Miami Hurricanes’ first fall camp scrimmage is over. QB D’Eriq King, young Canes shine

The Miami Hurricanes’ first 2020 fall camp scrimmage is over.

The scrimmage, closed to the media and public, was held Sunday night.

New starting quarterback D’Eriq King apparently was on fire, throwing four touchdown passes.

King completed 15 of 26 passes for 178 yards and the four TDs in his UM debut.

“D’Eriq King, his ability to make plays — four touchdown passes, played with his feet, really, really ignited our offense and really got ‘em going,” UM coach Manny Diaz said in a UM-released video.

UM did not report on the backup quarterbacks vying for the No. 2 spot behind King.

“I was very pleased with the way our guys got after it,’’ Diaz said. “The tempo of the offense was telling. We were able to run a lot of plays, got a lot of action. And I thought it was highly competitive. Both sides made a lot of things happen.”

Diaz said that true freshman running backs Jaylan Knighton and Don Chaney had terrific nights. Knighton rushed for 126 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. Chaney rushed 57 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.

“Both guys, explosive runs,’’ Diaz said. “Chaney, with some good hard runs and some short-yardage stuff. And both of them had the ability when they got out into the open field to make things happen. Once they got comfortable, you could really see their explosion.’’

Other offensive standouts included junior tight end Will Mallory, with four catches for 71 yards and a touchdown and senior receiver Mike Harley, who had two touchdowns.

Freshman receiver Xavier Restrepo had two catches for 54 yards, while fellow freshman Michael Redding III had three catches for 41 yards. Restrepo added a 70-yard rushing touchdown.

Diaz said he was pleased with the offensive operation of the scrimmage, considering it was a new offense and the team’s first time out after only a week of fall camp and four days of spring. “You know, your presnap penalties, guys lining up, just...knowing what to do — I thought we were outstanding in that.”

Diaz praised offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee, saying he and his staff “did a great job of getting his guys prepared. ...I was very impressed.’’

Defensive standouts

On the defensive side, Diaz, UM’s former defensive coordinator, said formerly injured linebackers Bradley Jennings and Waynmon Steed (five tackles), both redshirt juniors, excelled.

“Both made a lot of good things happen.’’

Diaz added that sophomore Sam Brooks, redshirt freshman Avery Huff, freshman Corey Flagg and freshman Tirek Austin-Cave — all linebackers — impressed him. “Flagg (sack) and Cave, they left their mark a few times on some big hits,’’ the coach said.

“It’s fun. We got a great competition at linebacker, not even to mention Zach McCloud. We got a lot of guys we think that can play. That competition is far from over.’’

And more:

▪ Redshirt junior transfer defensive end Jaelan Phillips, who played a little more than a quarter, “was relentless off the edge” and very fast, Diaz said.

▪ Freshman defensive end Chantz Williams had five tackles and two sacks Sunday. Williams is from Jacksonville and graduated from Oakleaf High, the same high school of linebacker Shaq Quarterman, now with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

▪ Freshman Marcus Clarke had an interception.

▪ Safety Gurvan Hall led all defenders with seven tackles.

▪ UM is off on Monday, the first day of classes, and will be back at practice Tuesday.

Sad news

▪ Earlier in the night, FIU released the news that wide receivers coach Aubrey Hill, 48, who played for the Florida Gators and also coached wide receivers at Miami, died after a long battle with cancer.

“In a year of difficult news,’’ Diaz lamented on Twitter just before 10 p.m. “this one really hurts. Our prayers are with Aubrey’s family as well as the entire Carol City community.’’