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| Dallas found success as part of Miami's committee rushing attack |
The Rundown
Measurables
- Height: 5'10"
- Weight: 217 lbs
- Arm Length: 30 5/8"
- Hand Size: 9 1/4"
Combine Numbers
- 40-Yd Dash: 4.58 seconds
- Bench Press: DNP
- Vertical Jump: 33.5"
- Broad Jump: DNP
- 20-Yd Shuttle: 4.32 seconds
- 3-Cone Drill: 7.18 seconds
Accomplishments
- 1,527 career rushing yards averaging 5.8 yards per carry
- Averaged 17.4 return yards on 11 career punt returns
Highlight Reel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7v3z3Z84-o
What He Brings to The Table
- Downhill Mentality: Dallas has a one-cut, North-South running style, and does not shy away from physical play. He seldom shuffled his feet in place in the backfield, and consistently pressed forward while searching for a lane to run through. When a tackle was impending, he looked to explode into contact with aggression and fall forward. Dallas exhibited good contact balance and leg drive, and he was a threat to gain chunk yardage on second efforts. Arm tackles were insufficient, as defenders had to make concerted efforts to bring him down.
- 3rd Down Abillity: Dallas did not get to catch many passes at Miami, but he showed promise when given opportunities. He flashed soft hands to reel in screen passes, and had a spectacular one-handed grab against Florida in 2019. Somewhat underutilized in college as a receiver, he has the potential to be an effective check down option. Dallas also demonstrated effectiveness as a pass protector in college, picking up blitzers with regularity and even knocking defenders down on occasion. His technique in pass blocking needs some work (He preferred to throw his body into defenders rather than punch and engage them), but he is already capable and willing in this area.
Areas of Potential Concern
- Lack of Long Speed: Despite the chunk plays he reeled off, Dallas did not show great long speed. He has decent initial burst around the LOS (line of scrimmage), but does not have a second gear to truly challenge the next level of the defense, getting caught from behind on several of his longer plays. He did not display great explosiveness or acceleration either, and looked labored getting to the corner on outside runs at times. Once his feet are stopped, it takes him a while to get going again, allowing defenders to quickly close in and finish. Dallas can churn out the tough yardage, but is not a home-run threat as a runner.
- Vision and Footwork: Dallas had more of a one-speed approach to the LOS, and could stand to show better anticipation of developing running lanes. There were times where he ran right into the teeth of the defense instead of waiting for blocks to set up, looking to press the first opening rather than the ideal one. To maximize his opportunities, he will need to become more patient and let the game come to him.
Dallas runs with choppy feet, but is somewhat limited from an agility standpoint. He flashed the ability to force misses, but lacks great change-of-direction. There weren't many instances of him exploiting cutback lanes or changing the angle of his running track to evade tacklers. Given his quick-step running cadence, he could do more to pivot and manipulate defenders flowing to the ball.
Thoughts on Projection
Dallas is a tough, physical runner that lacks elite athletic traits. He is similar to Chris Carson in the way he stays upright and fights through contact, though he is not quite as explosive. Heading into his rookie season, Dallas looks like he would spell Carson and be deployed in short-yardage situations. He may also have special teams value given his usage as a punt and kick returner in college, but he looks to be a lower-ceiling type of player. Dallas has a chance to carve out a bigger role if his receiving skills translate and he continues to refine his pass protection. If both come to fruition, he could feature on 3rd downs and become a valuable contributor as part of a backfield rotation.
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