Miami football: Mario Cristobal says Jaylan Knighton touches are coming
During his weekly Monday appearance on the Joe Rose Show on WQAM, head coach Mario Cristobal said the touches are coming for running back Jaylan Knighton. Knighton did not receive any touches in the 14-12 victory for the Miami football team on Saturday at Virginia. Henry Parrish received most of the RB touches.
Parrish had 24 carries for 113 yards and one reception on two targets for four versus Virginia. Quarterback Jacurri Brown had five carries for 28 yards in short-yardage packages. Walk-on Lucious Stanley had three carries for 18 yards and appears, at least in the short term, to have moved up to second-team RB.
Thad Franklin who is the second-leading rusher for the Miami football team also did not receive any carries on Saturday. Parrish leads Miami with 554 rushing yards and four touchdowns while averaging 4.9 yards per carry and has contributed 15 receptions for 112 yards and another two TDs.
Knighton has battled injuries this season and has 43 carries for 163 yards with no TDs and seven receptions for 65 yards this season. Knighton missed the season opener with an injury. Parrish has been the far more productive player for Miami this season after Knighton led the Hurricanes in rushing yards and total TDs in 2021.
"“Jaylan Knighton is a good football player. He works hard in practice. His touches are coming. In this game, Henry Parrish got hot. He was running hard and downhill and so we chose to go that route.”"
Knighton is the most talented healthy RB on the Miami roster. Freshman Tre’Vonte Citizen who suffered a season-ending knee injury during August training camp is the highest-rated RB on the Miami roster per the 247 Sports composite ratings at 0.9550. Knighton is not far behind at 0.9530 as the second-rated Miami RB.
Third-year redshirt freshman Don Chaney Jr. who has missed the entire 2022 season has a grade of 0.9497. Parrish has clearly established himself as the top Miami RB. Knighton provides Miami with more explosiveness, but as Cristobal said, Parrish runs hard(er) downhill and moves the chains more frequently.
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Knighton is averaging only 3.8 yards per carry. With the Miami offense struggling with inconsistency this season, the Hurricanes need the reliability of Parrish. Miami plays Florida State on Saturday. The Seminoles are 70th nationally allowing 145.63 rushing yards per game and 49th at 3.78 yards per carry.