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Miami football hopes to capitalize on returning experience in 2021

By Jackson Caudell

Dec 29, 2020; Orlando, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz (green shirt) leads his team on the field prior to the game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Miami Hurricanes for the Cheez-It Bowl Game at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2020; Orlando, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz (green shirt) leads his team on the field prior to the game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Miami Hurricanes for the Cheez-It Bowl Game at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports /
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D’Eriq King and Don Chaney Jr, Miami Football. Mandatory Credit: Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports
D’Eriq King and Don Chaney Jr, Miami Football. Mandatory Credit: Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports /

Miami has a chance to have one of the best offenses in the country

In Manny Diaz’s first season in 2019, Miami had one of the worst offenses in the country and school history and he decided to change things up, hiring Rhett Lashlee away from SMU to install a more up-tempo offense.

Year one was a success under Lashlee and Miami is hoping year two can be even better.

Everything with the Miami offense and team quite frankly starts and ends with D’Eriq King at quarterback.

King had one of the best seasons ever for a Miami quarterback, throwing for nearly 2,700 yards and 23 touchdowns, as well as 538 yards rushing. He is one of the best quarterbacks in the country, but there is concern because he’s coming off of a serious knee injury he sustained in the bowl game last season, but all signs point to him being 100 percent for the opener against Alabama. Miami will need King to be fully healthy for it to make a push for 10 wins.

At running back, Miami is returning its top three backs from last season. Cam’Ron Harris is the veteran of the bunch, but the young sophomores Jaylon Knighton and Don Chaney Jr. might be more talented and it would not surprise me if by season’s end one of them becomes the main back for the offense.

Miami’s receivers were much-maligned last season because of their inconsistency and they dropped way too many passes. This season, I think this group will be a lot better.

Mike Harley was the leading receiver and he really came on at the end of last season and is one of the more underrated receivers in the ACC. Harley is a great leader for this team and I think he is in for a big season. Miami is welcoming in Oklahoma transfer Charleston Rambo to the receiver room and he has big-play ability. The Hurricanes need someone else besides those two to step up and it could be a young guy like Keyshawn Smith or senior veterans Dee Wiggins and Mark Pope, who have had struggles with drops in their careers.

The offensive line has been a weakness for Miami in recent years, but this group has the talent and experience to be one of the best Miami has had in recent seasons. Zion Nelson is getting first-round buzz at left tackle and Miami welcomes back Navaughn Donaldson at right guard.

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