Matt Waldman’s RSP Film Room reviews Houston quarterback D’Eriq King’s five-touchdown performance against Texas Tech. 

As far as first impressions go, I enjoyed studying D’Eriq King. My biggest question after watching him throw 50 passes in a loss to Texas Tech, is he really five-foot-eleven? If he’s within an inch and a half of that mark, it will be difficult for the NFL to argue that he’s a legitimate quarterback prospect.

King may have played four games at wide receiver for the Cougars and returned a kickoff for a touchdown, but this is a pocket quarterback with a feel for manipulating zone windows, the eye discipline to bait safeties, and the accuracy to win downfield. Media gave Kyler Murray the Russell Wilson comparisons but Murray’s pocket management is not yet deserving of the compliment.

King’s pocket work and some of his efforts outside of structure are more in line with what Wilson did as a collegian. After watching a few games, including this analysis below, I want to see King slow his process when throwing check-downs on the move as well as climb the pocket.

King slides 1-2 steps left or right from pressure and finds soft spots in the pocket, with most prospects don’t do well. I haven’t seen King climb and throw, which is something most prospects do much easier.

I’m excited about King’s work, especially his red zone management. If he builds on last year’s performance, he’ll not only earn top-billing as a finalist for college football awards at year’s end, he could also elevate his draft standing.

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