Another Big Name Heads To The Transfer Portal: Miami Loses Top Rusher Henry Parrish Jr.

Miami head coach Mario Cristobal will enter the 2024 season on one of the hottest seats in the country, and he’ll have to go through it without one of his best and most experienced stars. Running back Henry Parrish Jr. — the team’s leading rusher for each of the last two seasons — will enter the transfer portal once it opens on April 15.

"Henry will not be with the program anymore," Cristobal said (via the Miami Herald). "He’ll go in the portal. It’s best for him and best for the University of Miami to move on. Thankful for his contribution here and wish him the very, very best."

Parrish rushed for 625 yards on 100 carries last season and gained 604 yards on 128 carries two seasons ago for Cristobal’s Hurricanes. The 5-foot-9, 190-pounder from Goulds, Florida spent his first two seasons at Ole Miss where he totaled 786 yards and 5 touchdowns for the Rebels.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Henry Parrish, Jr. of the Miami Hurricanes rushes past Jonas Sanker of the Virginia Cavaliers in the second half during a game at Scott Stadium on October 29, 2022. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)

Parrish’s departure will crank up even more pressure on redshirt sophomore TreVonte' Citizen, redshirt freshman Chris Johnson and true freshman Chris Wheatley-Humphrey for the remainder of the Canes' spring practice sessions. Johnson is the most experienced of the available backs this spring, but he had only 11 carries and 73 yards last season as he preserved his redshirt. The severe lack of experience on the roster will make it imperative that Cristobal hits the spring transfer portal hard.

Make no mistake, Parrish’s departure is a big blow for the Hurricanes.

Transfer quarterback Cameron Ward Jr. came to campus to kickstart what has been a stagnant offense, but he will enter fall camp with very little familiarity with his running back room. Teams have had more and more success with a "running back-by-committee" approach over the last decade, so it’s not out of the question that they can build a dynamic rushing attack once they start fall camp.

It would make things a lot easier for Cristobal and the ‘Canes if they could just "fine-tune" the offense during fall camp rather than search for answers — even if it’s just for a couple of weeks.

Mario Cristobal, head coach of the Miami Hurricanes, will be without his top rusher from the last two seasons. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

Some good news could be on the horizon, though. Mark Fletcher Jr. rushed for 514 yards and 5 touchdowns last season, but suffered a foot injury in the Pinstripe Bowl. He isn’t available for spring practice, but should be ready to go for fall camp.

"Mark is itching, chomping at the bit to get out there again and we expect him back I’d say in probably two months, 2 1/2 months," Cristobal said. "We expect him to be full speed by early summer."

Fletcher’s imminent return will undoubtedly help, but he is coming off of a foot injury. Those are always tricky.

Where will Parrish land? Matt Zenitz of 247Sports suggests that a return to the Rebels could be in Parrish’s future.