2021 Spring Preview: QB

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Stefan Adams

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Offseason Additions: Jake Garcia (2021 signee)

Offseason Departures: N’Kosi Perry (transferred), Tate Martell (transferred)



After three straight seasons of underwhelming QB play, D’Eriq King stepped right in as a grad transfer last season and changed the way business was done in the QB room for Miami. In 11 games, the former Houston Cougar racked up 27 total TD’s (23 passing, 4 rushing), 2,686 passing yards, 538 rushing yards, on 64.1% completions with just 5 INT’s in 2020. The dynamic performance put King squarely in the Heisman conversation for much of the 2020 season, while also making him both a Maxwell and Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist. National recognition for his on-field accomplishments aside, King’s greatest impact may have come off the field as a guy that took a no nonsense approach to game prep and kept his teammates focused each and every week.

This spring, though, the focus shifts from King to the battle behind him, as King will sit out camp while recovering from an ACL injury suffered in Miami’s final game of 2020, although he is expected to be back by fall camp. With experienced backup N’Kosi Perry in the transfer portal, the Hurricanes’ two returnees at QB have just 4 career passing attempts between them. Things were complicated even more today when head coach Manny Diaz announced that true freshman early enrollee Jake Garcia would be limited to start spring due to an injury suffered as a senior in his high school season.

Garcia was expected to mount a challenge to redshirt freshman Tyler Van Dyke, who has earned a ton of buzz behind the scenes as Miami’s potential “Quarterback of the Future”. Van Dyke enrolled early last spring and saw some number 2 reps throughout 2020, displaying a strong cannon and quick feet to go along with a well-built, 6’4”, college-ready frame. With a full year of experience in OC Rhett Lashlee’s system and to adjust to the speed of the college level, many around the program feel it will be that Van Dyke that will stake a strong claim to the backup job this spring.

While some of the short-term hype around Garcia was dampened with today’s injury news, his long-term prospects are some of the brightest we’ve seen at UM in quite some time. Considered a top 5 QB in the country and top 50 overall national recruit, Garcia made his bones in high school by being an extremely accurate passer (66.4% career completions). Garcia profiles as a very effortless thrower who has a natural and fluid release, can complete passes on the move with ease, and has demonstrated in the past that he has the skill to make most any throw on a route tree. While he doesn’t have the same arm strength or experience as Van Dyke, Garcia has shown the ability and confidence to immediately excel when thrown into the fire, as proven by leading his Grayson High team to a state title as a senior after transferring in mid-season; he will look to do much of the same early on at UM by challenging Van Dyke right off the bat, assuming he can quickly return to full health.

With all the attention on Van Dyke and Garcia, redshirt sophomore Peyton Matocha comes in as the veteran of the three-man group, and he will attempt to work his way into the mix this spring as well. This spring will be a big one for Matocha, as getting passed up by Garcia could officially relegate him to career backup at UM or to the portal.


Bottom Line

While the Hurricanes wait for King to heal up, this spring will be an amazing opportunity to get their young QB’s some extended work with the first team and get a better idea of what they have waiting in the wings for the future. Who will prove they can properly run Lashlee's offense to a tee? Van Dyke was already the favorite to end camp as the “starter”, and today’s Garcia injury news gives him an even bigger boost out of the gate. Until Garcia can progress beyond 7-on-7 work, expect reps with the ones to be split somewhat evenly between Van Dyke and Matocha to begin camp, with Van Dyke garnering more and more work as spring goes along. Still, you can’t count out Garcia and his upside as a serious threat to Van Dyke for the “QB of the Future” title once he’s fully healthy.
 
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Bold Take: Matocha will finish spring as leader of the backup QB race. Matocha is the Wyoming or South Dakota State QB (CarsonWentz/JoshAllen...another FCS QB going 1st again this year can't remember his name) that didn't get the fanfare due to "low quality" competition. IMO it will be Matocha with the keys after King leaves and after starting 2yrs he'll declare and turn it over to winner of R-Soph Jake Garcia or R-Freshman Jacurri Brown.

I got TVD leaving/transferring after the 2021 season once being beat out by Matocha for backup job
 
Bold Take: Matocha will finish spring as leader of the backup QB race. Matocha is the Wyoming or South Dakota State QB (CarsonWentz/JoshAllen...another FCS QB going 1st again this year can't remember his name) that didn't get the fanfare due to "low quality" competition. IMO it will be Matocha with the keys after King leaves and after starting 2yrs he'll declare and turn it over to winner of R-Soph Jake Garcia or R-Freshman Jacurri Brown.

I got TVD leaving/transferring after the 2021 season once being beat out by Matocha for backup job
I agree. Matocha is going to be one of the huge surprises in college football.
 
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Major trolling going on here.
TVD will be head and shoulders above the rest, he might even allow King to take it slow coming back. Matocha will be next and Garcia will redshirt. All three of the young guys should be better than we've had in awhile. Not counting King.
 
Bold Take: Matocha will finish spring as leader of the backup QB race. Matocha is the Wyoming or South Dakota State QB (CarsonWentz/JoshAllen...another FCS QB going 1st again this year can't remember his name) that didn't get the fanfare due to "low quality" competition. IMO it will be Matocha with the keys after King leaves and after starting 2yrs he'll declare and turn it over to winner of R-Soph Jake Garcia or R-Freshman Jacurri Brown.

I got TVD leaving/transferring after the 2021 season once being beat out by Matocha for backup job
good one GIF
 
In all honesty, I wouldnt be surprised if they have a package for Matocha to take advantage of his athletic ability. Florida had the same with the Jones kid.

If Matocha is able to complete some nice passes off of RPO action in spring, I wouldnt be surprised if they allow him to do so in games.

Garcia imo is a redshirt. Learn the position at the college level, get used to the speed in practice and get your body and mechanics ready.
 
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Bold Take: Matocha will finish spring as leader of the backup QB race. Matocha is the Wyoming or South Dakota State QB (CarsonWentz/JoshAllen...another FCS QB going 1st again this year can't remember his name) that didn't get the fanfare due to "low quality" competition. IMO it will be Matocha with the keys after King leaves and after starting 2yrs he'll declare and turn it over to winner of R-Soph Jake Garcia or R-Freshman Jacurri Brown.

I got TVD leaving/transferring after the 2021 season once being beat out by Matocha for backup job
Very specific details. Long Island Medium type stuff right here. Do you see a 2024 QB with brown hair? First initial Z?
 
In all honesty, I wouldnt be surprised if they have a package for Matocha to take advantage of his athletic ability. Florida had the same with the Jones kid.

If Matocha is able to complete some nice passes off of RPO action in spring, I wouldnt be surprised if they allow him to do so in games.

Garcia imo is a redshirt. Learn the position at the college level, get used to the speed in practice and get your body and mechanics ready.


Solid takes IMO.

I think its critical to redshirt Garcia, unless he comes out in limited duty and lights it up this spring. Getting a year of separation between him and TVD is the best move for the program.
 
Sucks to hear about Garcia; was hoping to have some competition between Jake and TVD this Spring. Looks like Matocha will somehow have to push TVD to ensure he’s fully reaping the benefits of Spring ball and starts to pull away as the #2 behind King. I agree with the thoughts on Garcia - redshirt him to gain some separation between the two and let them duke it out in 2022 for the #1 spot.
 
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Bold Take: Matocha will finish spring as leader of the backup QB race. Matocha is the Wyoming or South Dakota State QB (CarsonWentz/JoshAllen...another FCS QB going 1st again this year can't remember his name) that didn't get the fanfare due to "low quality" competition. IMO it will be Matocha with the keys after King leaves and after starting 2yrs he'll declare and turn it over to winner of R-Soph Jake Garcia or R-Freshman Jacurri Brown.

I got TVD leaving/transferring after the 2021 season once being beat out by Matocha for backup job
Were you the guy that found the dog and got the free reading from the psychic 🤷‍♂️
 
Sucks to hear about Garcia; was hoping to have some competition between Jake and TVD this Spring. Looks like Matocha will somehow have to push TVD to ensure he’s fully reaping the benefits of Spring ball and starts to pull away as the #2 behind King. I agree with the thoughts on Garcia - redshirt him to gain some separation between the two and let them duke it out in 2022 for the #1 spot.
Can play in 4 games and still redshirt if rules still the same. Did we have a back up QB in more than 4 games last season? I do not think so.
 
I see TVD showing out. Just incredible attributes for the QB position with the arm strength and accuracy to unlock SMU rhett lashlee numbers i believe he eventually beats out Garcia in 2022.Matocha is also a perfect fit for lashlee offense (plus athlete) and underrated. Regardless if he makes enough noise in camp to compete for the job just having him on the roster raises our talent floor at QB. No more evan sheriffs type back ups
 
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