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Manny Diaz provides injury update on D'Eriq King

Nakos updated headshotby:Pete Nakos09/25/21

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D'Eriq King
(Icon Sportswire/Getty Images)

Miami could be without its star quarterback when it opens ACC play Thursday night with Virginia coming to South Beach. D’Eriq King did not play against Central Connecticut State on Saturday, dealing with a shoulder injury.

Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz addressed King’s injury after Miami’s first win of the season. The quarterback is still limited in his motion and movements, and Diaz does not want to rush him back before he is fully recovered.

That means Miami is not going to rush him back just for the ACC opener.

“Whatever gives us the best chance to win is what we’ll do,” Diaz said.

King was listed as doubtful this entire week after he injured his shoulder but continued to play against No. 20 Michigan State.

Without King, Miami started freshman quarterback Tyler Van Dyke. Miami entered the season thought to be a serious contender in the SEC. But the Hurricanes fell to Alabama and Michigan State in the opening weeks of the season; they earned their first win Saturday.

Potential candidates if Miami moves on from Manny Diaz

Several Miami Hurricanes affiliates spoke anonymously about the future of head coach Manny Diaz and candidates to replace him. The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson reported that there are growing calls to replace Diaz as the program’s coach.

In the report, Jackson uses multiple sources close to the program. Included in his list are a current UM official, a former assistant coach with no ties to the current staff, a former player, an NFL scout and two Board of Trustees members. All spoke under the condition of anonymity.

The report details that there is a swelling movement to replace Diaz as head coach for the program, but that it is not big enough to warrant a change right now. However, if Miami suffers any more major losses this season the situation could change.

The report further details that athletic director Blake James has support behind him, but further losses could shake that support in the program. Jackson explained that Diaz would be the most likely firing, but that James would not be far behind.

While there are members of the Board of Trustees that are upset with the current program, the report details that there are a few issues preventing any changes from being acted upon.

Potential candidates mentioned by the sources included former Alabama and Clemson assistant Billy Napier (now head coach of Louisana), Luke Fickell of Cincinnati and Notre Dame defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman.