With the emergence of true freshman Ty Jordan, the two Utah Ute running backs who were initially expected to lead at the position in 2020 will be transferring.
On Monday morning, Devin Brumfield announced via Twitter his plan to leave, and Jordan Wilmore did the same in the afternoon.
“My experience here has been life changing and I’ve grown as a player, leader, and as (a) man which I will forever be grateful for,” Brumfield wrote in part. “Thank you to my brothers that I’ve built lifelong relationships with.”
Wrote Wilmore in part: “I enjoyed my experience here. The relationships that I made here will be with me forever.”
Last season as a sophomore playing behind Utah all-time leading rusher Zack Moss (now of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills), Brumfield tallied 59 carries for 273 yards. Wilmore, a true freshman who was one of the most highly touted recruits in school history, rushed for 209 yards on 49 carries.
But this season, Jordan has come from relative obscurity to lead the rushing attack with 450 yards on 61 carries so far, while Brumfield is third on the Utes with 21 carries for 87 yards and Wilmore is fifth with 64 yards on 18 carries (quarterback Jake Bentley is second with 146 yards on 40 carries and Micah Bernard is fourth with 69 yards on 12 carries).
Utah lost one other running back, TJ Green, to the transfer portal before the season began, making Bernard the other notable player still on the roster at the position beside Jordan.