2020 NFL Draft: Best running back option in all 7 rounds
Round 7: DeeJay Dallas, Miami
Finding a running back in the seventh round is possible. As mentioned, Chris Carson was taken in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Yet, he rushed for over 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons, including finishing fifth in rushing in 2019 with 1,230 yards. A player who has the same potential as Carson is former Miami Hurricanes running back DeeJay Dallas.
The former high school quarterback moved to running back for the Hurricanes in 2017. He improved every year, rushing for 217 yards as a freshman, followed up by 617 yards the next season and his junior year saw him reel off 695 yards. He averaged six yards per carry in his final season and showed why he’s ready for the NFL.
The former Hurricane has a tough running style. He sees the hole and hits the hole with a solid burst. He fights through contact and shows good balance. At 5-10, 217 pounds, he uses his dense size well with slipping and breaking tackles.
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Dallas is a project in terms of third-down readiness. Although he has wide receiver on his résumé, he wasn’t given many opportunities to display his route running or hands (28 career receptions). And he’s not ready to take on blitzers in pass protection, though the effort is there. However, thanks to his solid contact balance, power and tenacity, he’s ready to come in and compete for a backup role in a gap scheme offense.