DeeJay Dallas was the consummate player and teammate during this three seasons with the Miami Hurricanes. The versatile running back will be a late-round steal in the 2020 NFL Draft.
DeeJay Dallas ran for 1,527 yards, averaged 5.8 yards per carry, scored 17 rushing touchdowns and added 28 receptions for another 317 yards and two more TDs during his three seasons with the Miami Hurricanes. Dallas proved to be a versatile player by averaging 21 yards on kickoff returns 17.4 yards with a TD on punt returns.
As an adept blocker with the ability to run the football, catch passes and return punts and kickoffs, Dallas should be a late-round steal in the 2021 NFL Draft. Dallas is being projected as a third-day pick on Saturday between the fifth and seventh rounds. The NFL Draft starts on Thursday night with the first round.
The second and third rounds of the NFL Draft are Friday night with the fourth through seventh rounds concluding the draft on Saturday. It would be shocking for Dallas to be selected before day three. Dallas was one of eight Miami Hurricanes players that participated in the NFL Combine in Indianapolis in February and early March.
A smart player and leader who was a quarterback in high school, Dallas signed with Miami as an athlete. After beginning his Hurricanes career as a wide receiver, an injury to starting RB Mark Walton in 2017 necessitated Dallas moving to RB to back up Travis Homer. Lance Zierlein of NFL.Com profiled Dallas.
"“Dallas was a high school quarterback who came into Miami as a receiver and converted to running back during the 2017 season. The production is modest and the instincts are a work in progress, but there are flashes of run-lane feel and downhill smoothness that could be a sign of future development.He has size, speed and a surprising amount of pop as a finisher. His contact balance makes him hard to bring down through contact, but he needs to improve his open-field wiggle. He lacks third-down readiness, but his special teams talent should make up for that.The traits and toughness make him an intriguing upside prospect on Day 3.”"
The overall game of Dallas and his potential outweigh any deficiencies that he might have in his game. Zierlein clearly sees the potential Dallas has at the next level. He did not become a starter until this past season after Homer left for the NFL following his junior season in 2018. Dallas followed the path leaving a year early.
Dallas showed maturity early in his commitment to the Miami Hurricanes football program. He was one of the leaders in the 2017 Miami signing class often recruiting other players to join him in Coral Gables. Dallas’ commitment to the team and doing whatever he needs to do to make his team better will help him in the NFL.