CORAL GABLES — For coach Manny Diaz, the seeds of optimism leading into the Miami Hurricanes’ pivotal 2021 season were planted before 2020 ended.
When D’Eriq King announced on Dec. 26, 2020 — three days before UM’s Cheez-It Bowl game matchup against Oklahoma State — that he was returning to the Miami by taking advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he became the first domino to fall for the Hurricanes ahead of a crucial offseason.
What followed was 19 of 22 starters and over 90 percent of the production from last year’s 8-3 team returning to Miami.