Miami Hurricanes RB Jaylan Knighton one of CFB best freshmen in preseason camp
Freshman running back Jaylan Knighton has been exceptional in the first two Miami Hurricanes scrimmages of 2020. One national college football site named Knighton one of the best freshmen nationally in training camps.
Miami Hurricanes freshman running back Jaylan Knighton has 22 carries for 169 yards and two TDs through the first two scrimmages. Knighton should be a big part of the Miami offense in 2020 as the second-team RB behind junior Cam Harris. Knighton was named one of the best freshmen nationally by 247sports.
Miami is switching to what new Hurricanes offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee referred to as a power spread. The spread is often misinterpreted as an offense that will throw it far more than run. That largely depends on who is calling the plays. SMU was a respectable 43rd averaging 180.85 rushing yards per game in 2019.
Lashlee brings the offense he ran with the Mustangs the past two seasons and previously led at Auburn and UConn to Miami. With Harris, Knighton and freshman Don Chaney Jr. expect the Miami rushing offense to improve from 120th in FBS and an average of 118.08 yards per game in 2019. Knighton was profiled by 247 Sports.
"MIAMI- JAYLAN KNIGHTON, RB (No. 10 RB, No. 106 overall)“Cam’Ron Harris will be Miami’s starter at running back, but freshman Jaylan Knighton has exploded on the scene with the best performances in scrimmages this month. He leads the Hurricanes with 169 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries in a pair of scrimmages, according to our insiders at Miami.In a run-heavy offense, you can expect to see Knighton on the field this season as Miami tries to spread the field horizontally in the running game. He has plenty of speed and will be a change-of-pace ‘back for the Hurricanes. Fellow freshman Don Chaney Jr. will also contribute.”"
The trio of RBs leading the Miami rushing attack will be assisted by quarterback D’Eriq King. King should be the best running QB in Miami history. King has run for 1,421 yards, an average of 5.6 yards per carry and 28 touchdowns in his collegiate career. Malik Rosier holds the Miami record for a QB with 831 rushing yards.
Next. Miami RBs could be strength offensive in 2020. dark
With a great season, King could eclipse Rosier’s career total. King ran for 674 yards and 14 TDs in 11 games in 2018 with Houston in his last full season. Knighton should have the opportunity for a breakthrough season as a freshman. Ke’Mon Freeman ran for 517 yards and five TDs as the second-team RB for SMU in 2019.