts extend off Greentree Practice Fields and into quarterback meetings.
“You’ll catch him here and there watching film with them guys,” Frierson added. “That’s a great blessing having him in that room with those guys. Those younger guys, they see his work ethic and how he is.”
King has been “smashing every benchmark” in his rehab, according to coach Manny Diaz in comments to reporters before spring practice started. It’s helpful that he’s also providing extra value in preparing the underclassmen, which will be beneficial once he’s gone after the upcoming fall season or even sooner if there is some unforeseen setback in his recovery. Miami has indicated, since days after he suffered the knee injury in the Dec. 29 Cheez-It Bowl loss to Oklahoma State, that King is expected to return to football activities in time for fall camp in August.
Van Dyke has been motivated to get the most out of spring drills after his first spring last year was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic, and he then had three separate stints isolated from the team — twice due to positive COVID tests and another from contact tracing. He has impressed with some of his throws thus far.
“He really has a good touch on the ball when he’s throwing it,” said cornerback Te’Cory Couch of Van Dyke, who has also been touted for his arm strength and zip on his passes. “He throws a really good ball. He fits it in tight spaces.”
Garcia has been limited with a foot injury that he played through at the end of his high school career, but he too has made early impressions.
“Jake is my guy,” said secondyear wide receiver Keyshawn Smith, another early spring standout. “I speak to him all the time. He’s cool. We’re both from the West Coast, so we get along with each other. He’s a nice dude. He has an arm. He could read [defenses]. He’s someone to look at in the future.”
Senior wideout Michael Harley, after the Hurricanes’ first spring practice on Monday, called King “the match that set everything on fire for everyone to come back,” with his decision to return leading others to follow suit.
“When they came back, I think it was a great impact to the team,” Frierson said. “Those are great leaders, from Mike Harley, King to [linebacker/defensive end] Zach McCloud. All those guys are great leaders and great guys in the program that’s always working and always getting guys better. …
“Just always positive and bringing great energy to the team. That’s a great blessing to have those older guys back for their fifth and sixth years. That’s a good thing. That’s not often, so you just got to take full advantage of getting those older guys, getting around them, seeing what they like to do, how they operate.”