Versatile Dallas Shining at Running Back
By David Villavicencio
HurricaneSports.com
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – DeeJay Dallas is a football player.
The freshman from Brunswick, Ga., was a high school quarterback and defensive back who also returned kicks and punts. He arrived at Miami as an early enrollee in January and was listed as an athlete.
“When I came in, I was a receiver,” Dallas said. “In the recruiting process I told Coach Richt, ‘I can play anything. Whatever I’ve got to do, I’ll do it.'”
Dallas began his career at wide receiver and was contributing on special teams, but an injury to All-ACC running back Mark Walton left the Hurricanes lacking in depth at the position.
The versatile Dallas transitioned from receiver to running back following Miami’s victory over Florida State and began to contribute in the backfield a few weeks later at North Carolina, catching a pass and juking a defender before sprinting for a career-long 49-yard reception.
“It was tough at first learning pass protection and new terminology,” Dallas said. “At receiver, I just need to know my routes and route concepts. At running back, you need to know the route concepts and the pass protection and what the line is doing and how they’re blocking. That was kind of tough in the beginning.”
A week later, Dallas got six carries for 32 yards against Virginia Tech. But the freshman exploded for a career day in Miami’s 41-8 win over then-No. 3 Notre Dame, rushing for 53 yards on 12 carries and scoring his first two touchdowns as a Hurricane.
“I’m proud of DeeJay,” Miami offensive coordinator Thomas Brown said. “He has a long way to go in the process, but he’s made a bunch of plays for us in the last few weeks in a short amount of time playing tailback. He’s been an unselfish guy the entire time, playing on special teams at the beginning of the year and playing a bunch of receiver, but obviously, an injury opened up an opportunity for him to get on the football field. He’s taking a hold of it. He’s coming in every single day and trying to find ways to get better and improve. He’s an alpha-male-type personality, which I think is good for our room and our program. He’ll continue to find ways to get better.”
In addition to his work at running back, Dallas got a taste of a familiar position against the Fighting Irish playing wildcat quarterback.
“It just took me back to high school,” Dallas said. “I was having fun in high school and Coach Richt threw me in the wildcat and I was having fun then, too.”
Dallas is one of the several freshmen who has made an impact for the Hurricanes in 2017. Offensive lineman Navaughn Donaldson has been a mainstay in Miami’s starting lineup, while wide receivers Jeff Thomas and Mike Harley have made an impact on offense.
The freshmen have been even more impactful on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive back Trajan Bandy has emerged as Miami’s nickel corner and had an interception return for a touchdown against Notre Dame, while Jonathan Garvin has recovered fumbles after strip sacks in consecutive games.
Miami has started freshman punter Zach Feagles all season, while freshmen defensive backs Derrick Smith and Amari Carter, as well as linebackers De’Andre Wilder and Bradley Jennings, Jr., and defensive linemen DJ Johnson and Jonathan Ford have also seen action.
“That was our whole goal when we were getting together,” Dallas said of the freshman class. “That’s the reason why we came to The U, to win championships.”
Brown believes the freshmen have consistently pushed the upperclassmen in practice, while the veterans have continued to raise the standard for everyone to strive for.
“Competition, I think, drives this program and makes this program great,” Brown said. “With the product that you’ve seen the last two weeks on the game field, starts on this practice field – when guys come out here and spill it. We force these guys to be perfect every single day as much as we can and they continue to embrace it and keep getting better.”
Dallas has taken the advice from veterans to “keep a level head and continue to grind and stay on track. Don’t get too big for the moment.” The talented freshman has not let his recent success change his approach.
“It’s the same me,” Dallas said. “I’m not going to change. I want the ball, but when it’s my time then I’m going to take advantage of my opportunity.”
