Mario Cristobal discusses Miami football plan getting down to 85 scholarship players
Mario Cristobal referred to how the Miami football program plans to get down to 85 scholarships during his meeting with reporters on Tuesday. Miami currently has 92 scholarship players on its roster, per Susan Miller Degnan and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
Running back Henry Parish who led Miami in rushing in each of the last two seasons is no longer with the Hurricanes as confirmed by Cristobal on Tuesday. Cristobal said Parish leaving the Miami football program is best for him and the Hurricanes. Cristobal did not elaborate on why Parish is no longer a part of the Miami program.
Parish entering the transfer portal seemed to be a mutual decision between Parish and the Miami coaching staff. Miami is down to three healthy scholarship RBs this spring. Ajay Allen and Mark Fletcher are out this spring, but both are expected to return and be healthy for the training camp in August.
With Miami being over the scholarship limit expect the Hurricanes to lose over half a dozen players to the transfer portal when it opens from April 16 through 30. Miami will also be busy in the portal. Running back is a priority with Parish in the portal. Cornerback is another position Miami is expected to target.
"I think as you assess spring and go a little bit further into it we'll have a better idea of what we go after. But we're very open-minded and we're going to be very aggressive as to you know making sure that our roster you got to get at some point to 85. I know it's
- Mario Cristobal
always a question that, you know, thankfully you guys haven't asked. But you always find a way to get there and you, make sure that everyone involved is always given the best opportunity but you do what's best for the University of Miami that's the bottom line."
Rising sophomore wide receiver Robby Washington worked at cornerback on Tuesday. Wide receiver could be a position Miami targets in the portal and a position the Hurricanes lose players from in April. Michael Redding III and Shermar Kirk were two WRs who were used sparingly last season and might be potential transfers.
Next. Expect Miami adding transfer RB with Henry Parrish entering portal. Expect Miami adding transfer RB with Henry Parrish entering portal. dark
The offensive line is another position to watch. Several OL are buried on the depth chart and could seek opportunities elsewhere for more playing time. The comments by Cristobal on Tuesday were a thinly veiled reference that Miami has roster purging to accomplish in the next month.