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After last week's de-commitment of Alex Collins, the Miami staff has been contacting possible backup options if they can't convince Collins to get back on board. While there's still a chance Collins opts to come to Miami, I would be surprised at this point to see him pick the 'Canes over Florida State. Derrick Green (VA) and AJ Turman from Orlando are two of the more talented backs that Miami has been in touch with, but neither are extremely realistic options at this point. Green could become realistic if he visits, but that is still up in the air. RB Coach Terry Richardson has been talking to him a lot over the past few weeks and was at his game last Friday, but he needs to get him on campus for a visit before I would consider him a viable and legitimate option.
The depth chart at running back is looking really thin next year with Mike James graduating and rumblings that Eduardo Clements and Dallas Crawford aren't thrilled with their roles and are considering leaving the program. I'm expecting one of those two not to be on the team next year, so that would leave Miami with Duke Johnson, Crawford/Clements, and Danny Dillard, who has garnered mixed reviews in his short time at Miami. With as easily as running backs can get injured, Miami absolutely needs at least one in this class.
In my opinion, the search for a back should go no further than Miami-Dade County. There are two running backs in UM's backyard that would gladly jump on a Miami offer and fit what the 'Canes are trying to do. The first is Darius Tice from Miami Northwestern. Tice has burst onto the scene this season and has put up monster numbers (1136 YDS, 9.1 YPC, 18 TD) in the toughest district in the entire country. He holds offers from Purdue, Ole Miss, FAU, and Utah State right now. He is a horse at 6", 220 with a great burst and attitude with the ball in his hands. My main concern with him is his running style, in which he basically leans backwards when he runs (seems funny, but it's true). Because of this technique, he tends to fumble the ball quite a bit as well. I think this can be corrected with coaching, though. The thing that can't be coached that he has is his mindset. He runs hard at all times and isn't afraid to run defenders over. I can see where the staff has possible concerns about his game though, which is why I'm not on the bandwagon of him "needing" an offer yet.
On the other hand, I cannot fathom why Miami has not even contacted Columbus RB Daryl Chestnut, Jr. since the Collins de-commitment. Last year, Chestnut was apart of the 3-headed monster alongside Brandon Radcliff (now at Louisville) and Lorenzo Woodley (multiple D1 offers) and still put up great numbers. This season with Radcliff gone, Chestnut has stepped up his game in a big way. He is leading South Florida with 12.3 yards per carry and has 13 touchdowns on only 89 carries. Chestnut also tends to have his best games against the best competition. If he got more touches, his numbers would look even more insane. Numbers don't tell the whole story with prospects, but that is just a glimpse of what makes him a special player. His speed is what many know him for, but that is only one piece of his game. At 5'9", 190 he has a lot more power than people give him credit for and has great feet. He has the ability to come out of a pack of defenders to break a long run by hitting small holes. Chestnut also has good hands out of the backfield. He has offers from the likes of West Virginia, Texas Tech, Kansas State, and NC State amongst others.
While some argue that Miami needs a "workhorse" type back in this class, I disagree with that statement. Mike James, who is considered to be the primary ballcarrier for this year's team, is only averaging 12.2 carries per game and has only one game with over 15 carries (also has only one game with 15). Miami needs to take the best available running back out there. Daryl Chestnut is not Duke Johnson from a talent standpoint, but he has a similar style of play and can break a game open like Duke. Another thing to look at is that Miami is currently in good position with 2014 running backs Sony Michel and Dalvin Cook, who could really fill up the depth chart in two years, although Miami still needs somebody in this class regardless.
The 'Canes need as many playmakers as they can get (on both sides of the ball) and it would be a shame to see a South Florida kid from a position of need get away merely because Miami didn't recruit him.
The depth chart at running back is looking really thin next year with Mike James graduating and rumblings that Eduardo Clements and Dallas Crawford aren't thrilled with their roles and are considering leaving the program. I'm expecting one of those two not to be on the team next year, so that would leave Miami with Duke Johnson, Crawford/Clements, and Danny Dillard, who has garnered mixed reviews in his short time at Miami. With as easily as running backs can get injured, Miami absolutely needs at least one in this class.
In my opinion, the search for a back should go no further than Miami-Dade County. There are two running backs in UM's backyard that would gladly jump on a Miami offer and fit what the 'Canes are trying to do. The first is Darius Tice from Miami Northwestern. Tice has burst onto the scene this season and has put up monster numbers (1136 YDS, 9.1 YPC, 18 TD) in the toughest district in the entire country. He holds offers from Purdue, Ole Miss, FAU, and Utah State right now. He is a horse at 6", 220 with a great burst and attitude with the ball in his hands. My main concern with him is his running style, in which he basically leans backwards when he runs (seems funny, but it's true). Because of this technique, he tends to fumble the ball quite a bit as well. I think this can be corrected with coaching, though. The thing that can't be coached that he has is his mindset. He runs hard at all times and isn't afraid to run defenders over. I can see where the staff has possible concerns about his game though, which is why I'm not on the bandwagon of him "needing" an offer yet.
On the other hand, I cannot fathom why Miami has not even contacted Columbus RB Daryl Chestnut, Jr. since the Collins de-commitment. Last year, Chestnut was apart of the 3-headed monster alongside Brandon Radcliff (now at Louisville) and Lorenzo Woodley (multiple D1 offers) and still put up great numbers. This season with Radcliff gone, Chestnut has stepped up his game in a big way. He is leading South Florida with 12.3 yards per carry and has 13 touchdowns on only 89 carries. Chestnut also tends to have his best games against the best competition. If he got more touches, his numbers would look even more insane. Numbers don't tell the whole story with prospects, but that is just a glimpse of what makes him a special player. His speed is what many know him for, but that is only one piece of his game. At 5'9", 190 he has a lot more power than people give him credit for and has great feet. He has the ability to come out of a pack of defenders to break a long run by hitting small holes. Chestnut also has good hands out of the backfield. He has offers from the likes of West Virginia, Texas Tech, Kansas State, and NC State amongst others.
While some argue that Miami needs a "workhorse" type back in this class, I disagree with that statement. Mike James, who is considered to be the primary ballcarrier for this year's team, is only averaging 12.2 carries per game and has only one game with over 15 carries (also has only one game with 15). Miami needs to take the best available running back out there. Daryl Chestnut is not Duke Johnson from a talent standpoint, but he has a similar style of play and can break a game open like Duke. Another thing to look at is that Miami is currently in good position with 2014 running backs Sony Michel and Dalvin Cook, who could really fill up the depth chart in two years, although Miami still needs somebody in this class regardless.
The 'Canes need as many playmakers as they can get (on both sides of the ball) and it would be a shame to see a South Florida kid from a position of need get away merely because Miami didn't recruit him.
