Miami Hurricanes running back DeeJay Dallas will reunite with former teammate Travis Homer after the Seattle Seahawks drafted him in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft on Saturday.
Miami Hurricanes running back DeeJay Dallas will reunite with his former teammate Travis Homer after he was selected with the 144th overall pick in the fourth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday. Dallas provides Seattle with a versatile player out of the backfield. Dallas is a tough runner who is adept out of the backfield and as a blocker.
Dallas spent his first two seasons with the Miami Hurricanes ironically as Homer’s backup. Dallas moved to running back from wide receiver as a freshman as Homer ascended to the first-team following a season-ending injury to starter Mark Walton. Dallas led Miami in rushing in 2019 before suffering his own season-ending injury.
Dallas suffered a fractured elbow in the penultimate game of the 2019 Miami football season in the Hurricanes devastating loss to Florida International. Dallas finished the 2019 season with 693 yards rushing and eight touchdowns and added 14 receptions for 140 yards and another two TDs. Dallas is also an adept return man.
Dallas averaged 21 yards on 20 kickoff returns and 17.4 yards on 11 punt returns in his three-year Miami career. All of Dallas’ punt returns were in his junior year and included one TD. The advantage that Homer has over Dallas if the two compete for a spot on the Seahawks roster is that Homer is excellent on kick coverage.
Homer is currently second on the Seattle depth chart at RB behind starter Chris Carson. Adam Choice and Rashaad Penny are the third and fourth team RBs for the Seahawks. Choice is entering his second season from Clemson. Penny was a first-round pick by Seattle in 2018. It would be surpassing for Penny to be cut.
Seattle struggled greatly with injuries in the backfield at the end of last season. Homer moved up the depth chart and started in the Seahawks playoff game because of the injuries. Homer finished his rookie season with 114 rushing yards on 18 carries and added 11 receptions for 56 yards. Dallas provides Seattle with quality depth.
Dallas will provide the Seahawks with a tough, mostly durable runner outside of the season-ending injury at the end of the 2019 season. The switch Dallas made from WR to RB as a freshman in 2017 shows his willingness as a team player. Dallas primarily played quarterback and defensive back in high school.