Miami Hurricanes RB Group Full of Promise, yet Unproven

The Miami Hurricanes kick off fall camp Friday with the regular season less than a month away.

Like the quarterback group, the running back position has many questions along with high hopes.

Whoever is under center (or in shotgun if you’re Tate Martell), they will need a strong running game to lean on.

Go Deejay, ‘Cause That’s my DeeJay

DeeJay Dallas is a good bet to be the top back on the depth chart in week one, and rightfully so.

After a sensational sophomore season where he led the team in all purpose yards and played in every game, Dallas looks to build on that and lead a young running back corps.

As the only upperclassman, his role as a proven leader could pay dividends.

UnderDog. #Year3 pic.twitter.com/a71QobyIvJ

— DeeJay Dallas (@DallasDeejay) July 19, 2019

A good chunk of those yards he accumulated were via kick and punt returns, it remains to be seen the workload Dallas will see in that role. He was able to break 100 yards three time last year, despite never carrying the ball more than 17 times in a game. With just 10 receptions last year, that could be an area of improvement for Dallas in a new system. He also slimmed down a bit from last season which may help him gain some quickness in the open field.

Harris Looks to Build on Strong Finish

One player to watch who could earn a steady diet of carries is Cam Harris, who continued to improve as the season progressed. Standing at 5-foot-10, Harris clocked in at around 190 pounds last year.

Strength Coach David Feeley will probably be happy with his offseason as he added 15 pounds according to the official UM roster.

If Harris can pick up where he left off in 2018 it will be interesting how the snaps get divided with Dallas as the season unfolds.

Harris will be the primary backup as Lorenzo Lingard works his way back into the fold.

Lingard Could be Lightning in a Bottle

One of several intriguing skill position players is sophomore Lorenzo Lingard.

The 6-0, 202 pound Lingard was one of the most coveted recruits coming out of Orange City, FL and showed why in limited action as a freshman. Lingard had a 64-yard scamper for a touchdown against Savannah State and averaged eight yards per carry in that small sample.

One dude who I am extremely excited to see in camp and I think isn’t getting enough pub is this guy 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/Vel4JvVg7Q

— 5Rings_Canes (@5Rings_Canes) July 22, 2019

A track star out of high school, his breakaway speed is a known commodity After a leg injury derailed his freshman season, it will be encouraging if he can stay healthy and earn more reps as the season progresses.

Dallas will likely get the call early and often, with Harris as the prime backup and Lingard situationally.

Special teams is a place where Lingard could get some more playing time as well.

Each brings their own skill set and abilities to the table, and every game will be its own story. If one back has the hot hand it could change the landscape quickly.

Make sure to check out the 5 Rings Canes Podcast for exclusive Miami Hurricanes content.

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