King stays on track with rehab

As the Miami Hurricanes’ 15-practice spring session wrapped up Saturday with the team’s spring game, Miami’s starting quarterback for the fall season, D’Eriq King, remains on schedule to return from his torn ACL in time for training camp in August.

“He’s on track in all the different steps in terms of trusting the physical therapy, and our training staff [and] medical staff has done a great job with him,” coach Manny Diaz said after the intrasquad scrimmage run largely by Tyler Van Dyke and Jake Garcia, who are competing to be King’s backup upon his recovery.

“You walk, you run, and then eventually change of direction will come into it. From our standpoint, we want to be smart and safe.”

Said King to ACC Network during the spring game: “I’ve reached every benchmark they set for me, so [I’ve] just got to keep going.”

King told reporters after the scrimmage he has progressed from working out individually to joining the team for workouts and added the next big step for him will be to get to “full-go” in the team’s summer workouts.

“I started running, so that’s a big step for me,” he said. “I’m throwing every day now.”

Receivers, including Oklahoma transfer Charleston Rambo, have mentioned late in the spring how King has been throwing to them from a stationary position. King added that seven-on-seven quarterback work will be “coming pretty soon.”

His regimen to this point has involved a 5:45 a.m. lift, working his upper body and core. He takes 45 minutes to work specifically on the right knee, which he’s rehabbing after the torn ACL he suffered in the Cheez-It Bowl loss to Oklahoma State on Dec. 29. He’s also focused on quad strength, control and balance and attending team meetings.

“I think they’ve had a really good plan for me,” King said. “I’ve just been following the plan to a tee, working on my nutrition.”