Lorenzo Lingard was spectacular in his collegiate debut in 2018 against FCS Savannah State. Lingard had 82 yards on four carries with two touchdowns. The former five-star signee was lost for the season after tearing his ACL against Virginia in October. Lingard hopes to make his return Saturday against Bethune-Cookman.
Fitting Lingard into a backfield that has thrived with junior starter DeeJay Dallas and backup Cam’Ron Harris will be difficult. Lingard has been lauded as the most explosive of the three Miami running backs when he is healthy. There is no way to know how Lingard’s knee will react until he is in a game.
Playing Bethune-Cookman is a good chance against a lesser opponent for Lingard to ease into the 2019 season and return as a viable member of the Miami football team. Lingard averaged eight yards per carry in 2018. He added two kickoff returns for 46 yards. That kind of big-play ability is what the Miami offense needs.
Lingard was productive in the second game of his collegiate career last season against FIU. With 10 carries for 50 yards against the Panthers last year, Lingard looked like he would get some key carries later in the season behind Travis Homer and Dallas. The ACL tear derailed his freshman season.