SMU adds D'Eriq King to staff as offensive analyst

On3’s Billy Embody reported Thursday that former University of Miami and Houston quarterback D’Eriq King has transitioned from his playing career to his coaching career, recently joining SMU‘s football staff as an offensive analyst.

King was most recently seen in the XFL playing for the D.C. Defenders this spring, where he was used as a secondary quarterback behind Jordan Ta’amu. In seven games King completed 17 of his 25 pass attempts for 184 yards and four touchdown passes, but was predominantly used as a weapon in the run game with 102 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

Out of high school, King was a four-star recruit ranked the No. 328 overall prospect and No. 24 overall quarterback in his 2016 class according to On3’s Industry Ranking. The Texas native decided to stay in state, signing to Houston and playing four years for the Cougars.

During his stint with Houston, King started in 22 games throwing for 4,925 yards, rushing for 1,421 yards, and racking up 78 total touchdowns before he took his talents to South Beach in 2020, transferring to Miami for his final two seasons of eligibility.

In his first season with the Hurricanes, he led the team to an 8-3 record behind his 2,686 yards and 23 touchdowns through the air and 538 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. But unfortunately, a season-ending shoulder injury would put an end to his final season in Coral Gables after making just three starts in the 2021 season.

King signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent following the 2022 NFL Draft, but was waived just one week later. He signed with the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad during November of the 2022 season, but was released shortly after before being officially assigned to the DC Defenders the following month.

Now King will be trading in his cleats for a clipboard, as he looks to jump-start his coaching career under SMU’s second-year head coach Rhett Lashlee. Lashlee led the Mustangs to a 7–6 record last season in his first year at the helm and his first season ever as a head coach.

King played under Lashlee for his two seasons in Miami, where he was the Hurricanes’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. The Mustangs led the American Athletic Conference in points per game, yards per game, and passing yards per game last season, and hopefully, King’s expertise can continue to elevate their high-powered offense.