The wholesale change of Utah’s running backs room is complete.
On the same day the Utes signed coveted running back transfer Wayshawn Parker and received a commitment from another back, NaQuari Rogers, Mike Mitchell announced he is headed to the transfer portal on Friday.
What did Mike Mitchell do in 2024?
Mitchell was Utah’s second-leading rusher during Utah’s 5-7 season in 2024 — he ended the year with 167 rushing yards and a touchdown. He also had one catch for 5 yards.
Mitchell, a redshirt freshman from Orange Park, Florida, joins several other former Utah running backs in the portal, among them Jaylon Glover, Dijon Stanley (who’s committed to New Mexico State) and Anthony Woods.
While Micah Bernard was the clear RB1 for Utah this past season — the senior finished the season with 1,009 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns — Mitchell had more than double the number of carries over any other running back on the Utes roster.
What will Utah’s running back room look like in 2025?
The Utes will look completely different at running back next season under first-year offensive coordinator Jason Beck.
Parker is a key addition — the former Washington State standout is ranked the No. 2 running back in the transfer portal this offseason, after he ran for a team-high 735 yards and four touchdowns as a true freshman.
Utah is also adding former New Mexico State running back Mike Washington out of the transfer portal — he ran for 713 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior in 2024.
Rogers, meanwhile, was New Mexico’s third-leading rusher this past season, when he ran for 382 yards and five touchdowns under a Beck-led offense.
Without Mitchell, Parker, Washington and Rogers would be expected to receive the bulk of the carries for Utah next season, along with Devon Dampier, the former New Mexico dual-threat quarterback who also transferred to Salt Lake City.
The Utes will be adding two freshmen from this year’s signing class as well in four-star talent Raycine Guillory and three-star product Daniel Bray.