SMU promotes former Houston, Miami QB D'Eriq King to QB coach
SMU is promoting analyst D’Eriq King to quarterbacks coach, head coach Rhett Lashlee announced on Wednesday. King replaces Jonny Brewer, who left to be Duke’s offensive coordinator this month.
Before this season, King reunited with Lashlee as well as many other staffers who coached him up in Coral Gables. He spent the season as an analyst and the past week on the recruiting trail in place of Brewer.
SMU offensive coordinator Casey Woods spoke highly of the former college standout on Tuesday when speaking with the media.
“They love him. Obviously he’s a guy that’s played in this offense so that makes a lot of sense for him to give them feedback,” Woods said of King. “He gives a unique perspective that others can’t. He’s been around our unit all fall. He’s a guy that can give good quality feedback and help out doing that. He’s done a great job as all those young coaches have and we wouldn’t be in this situation without those guys.”
The New England Patriots brought in King as an undrafted free agent, hoping he’d catch on as a versatile weapon. The Patriots released him in May 2022, but he wasn’t done in the NFL.
The Carolina Panthers inked him in November 2022, but his run there was shortlived, which led to him suiting up for the XFL’s D.C. Defenders in Spring 2023. In seven games, he completed 8-of-10 passes for 75 yards and three scores while adding 23 carries for 93 yards and five touchdowns.
King spent six years playing college football between Houston and Miami. For both schools, King was the star of each team’s offense, putting up big numbers. For his career, he threw for 8,378 yards, 76 touchdowns, and just 19 interceptions. He also ran for over 2,000 yards with 32 touchdowns on the ground and caught another five touchdowns.
King transferred to Miami for the 2020 season, starting all 11 games as team captain for the 8-3 Hurricanes and garnering honorable mention All-ACC accolades. He tore his ACL in the bowl game of that season. He returned in 2021, but that season ended after three games due to a season-ending shoulder injury.
The Manvel, Texas native was a star in the Houston area coming out of high school in 2016. According to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies, King was a four-star prospect, ranking as the No. 328 overall prospect and No. 24 overall quarterback.
