Traveling to Miami and successfully playing a football game is an accomplishment. UAB, the league’s best team and reigning West division champion went to Miami to take on a Hurricane team that we last saw get wiped off the field by FIU. This was a different squad, and we did not expect more of the same.
UAB looked good in spurts, with Spencer Brown looking explosive and like he can play at the next level. He is one of the league’s best backs — if not the best — and if anyone was going to look like a quality player against Miami it was him. He had 74 yards on 16 carries and essentially carried the Blazers to their second touchdown.
Outside of the two touchdown drives, the Blazers looked impotent offensively. QB Tyler Johnston III struggled, only mustering 15 of 23 passing, 150 yards and a score. He missed some open receivers — like, hit the ground in front of them — on occasion.
Overall, the strength of this team is the Blazer defense and they were solid and formidable for a while. Until D’Eriq King decided to show his talent. Often, King was trapped, either in the grasp or with no where to throw the ball and he escaped. He is speedy, and was faster than anyone on the field — likely from both sides. He scored on a 12-yard run in the second quarter and made some heroic plays on drives that sputtered out otherwise.
Ultimately, UAB was out-talented. There is not much anyone can do, although they would probably like some moments back to re-execute. The good news is there are not any dynamic talents on the level of D’Eriq King in CUSA, or CUSA West 1
Jason Bean of NT is fast, but is inexperienced compared to King. Same with UTSA’s QB. Lots of talent, but little experience ↩
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