D’Eriq King was one of the best quarterbacks in the country during his stellar 2018 season at Houston, but he says he is willing to give up playing that position if it helps his chances of making an impact in the NFL.
King is planning to throw with quarterbacks and run routes with wide receivers at the NFL Scouting Combine this week, according to Mike Garfolo of NFL Network. While some college quarterbacks are offended when NFL talent evaluators think they should change positions, King has embraced the challenge. He spoke about his versatility during a recent appearance on the “Gramlich and Mac Lain” podcast.
Just make a team. That’s what it’s about in the #NFL. The more you can do, listen in to D’Eriq King discuss his approach to this mindset.
👑 https://t.co/iinmByfsdd pic.twitter.com/S6fyo52c6x
— Eric Mac Lain (@EricMacLain) March 1, 2022
“It’s difficult. I’ve played quarterback my whole life,” King said. “But at this point in my career, I just love football so much that I want to play for as long as I can. … I was advised to just do whatever I can, really. Whether that’s kick returns, catch punts receivers, special teams, play quarterback — do anything I can to show value.”
King’s injury history has made him difficult to evaluate. He threw for 2,982 yards with 36 touchdowns and just six interceptions in a stellar 2018 season with Houston. He rushed for 674 yards and had another 14 scores on the ground that year. The rest of his college career was plagued by injuries.
King transferred to Miami in 2020, and he put up solid numbers before tearing his ACL late in the year. He then suffered multiple injuries last season and did not play much.
Anytime the idea of a quarterback changing positions in the NFL comes up, it’s natural to think about how badly one former executive botched his Lamar Jackson evaluation. King is not nearly as good of a prospect as Jackson was, however. He’s smart to keep his options open.
