The CaneSport On3: Get ready because Jaylan Knighton is about to become a Miami Hurricane superstar

There have been flashes of greatness in the past from Jaylan Knighton as he enters his third season as a Miami Hurricane.

After Cam Harris’ season-ending injury last fall, Knighton started the final six games and ran for a team-high 561 yards with eight touchdowns and added 20 catches for 280 yards and three more TDs.

That’s a productive season.

But with Miami lacking playmakers on the outside this season plus depth in the backfield, Knighton is going to get an opportunity to do even more.  We will go out on a limb and suggest that his performance could evolve as the biggest key for Miami this season.

If Knighton can take his game to the next level, he could emerge as a superstar in college football.

One of Josh Gattis hallmarks at Michigan was his effective use of personnel. Blake Corum was the greatest example of a Knighton-style back with the Wolverines last season.  He ran for 952 yards and caught 24 passes for another 141 yards while scoring 12 touchdowns.

That’s the kind of season Knighton could have this year.

If it plays out like that, it will be amazing to watch.

Let’s take a look under the hood.

Knighton in the run game

On isolated plays, Knighton can be a legit threat running the ball from scrimmage. He had a long run of 40 yards last season.

In this run in the Pittsburgh game, the line gave him a big hole and Knighton was fast enough to exploit it, taking it to the house for a touchdown. On a singular play like that, Knighton is capable of looking as good as anybody in the country and he is certain to have some of those moments this season.

But a deeper examination shows this is not really the strength of his game, which is why we think Knighton will make a larger contribution, and a massive one, as a threat out of the backfield in the passing game.

Knighton had those 561 yards on 145 carries last season. That’s a very average 3.9 yards per carry.

His average was hurt by ineffectiveness on short yardage running plays, which Rhett Lashlee used a lot. But to use that as an excuse is oversimplifying. Knighton is not a big power back and unless the hole is sizeable he is not difficult to tackle. Knighton only averaged 2.17 yards after contact last season, per Pro Football Focus.

Knighton also made two starts as a true freshman in 2020, rushing for 209 yards

and a TD on 52 attempts. So around 4.0 yards per carry has been his average for two seasons now. That probably is what he is as a pure running tailback.

Henry Parrish on the other hand averaged 5.3 yards per carry on 105 carries at Ole Miss and seems a little better at making people miss in traffic. Look for Parrish to be the first option on early downs when Josh Gattis wants to run the football. There is a reason the coaching staff chose to bring him to Miami via the transfer portal.

Knighton also graded out poorly in pass protection – 36.2 percent. That will also make Parrish a solid option when Gattis is looking for the threat of the play-action pass.

Knighton in the passing game

But that doesn’t mean that Knighton can’t be a high-impact performer when used properly. Knighton showed what he can do as a pass catcher last year with his 20 receptions for 280 yards and three TDs. You might just see him double or triple that this season.

Knighton is shifty and an outstanding running back when he gets space, with moves, speed and big-play ability. That is what makes him such a threat in the passing game and this is where we expect Gattis to use him a lot.

Take a look at this play from last year’s North Carolina game. Knighton takes a simple swing pass and takes it the distance. Notice his ability to cut without slowing down. You don’t see that from most backs and that ability makes him a threat every time he touches the ball out in space.

Miami is lacking big play guys on the outside. Finding ways to scheme up stuff for Knighton in the passing game, something Rhett Lashlee did very effectively, is an obvious alternative for Gattis. Gattis just might and should do it a little more often.

In this play in the FSU game, you see Knighton again take a simple pass and make something happen. In this case, he broke a tackle at the second-level and scored.

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Knighton missed spring ball due to injury, so he came into fall camp with a lot to prove to the new coaching staff. He accomplished that mission rather easily because he really is the most dynamic offensive talent on the roster after Tyler Van Dyke.

CANESPORT’S TAKE

When Miami needs big plays this season, we expect Van Dyke to look toward Knighton often. Xavier Restrepo will likely lead the skill players in touches. But don’t be shocked if Knighton finishes ahead of Will Mallory in receiving and is No. 2. For Miami to accomplish its goals this season, that might need to be the case.