South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Dallas delivers on promise with career performance
CORAL GABLES — Before his Miami Hurricanes traveled to Toledo to face an upset-minded Rockets team that was reveling in the fact a top-25 team was coming to their home field, UM running back DeeJay Dallas made it clear he felt his team would escape Toledo unscathed.
“We’re built to crush dreams,” he said this past week when asked about the atmosphere he expected at Glass Bowl Stadium.
On Saturday in Toledo, Dallas delivered on his promise.
The sophomore running back put together a career performance rushing for a game-high and career-high 110 rushing yards and a touchdown in No. 21 Miami’s 49-24 victory over the Rockets.
And more than once, the running back — whose quote more than likely made its way to Toledo — looked up at the Rockets’ student section where he was greeted by boos and asked for more.
Speed, confidence and that famed Hurricanes swagger? On Saturday afternoon, Dallas seemed to have all of it and then some.
“Yeah, I went out and went at the game like I always go at the game. We’re in enemy territory and I just feel like, ‘You want it? Come get it.’ So, we went out and we got it,” said Dallas, who has been one of the Hurricanes’ most outspoken ambassadors since committing to the program back in May 2016.
“I told you in the beginning of the week, ‘We’re built to crush dreams’ and that’s what we’re doing. And next week it’ll be the same thing. It’s the same story: underdog trying to come beat Miami in Hard Rock, and we’re just going to handle business.”
Dallas’ performance on Saturday was part of an impressive Hurricanes rushing attack, which has struggled at times RB DeeJay Dallas evades Toledo defensive lineman Tuzar Skipper during the first half of Miami’s 49-24 victory over the Rockets.
early this season.
In Miami’s opener, an ugly
33-17 loss to LSU in Arlington on Sept. 2, the Hurricanes managed just 83 rushing yards. Last week against Savannah State, the Hurricanes mustered just 43 rushing yards against the Division IIbound Tigers before rallying in the second half.
Against Toledo, the Hurricanes outgained the Rockets
268-112 with Dallas leading the way, quarterback Malik Rosier adding 80 rushing yards and veteran Travis Homer adding 62 rushing yards.
It’s a trend Miami (2-1) knows it must continue next week when it hosts FIU at Hard Rock Stadium — and beyond, particularly when ACC play begins later this month against North Carolina.
“That’s one thing I harp with our offensive linemen. I feel like even last year the biggest two games, the most fun games we had [were] Virginia Tech and Notre Dame and we ran the ball,” Rosier said.
Johnson injured
Safety Jaquan Johnson, a preseason All-American, left Saturday’s game late in the first half after injuring his right hamstring.
Toledo capitalized with him out of the game, converting on two passing touchdowns, including a 40-yarder from Mitchell
Guadagni in the third quarter that cut Miami’s lead to, 28-21.
After the game, Richt said because of the nature of Johnson’s injury, the Hurricanes felt it crucial to keep him off the field until he is evaluated further.
“We think it’s a hamstring. We don’t know how severe. We didn’t want to test it,” he said. “You just never know for sure sometimes. You get hot and muggy, fatigued. Sometimes a cramp will grab you like a hamstring. So, we’re not 100 percent sure to be honest with you. We’ll have to wait and see.”
Hurricanes in mourning
The Hurricanes were without safety Amari Carter on Saturday after the former Palm Beach Gardens standout stayed in South Florida to give the eulogy at the funeral of a member of his family, Richt said.
Carter wasn’t the only Hurricane in mourning Saturday afternoon.
Defensive end Joe Jackson attended the funeral of a family member on Friday before Miami traveled to Toledo. Jackson played in Saturday’s game and finished with three tackles, including 1.5 for losses.