Seahawks Bolster Backfield Depth with RB DeeJay Dallas

Reunited with ex-Miami teammate Travis Homer, Dallas gives Seattle another physical, downhill runner with receiving ability and special teams talent.

Corbin K. Smith | Apr 25, 2020

Seahawks Bolster Backfield Depth with RB DeeJay Dallas /

For the second consecutive season, the Seahawks are turning to a Hurricane to help reinforce their backfield.

With the second of two fourth-round picks, Seattle landed physical Miami running back DeeJay Dallas at pick No. 144, reuniting him with former backfield mate Travis Homer in the Pacific Northwest.

By choosing Dallas, the Seahawks have now selected a running back in five consecutive drafts and eight of the past nine drafts overall.

Though he isn't known as a burner and ran a 4.58 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, Dallas fits the mold of a Seattle running back from a size and skill set standpoint. The 5-foot-10, 217-pound back bounces off of tacklers regularly and possesses excellent quickness for a short, stocky runner.

In three seasons with the Hurricanes, Dallas rushed for 1,527 yards and 17 touchdowns while adding 28 receptions for 317 yards as a receiver out of the backfield. He also offers special teams value, as he returned a punt for a touchdown during his sophomore season and returned 20 punts overall.

The Seahawks currently have question marks at the running back position with Rashaad Penny rehabbing a torn ACL and Chris Carson heading into the final year of his contract. Dallas will provide a hedge in case Penny isn't ready for the start of the season and his receiving ability should allow him to compete against Homer for third down duties.

Published Apr 25, 2020

CORBIN K. SMITH

Graduating from Manchester College in 2012, Smith began his professional career as a high school Economics teacher in Indianapolis and launched his own NFL website covering the Seahawks as a hobby. After teaching and coaching high school football for five years, he transitioned to a full-time sports reporter in 2017, writing for USA Today's Seahawks Wire while continuing to produce the Legion of 12 podcast. He joined the Arena Group in August 2018 and also currently hosts the daily Locked On Seahawks podcast with Rob Rang and Nick Lee. Away from his coverage of the Seahawks and the NFL, Smith dabbles in standup comedy, is a heavy metal enthusiast and previously performed as lead vocalist for a metal band, and enjoys distance running and weight lifting. A habitual commuter, he resides with his wife Natalia in Colorado and spends extensive time reporting from his second residence in the Pacific Northwest.