Miami Hurricanes: Breaking down the quarterback room

When you take a look at the quarterback position for the Miami Hurricanes, it’s actually pretty straightforward. Ever since D’Eriq King transferred from Houston, there has been no question as to who will be the number one quarterback heading into the 2020 season. Of course, King is just one of the quarterbacks on the roster . Although he may seem like the clear-cut starter, there are other options available below him.

As far as King goes, he comes to Coral Gables with a tremendous amount of pedigree. This is a player that absolutely lit up the football field while he was at Houston. He threw for 683 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions last year. Those numbers are a little bit lessened due to the fact he decided to redshirt.

In what was a full season for him in the 2018 campaign King threw for 2,982 yards, 36 touchdowns and six interceptions. There is no denying that he can be a game-changer for a quarterback position that has desperately needed a spark.

With all this talk about King, it may be easy to forget N’Kosi Perry. In what was a revolving door of starting quarterbacks last season for Perry, he performed well. He threw for 1,045 yards, 8 touchdowns, and three interceptions. His best game last season came against Virginia Tech. In what was a 42-35 loss, he went 28-of-47 on the day, throwing for 422 yards. Tossing four touchdowns and an interception, a 51-yard pass was his longest of the day.

Had King not transferred to the program, Perry would probably be the outright starter. Perry will enter the spring looking to challenge King for the starting role. A healthy quarterback competition would certainly be good for the program.

For this spring in particular, Perry has to come in and prove that he is not just going to roll over and accept the backup role. I will be excited to see him challenge King. My bet is that he will come into the spring focused and ready to work.

Martell intriguing for Miami Hurricanes

Tate Martell is certainly an interesting player. As a redshirt sophomore in 2019, he saw some action in the season opener against Florida on August 24. He would play sparingly, finishing the year in the Independence Bowl. It was there that he perhaps made his biggest impact of the season. He completed a pass for seven  yards and rushed for another five.

As a junior next year, he will certainly have the odds stacked against him. He showed that he could play when called upon last season, so that will certainly work in his favor. However I would predict him at the third spot on the depth chart. His experience is certainly a bonus, especially when you consider that Miami has a young quarterback coming in. However, I wouldn’t expect him to make waves in the quarterback competition. Right now, he has a long road ahead of him. Nevertheless, he will certainly be an interesting player to watch in the quarterback competition.

Van Dyke a promising freshman

Last but certainly not least is Tyler Van Dyke. As a recruit, the pro-style quarterback was the seventh overall quarterback in the 2020 class, and the top player in the state of Connecticut per the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

He will probably start at the bottom of the depth chart. That’s not because of lack of skill, but lack of experience. Right now, he needs to get as much experience as possible. In watching some of his highlights, it’s evident that he has a strong arm and good accuracy. That certainly bodes well for the future of the position and the Miami Hurricanes program. He is very polished for a freshman. Now, it’s all about learning the system.