South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
Decisions loom for draft-eligible standouts
Miami Hurricanes grad transfers such as quarterback D’Eriq King, defensive end Quincy Roche, kicker Jose Borregales and offensive lineman Jarrid Williams came to the program this offseason with the idea they had one final college season to showcase their talents before heading off to the NFL.
But the COVID-19 pandemic, while presenting many challenges this season, has afforded them the opportunity to return to Miami for an extra season. The NCAA decided before it began that the 2020 season would not count against player eligibility.
If King wants to return for a second season teamed up with offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee, it could make the Hurricanes contenders in 2021.
“I haven’t really sat down on it with my family and coaches and talked about it, but it’s always in the back of my mind,” King said this week. “It’s always been a dream of mine to play in the NFL, but playing at the University of Miami is great as well. Living in the city of Miami, it’s probably one of the best universities in the country, so you can’t beat it. But I’m focused on these next two games.”
Lashlee believes King, who already held himself back in the 2019 season at Houston by playing just four games to remain eligible to redshirt, can play at the next level with his dual-threat abilities, deep ball and accuracy — despite his size (listed at a generous 5-foot11).
“I know D’Eriq is held in high regard and very well-respected among everybody that is involved in going to the next level,” Lashlee said. “That definitely is a goal of his. He’s done a really good job for us this year.
“[We] have not really gotten too in depth in those talks with him just because we’re still in the middle of our season. In fairness to him and our team, that’s really our focus.”
Along with Roche, fellow starting defensive end Jaelan Phillips could be an intriguing draft prospect as a redshirt junior. Through eight games, he has led Miami in sacks (five), standing out after redshirting in 2019 after his transfer from UCLA.
The way Phillips, once the nation’s top-rated recruit out of high school, transformed his body from 225 pounds when he momentarily decided to retire due to multiple injuries while with the Bruins to 270 in a year-and-a-half has to be something NFL scouts like in evaluating his work ethic to go with the evident talent.
Roche, listed at 245 pounds, may be viewed as an outside linebacker in the pros instead of a defensive end. A fierce pass rusher who can also rack up tackles for a loss in run defense, he has minimal experience dropping back into coverage at Miami but did it some in his previous stop at Temple.
“The NFL sometimes labels linebackers or outside linebackers who are really just defensive ends in a 4-3 scheme compared to a 3-4 scheme,” defensive coordinator Blake Baker said. “Those two positions overlap a lot, I would say, and I could definitely see Quincy going to a 3-4 and being a super-productive outside linebacker.
“He’s a guy that really flourishes, and when he drops into zone — we don’t utilize him that much in that department — but I know at Temple he did drop more often.”
Roche and Phillips could be NFL-bound after Greg Rousseau already declared for the 2021 draft, opting out of the 2020 college football season after a stellar 2019 campaign. Junior tight end Brevin Jordan also is considered a top prospect.
Jordan has dealt with injuries over the past two seasons, but coach Manny Diaz noted “a renewed spirit” from him in UM’s return to practice this week from a two-week pause. A strong finish to the season could remind scouts why Jordan is so highly touted.
Like King, offensive tackle Williams, who made the same move from Houston to Miami in the offseason, and linebacker Zach McCloud shut themselves down in 2019 to remain eligible for this season. The one extra year could turn into two for them, if they so choose.
McCloud has had an uneven fifth season and could benefit from rebuilding his stock. Williams, who has manned the right tackle position for the Hurricanes, is already a sixth-year senior as it is, which has offensive line coach Garin Justice leaning toward thinking he’ll test the NFL.
“That’s Jarrid’s call,” Justice said. “I would probably think he would try and go, but we haven’t sat down and had those discussions one-on-one.
“Jarrid’s a guy who came here with a purpose. He came here to play, and Jarrid was an old senior as it was. He’s been playing quite a while.”
On special teams, punter Lou Hedley, a redshirt junior, has stated previously he’d like to return to UM next season, even though he has the potential to punt in the NFL. Borregales has similarly shown pro potential with his kicks, going 15 of 16 on field goals, with his one miss blocked, and a long of 57 yards.
“With the year he’s having right now, we tell our guys if they go get drafted and make a career in the NFL, go do it,” special teams coordinator Jonathan Patke said. “We just have to sit and wait and kind of see where his mind’s at at the end of this season. I’ve been a little bit reluctant to really reach at him and see where he’s at because I’m just concentrating on him having a great year. He’s doing that and I don’t want to mess up his mojo. ... Whichever he decides, I think it’s the right decision for him, his family and his future.”