Depth at running back has been critical for the Miami football team beginning the 2023 season 6-2. The top four Miami RBs, Ajay Allen, Don Chaney Jr., Mark Fletcher and Henry Parris have all missed games with injuries in 2023. Allen and Fletcher combined for 22 of the 28 carries for Miami in the win over Virginia on Saturday.
Allen was the primary RB for the Miami football team on Saturday early in the game with six carries for 24 yards in the first quarter. After Miami trailed 10-3 at halftime, Allen had a spectacular 26-yard touchdown run where he leaped over the Virginia defender on his way to the end zone.
Allen finished with 11 carries for 67 yards and a TD. After gaining three carries for 38 yards and the TD in the third quarter, Allen reportedly left the game with an injury. Allen did not have a carry in the fourth quarter or overtime. Fletcher returned on Saturday after missing more than a month with an injury.
Fletcher had only four carries for 11 yards in the first half. In the third quarter, Fletcher had three carries for eight yards. With Allen out, Don Chaney Jr. not playing on Saturday and Henry Parrish only receiving two carries because of an injury, Fletcher was the last healthy RB Miami had in the fourth quarter and overtime.
Fletcher had one carry for three yards and Parrish one for a loss of one in the fourth quarter. Miami had the two lone rushing attempts and 14 pass attempts in the fourth quarter as they had to rally with two Andres Borregales field goals to tie the game twice to force overtime. Parrish finished with two carries for two yards.
Parrish missed the game versus Clemson last week with an injury. The overtime belonged to Fletcher. After a Virginia field goal, Fletcher had a tough nine-yard run, followed by a five-yard run and the 11-yard game-winner. On the game-winning TD, Fletcher ran over two Virginia defenders to clinch the 29-23 Miami victory.
Parrish leads Miami with 454 yards rushing after the game on Saturday. Chaney is second with 375 yards, Allen now has 362 yards and Fletcher has 180. Allen, Chaney and Parrish have each led Miami in rushing in a game this season. On Saturday, Fletcher was the closer. Any of those four RBs have proven capable this season.