Miami Hurricanes running back Henry Parrish Jr. is entering the transfer portal for the second time in his collegiate football career. This news comes as a significant development for the Hurricanes, as Parrish has been a prominent figure in their backfield since his arrival from Ole Miss two years ago. It may even be a surprise to some, but according to a source within the football program, Parrish Jr. had been deliberating whether or not to enter the transfer portal since the conclusion of the 2023 football season.
Parrish, a fifth-year senior and Miami native, initially joined the Hurricanes after transferring from Ole Miss, where he had already showcased his talent on the field. During his tenure with the Rebels, Parrish amassed 786 yards and five touchdowns over two seasons, demonstrating his versatility as both a rusher and receiver. Upon his arrival in Coral Gables, Parrish wasted no time making an impact for the Hurricanes. Over his two seasons with the team, he produced 1,242 rushing yards and ten touchdowns while averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Parrish’s contributions were instrumental in Miami’s offensive game plan, particularly as he led the team in rushing yards for consecutive seasons.
Throughout his time with the Hurricanes, Parrish consistently displayed his ability to perform under pressure, surpassing the 100-yard rushing mark on four occasions, including a standout performance against Temple last season where he tallied 139 yards on the ground. Parrish’s decision to enter the transfer portal signals a significant shift for the Hurricanes’ running back corps, opening up opportunities for other players to step into key roles. Rising sophomore Tre’Vonte Citizen, redshirt freshman Chris Johnson Jr., and true freshman Chris Wheatley-Humphrey are among those expected to see increased playing time this spring in Parrish’s absence.
However, Parrish’s departure leaves a void in Miami’s backfield, especially with key players like Mark Fletcher Jr. and Ajay Allen sidelined due to injuries this spring. The Hurricanes will rely on their remaining running backs to step up, with the anticipation of adding prized St. Thomas Aquinas four-star recruit Jordan Lyle to the mix in May. Miami’s head coach, Mario Cristobal, expressed gratitude for Parrish’s contributions to the program while acknowledging the need for both parties to move forward.
Despite the loss of Parrish, the Hurricanes remain optimistic about the depth and talent within their roster, emphasizing their commitment to aggressive recruiting efforts to bolster their roster for the upcoming season. Miami is very well prepared and equipped to aggressively attack the transfer portal in search of adding another running back to its room when the spring transfer portal window opens on April 15th, ahead of the 2024 regular season.
In terms of Parrish’s next destination, while many would automatically assume a reunion of sorts could be in the works with Ole Miss running backs coach Kevin Smith, who returned to his same coaching position he held with the Rebels before a one-year stint with the Hurricanes during Mario Cristobal’s inaugural season as head coach of the Hurricanes football program in 2022. I have been aware of the situation for quite some time now, and Ole Miss is not the only SEC football program that would have interest in Parrish. The Auburn Tigers are yet another potential suitor to recruit the Miami native for his final collegiate season when the spring transfer portal window commences.
As the transfer portal continues to reshape college football rosters, Parrish’s journey serves as a reminder of the fluidity and unpredictability of the sport, both on and off the field.
