Could Miami football and Mario Cristobal pursue star Oregon transfer RB?

With four running backs on the roster entering the 2022 offseason, there has been speculation that the Miami football program could try to add one more player at the position for this fall. There are RBs available in the transfer portal from schools where the new Miami staff previously coached.

Miami hired Kevin Smith away from Mississippi on Friday. Former Rebels RB Henry Parrish entered the transfer portal this week. Oregon star RB Travis Dye entered the transfer portal on Friday. Parrish had 814 rushing yards and five touchdowns and 28 receptions for 232 receiving yards in two seasons with Mississippi.

Parrish prepped at Miami Southridge. Dye is originally from Norco, California, but played for new Miami head coach Mario Cristobal the last four seasons with the Ducks. Dye had his best season in 2021 when he led the Pac 12 with 1,673 yards from scrimmage. With 1,271 rushing yards, Dye was second in the Pac 12.

Dye had 16 rushing touchdowns in 2021 and had 46 receptions for 402 yards and another two scores. The Miami football program returns primary 2021 starter Jaylan Knighton, Cody Brown and Thad Franklin in 2022. Don Chaney Jr. who was expected to be the 2021 second-team RB is returning from a torn ACL.

Knighton is an explosive RB who has often been questioned if he can handle being the primary ball carrier. Dye also showed he was explosive in 2021. Against UCLA Dye became the first player in NCAA history to score TDs on four consecutive carries. Dye leaves Oregon as their fifth all-time leading rusher.

As a versatile player, Dye is also sixth in Oregon history in yards from scrimmage. After losing returning starter Cam’Ron Harris and Chaney earlier in the 2021 season, the Miami football program was down to Knighton, Franklin and Brown at RB for the remainder of the season. Miami has not signed a RB in the Class of 2022.

Entering the 2022 season with Knighton, Brown and Franklin healthy and Chaney returning from a torn ACL, Cristobal and Smith might want to sign another RB to help the Hurricanes’ depth and competition in 2021. Dye and Parrish might be looking for a program they can sign with and be the clear starting RB.

The past relationships that Cristobal and Smith have with Dye and Parrish should help Miami if they choose to pursue the productive RBs. In two seasons with Mississippi, Parrish had 814 rushing yards and five TDs and 28 receptions for 232 yards. Parrish was 227th ranked player and 18th RB in 2020.

With an additional year granted to all 2020 players due to Covid, Parrish has three seasons of eligibility remaining. Dye was the 987th ranked player and 50th RB when he signed with Oregon in 2018. Dye will have one season of eligibility remaining. Dye was the first or second-team RB all four seasons at Oregon.