This is what happens when competition is again king at The U; there is some fallout. In this case it’s redshirt freshman running back Danny Dillard who is moving on, as it appears the depth chart swallowed him whole.
Dillard signed with the Miami Hurricanes in 2012 as a three-star prospect out of Bradenton, Florida and was ranked as the 35th running back prospect via Rivals.com while Scout.com had him 62nd.
After redshirting in 2012, a season that saw true freshman Duke Johnson explode on to the scene and earning first-team honors as the 2013 campaign approaches, Miami will also welcome back senior Eduardo Clements and sophomore Dallas Crawford, who saw minimal action last year but is expected to play a bigger role this fall.
Dillard’s departure comes a day after true freshman running back Gus Edwards was deemed eligible as some Clearinghouse paperwork issues sidelined him days back. Edwards is expected to rise fast this fall, helping provide a one-two punch with Johnson, while Clements and Crawford provide extra depth.
Some simple math will show that the 6-foot-2, 225-pound Dillard is looking at a fifth seed depth chart-wise and would be looking at a second straight season of zero action at The U, prompting his departure.
As always, we wish any kid the best when they choose to leave UM and the same holds true for Dillard. Hope he lands on his feet elsewhere and has a great collegiate career.