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So uh....lots has happened since the last time we convened for one of these daily rundowns. LOTS. Let’s get into it.
QB D’Eriq King to have season-ending shoulder surgery
I was just thinking to myself over the weekend “man, we haven’t gotten a D’Eriq King update in a while. I wonder if Manny Diaz is going to give us one on Monday?” And boy, did he.
While appearing on the Joe Rose Show on Monday morning, Diaz stated that King, Miami’s starting quarterback, would have surgery on his injured right shoulder and miss the remainder of the season.
Manny Diaz just told us on @JoeRoseShow @560WQAM that D'Eriq King will have surgery and its Tyler Van Dykes team for the rest of the season@CanesFootball
— Zach Krantz (@ZachKrantz) October 11, 2021
With King out, and fellow QB Jake Garcia recently having had ankle surgery, the keys to the season have been turned over to super freshman Tyler Van Dyke. The Connecticut native made his first start the last time Miami played — 2 weeks ago against Virginia — and now the season is firmly on his shoulders. Behind him are Peyton Matocha, a depth player who was never intended to play meaningful snaps at Miami, and walk-on Ryan Rizk. Definitely not the depth chart that Miami intended to lean on at QB this season.
As to what happens next with King, that hasn’t been decided.
Diaz: "That would be up to D'Eriq of course. He could play for us as long as he wants to. But that's going to be up to D'Eriq and what his thoughts are in terms of his career going forward." https://t.co/Uetalytydo
— Manny Navarro (@Manny_Navarro) October 11, 2021
What once would have been very exciting — the prospect of D’Eriq King at Miami for yet-another year — is potentially possible, but infinitely less exciting than the prospect once was. King is a great person, and a fine player, but to my eye, it’s time Miami focus on moving forward with someone else — Van Dyke or Garcia — at QB for the future.
this is very much putting the cart before the horse bc nobody knows for sure either part of this scenario
— StateOfTheU.com (@TheStateOfTheU) October 11, 2021
BUT
in the world you've crafted, and i'm only responding to the scenario presented here you guys, you bring King back to play something other than QB. https://t.co/ND98v8s5J9
In any event, we wish D’Eriq King well with his forthcoming procedure, and a full recovery.
As for his future either at Miami or elsewhere or the next level, we’ll leave that conversation for another time.
C Corey Gaynor out for the year, too
I mentioned multiple season-ending injuries, and offensive lineman Corey Gaynor is the other one. He’d missed time recently but that injury will also keep him out for the remainder of the year.
Diaz said D'Eriq King will decide whether to take extra year of eligibility: "He can play for us as long as he wants to."... UM center Corey Gaynor has knee injury and is out for year.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) October 11, 2021
Replacing Gaynor at center is Jakai Clark, who himself missed time last year. The plan was for Clark to RS this year while Gaynor anchored the OL, but this injury has flipped every part of that plan on its head.
As with King, we wish Gaynor a safe and complete recovery from his season-ending surgery.
Some good injury news, finally
I know Miami’s roster has been depleted by the above-listed injuries (and more), but hey, reinforcements are on the way!
Manny Diaz said he expects DT Jared Harrison-Hunt, DT Jordan Miller, CB Tyrique Stevenson, STR Amari Carter and WLB Keontra Smith to all be back this week against North Carolina.
— Manny Navarro (@Manny_Navarro) October 11, 2021
Something is better than nothing, right? And especially when guys like JHH and Stevenson and Smith will be back in action.
Gotta find the good where we can, and that’s unquestionably good, you guys.
4-star CB Tre’Quan Fegans decommits from Miami
Miami’s failings on the field this season were bound to have a negative impact on the recruiting trail. And, after seeing multiple top targets make the business decision to pick a different program to ply their trade, one of the top players of Miami’s class defected from the group on Monday afternoon.
I would Like To Say That I’m
— Tre’Quon Fegans (@Tre2x5) October 11, 2021
Decommiting From The University Miami And Reopening My Recruitment... My Recruitment is 1000 % Open!!!
What’s the bigger context to the class as a whole? The situation isn’t great, you guys.
Miami now holds the No. 59 class in the country this cycle after the decommitment of Top100 CB Trequon Fegans. A steep uphill climb with roughly 2 months until Early Signing Day.
— Gaby Urrutia (@GabyUrrutia247) October 11, 2021
And, when you consider the fact that another Miami CB commit — Bishop Verot standout Chris Graves — just took an unofficial visit to Florida last weekend, and tweeted his picture from Gainesville with the hashtag #JustAVisit...bad could become worse, quickly. Cuz it always starts as “just a visit”....
Blips on the Radar
Miami unveiled this weekend’s jersey combination for the game at North Carolina: Stormtroppers
White on white in Chapel Hill. pic.twitter.com/byUZo2qCab
— Canes Football (@CanesFootball) October 11, 2021
The TV slot and coverage options for next weekend’s home game against NC State was also announced today.
Game Time Announcement
— Canes Football (@CanesFootball) October 11, 2021
Oct. 23
NC State
Hard Rock Stadium
⏰ :
ESPN2 or ESPNU
560 WQAM pic.twitter.com/ScxB056oOP
Had a hard time figuring out which game was competing with Miami-NC State for this slot next weekend, but I’ll figure it out soon. Or, someone will hop in the comments and let us all know.
- Jake Marcus makes the case for Tyler Van Dyke’s ascension to the QB1 spot is actually a source for optimism for Miami
- Craig T. Smith had another great installment of Monday Musings
- The group doesn’t include Tre’Quan Fegans anymore, but Miami commits did work on the HS gridiron this past weekend.
- Brett McMurphy of The Action Network released his latest bowl projections. Don’t get your hopes up though; Miami wasn’t included.
That’s a LOT of notes to start our Tuesday. But hey, Monday was a day for news, apparently. Just ask Jon Gruden....
Welp. That’s my time! Make it a terrific Tuesday, everybody!