A knee injury to former Miami Hurricanes five-star signee Lorenzo Lingard as a freshman in 2018 allowed classmate Cam Harris to rise up the depth chart and eventually become an elite running back.
Cam’Ron Harris has patiently moved up the depth chart for the Miami Hurricanes at running back. Harris was not as highly touted as former five-star signee Lorenzo Lingard at RB for Miami. Lingard suffered a knee injury as a freshman that hindered him throughout his tenure at Miami and allowed Harris to move up the depth chart.
Harris had 166 rushing yards and two touchdowns and three receptions for 25 yards and a TD receiving as a freshman in 2019 as the third-team RB behind Travis Homer and DeeJay Dallas. Backing up Dallas in 2019, Harris ran for 516 yards and five TDs and added 16 receptions for 118 yards and another TD.
With Dallas off to the NFL following the 2019 season, Harris has thrived in the new offense put in by offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee. Harris has rushed for 134 yards in each of the first two Miami Hurricanes games in 2020 and added five receptions for 14 yards. Harris has broken through the shadow of other Miami RBs.
Following the 2019 season, Lingard transferred to Florida to be closer to home. Before getting injured, Lingard ran for 136 yards and two TDs on 17 carries in 2018 before his injury. Recovering from injury, Lingard was used sparingly in 2019. Rivals.Com profiled the decision by Lingard to transfer from Miami to Florida.
"Lorenzo Lingard — Miami to FloridaClass of 2018:13 National4 State2 Position“One of the nation’s top running backs in the Class of 2018, Lingard went into Miami with big expectations. But a knee injury his freshman season slowed his progress and he barely saw the field in 2019.He elected to transfer last winter and quickly landed at Florida, where he won an appeal to be eligible this season. He isn’t listed on the Gators two-deep headed into this week’s season-opener.(Rivals National Recruiting Director Mike) Farrell’s take: Lingard was a huge get for Miami with size and explosive speed who was a player who could move the chains but also score from anywhere. His second chance is at Florida and he should have success there and be the big-time back they’ve lacked for years."
Harris has been the heart of the Miami Hurricanes offense this season. The ability for Harris to make big plays has led the Hurricanes to become an offense with the ability to score anywhere on the field. Harris had a 66-yard TD run in the season opener against UAB and a 75-yard run last week against Louisville.
The ability that Lingard possesses is what Harris is producing for Miami. Without being on the two-deep for Florida, it will likely take time for Lingard to make an impact with the Gators. Harris is the top RB for Miami and was a major contributor in 2019. Harris is pushing for All-ACC or potentially All-American in 2020.