Miami football: DeeJay Dallas ACC best RB in 2019

Junior running back DeeJay Dallas is off to an exceptional start for the Miami football team. Dallas is in the top five in nearly every rushing statistic in the ACC except attempts.

The start DeeJay Dallas is having despite fewer carries than his peers an in a 1-2 start for the Miami football team has him challenging early to be named All-ACC in 2018. Dallas is fifth in the ACC in rushing yards, second in yards per carry, and tied for first in rushing touchdowns. Dallas has added five receptions for 37 yards.

Dallas has put up big yards on the ground despite being only 13th in carries. The junior ha37 carries for 309 to average 8.35 yards per carry and has run for four TDs. Dallas is averaging 103 rushing yards per game The junior is fifth in the ACC in rushing yards per game despite having five fewer carries than anyone in front of him.

Cam Akers of Florida State leads the ACC with 387 rushing yards and 129 rushing yards per game, but he has 69 carries. Dallas is one spot behind A.J. Dillon of Boston College. Dillon has only nine more yards than Dallas on 30 more carries. Saturday’s game against Bethune-Cookman might have been the best of Dallas’ career.

Dallas ran for 108 yards on 12 carries and three TDs. It was only the second time in Dallas’ career he scored multiple TDs from scrimmage in the same game. He ran for two TDs in the 2017 emphatic victory over Notre Dame. Dallas has quickly become the cornerstone of the Miami offense.

Miami football head coach Manny Diaz spoke after the 63-0 shutout victory over Bethune-Cookman on Saturday what Dallas means to the Hurricanes offense. Earlier this week Diaz praised his starting running back for his ability to run hard and have the breakaway speed to make a big play. Dallas is also adept in the Wildcat.

"“He is a guy that you want to build the identity of your offense around. When I think of the Miami Hurricanes on offense, I think of some hard running, downhill tailbacks. I think DeeJay wants to be in that legacy and he aspires to be one of those guys.Whether we are under center or in the gun and get behind our offensive line which is showing improvement and getting better week in and week out. Whether it is making the dirty four yards or being able to break it long, I think he has got a great versatility.”"

Dallas has had a breakout season after backing up Travis Homer the last two seasons. He spoke after the win over Bethune-Cookman about his need to continually improve.

"“It’s never about me but I still have a lot of improvement that I need to make and once I do make that improvement I feel like our offense will kind of move better.”"

Diaz and offensive coordinator Dan Enos have preached to the Miami running backs running North and South. They want a hard-running style. Dallas was asked in the post-game if he patterns his game after any running backs in Miami football history.

"“I like to watch a lot of like my favorite back is Willis McGahee and I tried to…model my game after him a little bit and he had that like one cut and go and he could also run you overSo I just try to try to pride myself on that and our coach (RB) Coach (Eric) Hickson really just has been just making us focus on running downhill getting north and not going east and west…I talked to Clinton Portis…all the time and I’m still like I said I still got a lot of improvement to do hopeful the position.”"

Dallas has been backed up this season by Cam Harris who is having a good season. Harris has 105 yards on 26 carries with two TDs. Harris would have much bigger numbers this season if not for having two 50 plus yard runs called back by penalty.

The Miami running game should continue to take pressure off Miami QB Jarren Williams. Miami is expected to get former five-star signee, sophomore Lorenzo Lingard back next week.