A position audible for Dallas

Team need moves freshman from receiver to RB

CORAL GABLES — As a coveted four-star prospect at Glynn Academy in Georgia, Miami Hurricanes freshman DeeJay Dallas did a little bit of everything.

He played quarterback, receiver, running back and defensive back in high school, while returning punts and kickoffs, too. He was named the Florida Times-Union 2016 Player of the Year after rushing for 1,201 yards and 15 touchdowns while throwing for another 911 yards and eight scores.

Coaches from major programs — including Auburn, Alabama, Florida, Florida State and Georgia — all saw Dallas’ versatile skill set and wanted him on campus. But it was Miami where he landed, and it’s the Hurricanes who are showcasing his skills in a big way.

During Saturday’s 41-8 win over then third-ranked Notre Dame, Dallas rushed for 53 yards and two second-half touchdowns. He took snaps under center when Miami went to its wildcat package. And a week earlier against Virginia Tech,

Dallas even had the opportunity to throw a pass to Hurricanes quarterback Malik Rosier, that, while not caught, showed that if needed, he could certainly use his arm to help Miami move the ball.

“It just took me back to high school,” Dallas said this week of playing quarterback as he and the Hurricanes continue preparing for Saturday’s home finale against Virginia. “I was having fun in high school, and coach Richt threw me in the wildcat, and I was having fun then, too.”

As exciting as the past couple of weeks have been for Dallas — who now has 85 rushing yards and 70 receiving yards — there have been challenges, too.

He arrived at Miami as an early enrollee in January, and Hurricanes coach Mark Richt and offensive coordinator Thomas Brown opted to make him a wide receiver to start. Dallas began learning the the Hurricanes’ route concepts, studying the playbook and tried to master his position.

Throughout the summer and even in camp, coaches continued debating whether to shift him to running back. They ultimately kept him at receiver — until October, when preseason All-ACC running back Mark Walton, who had been struggling with an ankle injury, needed season-ending surgery.

It was a worst-case scenario for the Hurricanes, who entered the season without much depth at running back. And so, Dallas moved to the Miami running backs corps, where his 5-foot-10, 200-pound frame was a little bit smaller for that position than Richt would have liked.

“All of a sudden, here he is, a little bit unfairly, trying to learn that position,” Richt said. “If he was going to be a running back, he probably would have been 10 pounds heavier. Because he was a receiver, he was cutting weight trying to get more quickness and that type of thing. … Then all of a sudden, he becomes a running back, and you can’t put muscle back on that fast. You get bigger, it’s usually not good weight. But he’s done it and he’s done a really good job.”

Added Brown: “I’m proud of DeeJay. Still 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.”

And for Dallas, finding ways to get on the field and help the Hurricanes has always been the goal. He never requested Miami play him anywhere other than where he was needed.

As the Hurricanes have surged up the rankings and notched nine consecutive wins to start his first season of college football, he’s just enjoying the ride and trying to make the most of whatever opportunities he’s being given.

“I’m having fun, honestly,” Dallas said. “When I came in, like you said, I was a receiver. And in the recruiting process, I told coach Richt, I could play anything. Whatever I need to do, I’ll do it.”

MICHAEL LAUGHLIN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Miami’s DeeJay Dallas, moved to running back after the injury earlier in the season to Mark Walton, had two touchdowns against Notre Dame on Saturday.

LYNNE SLADKY/AP One DeeJay Dallas’ scores came as he dove into the end zone in the second half. He also took the ball in the wildcat offense for three plays during the game.