Miami football season preview 2020: Record predictions, depth chart analysis, breakout players
By John Buhler
Miami football season preview, including a look at game-by-game record predictions, depth chart analysis and breakout players to watch.
Will 2020 be the year Miami football gets back to being “The U” again?
After three years of Mark Richt in Coral Gables, the reins were handed over to Manny Diaz. While there is belief Diaz will be the one to get the Miami Hurricanes back to national relevancy, they had a rough first year under him in 2019. The ‘Canes went 6-7 overall, 4-4 in ACC play and dropped their final three games in succession to finish below .500. Things had to change in a hurry.
Though Miami lost a few notable players to the NFL Draft, such as running back DeeJay Dallas and linebacker Shaquille Quarterman, the ‘Canes had plenty of returning talent to make some noise in what should have been a very interesting ACC Coastal race. Obviously, the ACC is going division-less this season due to the coronavirus, but Miami should be one of the better teams in the ACC.
Miami could experience the prototypical “pop” under second-year head coach Diaz. The ‘Canes have been solid defensively the last few seasons but may finally have the offensive consistency necessary to contend for ACC Championships. They also hit the graduate transfer market hard with two notable additions in quarterback D’Eriq King and defensive end Quincy Roche.
King sat out the final two-thirds of the 2019 campaign with the AAC’s Houston Cougars to conserve his final year of eligibility. While he may have an additional year of eligibility in 2021 if he feels so inclined to stay at Miami, he has the potential to be a difference-maker in the Hurricanes offense because of his dual-threat playmaking abilities.
Roche was the best player in The American last season when he was with the Temple Owls. The idea was he’d form one of the best defensive line tandems in the country with Gregory Rousseau. However, Rousseau decided to opt-out of the 2020 college football season and get ready for the 2021 NFL Draft. Rousseau is a projected top-10 pick. Regardless, Roche can have a great season.
With the 2020 college football season rapidly approaching, let’s take a look at who the ‘Canes will play in their 11-game season, how they will perform, who will be starting for them and who will be expected to step up for them outside of King and Roche because that’s obvious. Will Miami get back to being “The U” again or are the Hurricanes still a year or so away? Let’s find out now.