Running back Don Chaney Jr. has gotten far more of the fanfare in the Miami Hurricanes 2020 signing class, but Jaylan Knighton was actually ranked higher. Knighton is getting a chance to shine during spring practice with Chaney out with a shoulder injury.
The Miami Hurricanes signing four-star running backs Jaylan Knighton and Don Chaney Jr. in the same class was a huge coup in South Florida. Knighton was the top RB in Broward County and Chaney in Miami-Dade in the Class of 2020. Knighton is getting a chance to shine this spring with Chaney out with a shoulder injury.
The Miami Hurricanes have a lot of talent at RB entering the 2020 season but not a lot of depth. With Chaney out this spring, the Hurricanes have junior Cam’Ron Harris who is expected to be the starter, redshirt junior Robert Burns and Knighton as the only healthy halfbacks for Miami who figure in the rotation in 2020.
Knighton enters Miami as part of the first class the Hurricanes will have in the new up-tempo spread offense being run by recently hired offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee. Knighton, Chaney and Harris will all challenge for carries and to be the first-team RB. Knighton has performed well during the first two days of spring practice.
Harris is the expected starter to replace DeeJay Dallas who left for the NFL with one season of eligibility remaining. Knighton is expected to be a versatile back in the Lashlee offense. At 5’9 184 pounds, he is being projected as a third-down back as a freshman. Harris is also 5’9 and has bulked up to 209 pounds.
@jaylan_knighton Keep balling mainman 💯 https://t.co/MTkKi9Lt2a
— Nico Casares (@nico_casares) March 4, 2020
"“Jaylan, for a true freshman two days in… Again, we don’t have pads on yet, but just his ability to have no fear and jump in there has been impressive. It’s exciting that he gets to have a whole spring. You can definitely see his burst.”"
The comments by Lashlee to the Miami Herald indicate that Knighton has a grasp of the offense and his confidence from the beginning of spring practice is impressive. Head coach Manny Diaz stated after practice on Monday that the lack of depth at RB helped sign Chaney and Knighton.
Diaz emphasized the ability for Knighton and Chaney to be factored into the offense this fall was another advantage in getting them both to sign. The departures of Dallas and former five-star RB Lorenzo Lingard as a transfer to Florida helped open up playing time in 2020 and beyond. Knighton is definitely a player to watch this spring.