A few weeks ago, Utah’s running backs room was pretty barren.
Micah Bernard, who rushed for 1,009 yards in 2024 to lead the team, is out of eligibility, and so is Charlie Vincent (44 rushing yards).
Jaylon Glover (two carries for 60 yards in 2024), Dijon Stanley (66 rushing yards, 166 receiving yards and two touchdowns) and Anthony Woods (did not play in 2024 with a season-ending injury) all entered the transfer portal.
That left redshirt freshman Mike Mitchell (47 carries for 158 yards and a touchdown while dealing with a nagging injury) as the only running back with 10 or more carries returning to the team next year, but he entered the transfer portal on Friday afternoon.
After Utah landed New Mexico quarterback Devon Dampier from the transfer portal, the next-highest priority was to restock the running backs room.
That effort started with the addition of New Mexico State junior running back Mike Washington, who rushed for 713 yards and eight touchdowns last year while adding receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown. It continued Friday with a commitment from New Mexico’s NaQuari Rogers, who played under new Utah offensive coordinator Jason Beck.
With the transfer of Washington State freshman running back Wayshawn Parker to Utah, who made the announcement Friday, the Utes may have found their RB1.
Ranked as the No. 2 running back (and the No. 40 overall) in this year’s transfer portal class by 247Sports, Parker is an instant-impact player. In his true freshman season, the 6-foot, 199-pound running back rushed for 735 yards and four touchdowns on 137 carries while adding 108 yards and a score on 11 receptions.
Parker will reunite with his running backs coach, Mark Atuaia, in Salt Lake City. Atuaia got the most out of Parker’s potential in his first collegiate season and was a big reason why Parker committed to Washington State. Now, the two will have the opportunity to continue to work together at Utah.
Parker reportedly held offers from a number of schools, including USC, UCLA and Arizona, but narrowed his two choices to Utah and Arizona before choosing the Utes.
With the addition of Parker, Utah now has a restocked running back room featuring the Washington State transfer, Rogers, Washington, four-star freshman Raycine Guillory and three-star freshman Daniel Bray.