Miami Hurricanes RB Analysis: Position has talent, depth, but also question marks
As the Miami Hurricanes look to turn the page on the first two seasons of the Mario Cristobal era, neither of which lived up to expectations, this is a program that certainly needs an influx of talent in the portal while also developing the talent on the current roster. Miami took a big step forward this season in one sense, but did not have the won-loss record to really show for it.
CaneSport is going position-by-position this week looking at each spot and where the rebuilds need to happen, including an analysis of what is returning at each spot.
Today we are analyzing a very interesting situation at running back.
The team can return all its RB talent from this year – Mark Fletcher played and started games as a true freshman, Christopher Johnson redshirted as a true freshman, TreVonte’ Citizen is a redshirt freshman who suffered a major knee injury prior to last year’s season, Ajay Allen arrived as a redshirt freshman this year and Henry Parrish is a junior. Don Chaney, who has two years of play remaining, has entered the portal already.
Fletcher’s game-winning OT TD run vs. Virginia
There’s plenty of talent and big numbers at the position, and the team is also poised to add more talent with a commitment in the coming class from highly touted 4-star RB Kevin Riley (although UM will have to hold off a big charge from Alabama, where he will taken an OV, these last weeks before signing day). Chris Wheatley-Humphrey is a commit who could play RB but is more likely to wind up at DB.
Will this team hold seven running backs on its roster next year? We don’t think that’s optimal with tight roster numbers, and depending on Citizen’s status off that injury it will be interesting to see if the Canes bring him back. He will likely get extensive work at spring practice.
Chaney flashes his power and speed vs. FSU
It’s going to be interesting to see how that plays out.
It doesn’t seem Miami will need a portal addition given the talent here, and young backs like Fletcher and Allen already showed what they can do this year – Fletcher started three of the final four games after being banged up early-on and had a pair of 100-yard performances (23 carries, 115 yards at NC State, 17 for 126 and two TDs against Louisville). He has all the signs of a future star. Meanwhile Allen played in seven games, missing time injured, and had 282 rush yards and four scores.
The older backs also were heavy contributors, with Parrish leading the team with 570 rush yards and six TDs and the departing Chaney adding 478 yards and two scores.
Parrish with the first of two TD runs vs. BC
They also are different types of backs – the powerfully built Fletcher, Allen along with Citizen plus the lighter, faster receiving-type backs in Parrish and Johnson.
Overall the run game averaged a very healthy 176.8 yards per game (No. 47 in the nation) and 5.2 yards per carry; that was a big jump up from last year’s 128.2 rush yards per game and 3.7 yards per carry. So really a nice step up in the run game with an assist from a vastly improved offensive line. Also of note: Fletcher led the team with 3.81 yards after contact per carry (per Pro Football Focus) followed by Parrish at 3.58, Chaney at 2.88 and Allen at 2.79.
Allen shows his burst on a 30-yard TD run to close out the scoring at BC on Friday
This is a talented room from freshmen through juniors, and Riley is a guy coaches are also very high on that could have an immediate role. So the future is extremely bright at running back.
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