NASHVILLE, Tenn. (SMU) – SMU Quarterbacks Coach
D'Eriq King has been tabbed to the 247Sports 30under30 list, the publication announced on Tuesday.
The list is in its eighth year and surveys dozens of contacts across the industry to find the best sub-age-30 coaches and staffers in college football.
"One of the most dynamic quarterbacks of the last decade in college football who set the AAC's record for touchdowns responsible for in a single season at Houston, King is now one of the youngest on-field assistants in the sport," Chris Hummer of 247Sports said. "He joined SMU's staff last year as an offensive analyst and immediately impressed; Mustangs head coach
Rhett Lashlee always hoped he could lure King into coaching when King finished playing for him at Miami. Lashlee promoted King to quarterbacks coach last December, and those around the program have raved about King thus far."
King, 26, served as an offensive analyst for a majority of 2023 before being promoted to quarterbacks coach on December 20. He played a role in the development of quarterbacks
Preston Stone and
Kevin Jennings during the season, which saw the Mustangs score at least 55 points four times in 2023, the most in program history for a single season.
SMU's offense also finished top five in program history in first downs (first), passing touchdowns (fifth), passing yards (fifth) and total yards (tied for first). Stone went on to become an All-AAC Third-Team selection and Pro Football Focus All-AAC selection that year, posting career highs in passing yards and touchdowns.
A native of Manvel, King has a wealth of experience already at the QB position, having starred collegiately at Houston (2016-19) and Miami (2020-21), with the final two years coming with Lashlee as the offensive coordinator for the Hurricanes.
In his playing career at Houston (2016-19) and Miami (2020-21), he passed for 8,378 yards and 76 touchdowns in five seasons between the two schools. King also recorded at least 2,500 yards passing and 500 rushing yards twice in his collegiate career.
