Only Air Raid for Canes? Nope. UM will attack on the ground, too. At least four reasons why
For all those Hurricanes fans who think quarterback Tyler Van Dyke will be flinging the ball nonstop this season, University of Miami made it clear on Saturday that it will not be a one-dimensional offense.
Either that or these Canes will be wasting some pretty evident talent.
Nebraska redshirt freshman transfer AJay Allen, true freshman Mark Fletcher, returning starter Henry Parrish Jr. and veteran Don Chaney Jr. all got touches in the open scrimmage at Hard Rock Stadium and are intent on showing some serious value in their lower limbs — and, hopefully, serious blocking as well.
“Even though they say he’s a big Air Raid guy, when I first met him he said, ‘You know, we don’t start anything without running the ball,’’ Fletcher said Monday of new UM offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson. “He’s been standing on that information ever since I’ve been here. I love the offense.’’
Three of the four tailbacks spoke to the media after practice, including Allen and Fletcher for the first time. Redshirt freshman TreVonte’ Citizen, a four-star prospect out of Lake Charles, Louisiana, is still recuperating from a major knee injury heading into last season, but is expected to be back at some point this season.
“When I was growing up, this was a dream school,’’ Allen said, mentioning Canes great Frank Gore as his childhood favorite. “I could continue the legacy here.”
Allen took backup quarterback Jacurri Brown’s handoff during the second drive for about a 50-yard gain and had another 25-yard run several plays later. No official stats were released, but he likely surpassed 100 yards.
Fletcher, out of Plantation American Heritage, was explosive as he seamlessly melded at times with the first team and scored two rushing touchdowns. He plowed through contact on one and ran through a giant hole on the other.
“Anybody could have scored on that big hole from the O-line,’’ Fletcher said. “It was a walk-in.’’
Fletcher, who wears jersey No. 22, was rated by 247Sports as the nation’s seventh-best 2023 incoming running back. He ran for 4,124 yards on 7.7 yards per carry and 114.6 yards per game his past three years of high school, winning a Class 5A championship in 2019 and again leading American Heritage to the Class 2M title game in December.
“Good energy out there playing in my home town,’’ Fletcher said. “I was just excited to actually be playing in the Hard Rock instead of watching in the stands.”
Goal-line bruiser
The Canes desperately need a short-yardage, goal-line bruiser and 6-2, 227-pound Fletcher will be the guy — or undoubtedly one of them.
Last season, UM ranked 95th of 130 FBS teams in rushing offense (128.1 yards a game), 96th in scoring offense (23.6 points), 86th in red-zone offense and 76th in first-down offense.
“They said when I’m in the red zone, I have to score,’’ Fletcher said of offensive analyst Benedick Hyppolite. “’You don’t get in there without scoring.’ It’s something that motivates me. I’m a big back. I just gotta get it in for my team.”
Asked to describe himself as a running back, Fletcher called himself “a power back who can do it all.’’
“I can run past a guy, I can run through a guy, can catch the ball, anything to help the team.’’
Allen, given jersey No. 28, weighed in Monday at 190 pounds on his 5-11 frame. He’s from Monroe, Louisiana, and described himself as “a game-changer.’’
“I compare myself to Jonathan Taylor from the Colts,’’ Allen said. “We have similar games. When I get in space I do what I do best.’’
At Nebraska, Allen played last season in the first four games as a true freshman, before sustaining a season-ending collarbone injury. But he gained 190 yards in his 33 carries for a 5.8-yards-per-carry average. Saturday he looked as dominant as projected.
“It felt great,’’ he said of the scrimmage. “I can make big plays here on this offense.’’
Added Allen: “We have some fast guys on the team.’’
Henry Parrish
Former Ole Miss standout and Miami Columbus High star Parrish, who transferred to UM before last season, got the start Saturday, rushing only twice. Last season, the 5-10, 190-pound fourth-year junior rushed for 616 yards on 130 carries (4.7 yards per carry), with four touchdowns. He added 120 receiving yards on 17 catches with two aerial touchdowns.
“The competition is deep,’’ Parrish said. “Everyone has that urgency.”
Chaney could be the X-factor this season, provided he stays healthy. Classified as a fourth-year redshirt sophomore, Chaney missed most of the past two seasons (first in September 2021 with a major knee injury, and last season with a hip injury). He made his only appearance of 2022 in the finale against Pittsburgh, rushing for eight yards on two carries.
Saturday, Chaney, a former consensus four-star prospect and two-time Miami-Dade Player of the Year at Belen Jesuit, had a strong run in the first half with freshman Emory Williams as quarterback. He broke multiple tackles for about a 10-yard gain.
Said Parrish: “Guys opening up holes. You can see it clearly. No second guessing, just downhill running and making plays.
“Just excited to see what this year holds.’’
This story was originally published August 14, 2023 at 3:23 PM.
