D’Eriq King is Houston’s quarterback of the future.
Houston entered the season with a quarterback battle that featured Kyle Allen and Kyle Postma. Allen won the job early, and played the first three games. Inconsistent play and turnovers led to his benching, leaving the job to Postma. Until last week.
D’Eriq King came to Houston as a quarterback but has been mostly used as a receiver. With the Cougars needing a spark offensively seven games into the season, the sophomore took over last week in the Houston game, and got his first start Saturday. And he never looked back. King’s first game featured a 15-for-21 for 330 yards and three touchdown performance, leading Houston to a 52-27 win over ECU.
This was easily the most explosive the offense has looked all season, and King has played an integral role in that change. Major Applewhite’s decision to pick up the pace, along with King’s emergence are making the Cougars a threat. They already had the weapons to torch defenses, but it seemed that they didn’t have the right quarterback most of the time. King could also help a struggling offensive line from having to protect for a long time, as his speed allows him to scramble to escape pressure. This team may just be beginning to show it’s potential, and King should be a key piece for the rest of his tenure on campus.