The Miami Hurricanes boast a deep group of running backs, but that depth has been tested in recent weeks.
Starter Henry Parrish Jr. and reserves Ajay Allen, Don Chaney Jr. and Mark Fletcher Jr. have all missed time due to injuries this year, and redshirt freshman TreVonte’ Citizen has not yet returned from his severe knee injury that he suffered in training camp last year.
But as the Hurricanes enter the final month of the regular season, all five are expected to get on the field relatively soon.
Parrish was restricted to eight carries in UM’s win over Virginia, and Chaney missed the game completely. Both players should be ready to play against N.C. State this weekend, Miami coach Mario Cristobal said.
“We feel that Don is all the way there and ready to go, and so is Henry,” Cristobal said. “Last week, the right move was both Ajay and Mark.
Allen missed Miami’s game against Temple and had only three snaps against Georgia Tech but has played in UM’s past four games. He had 11 carries for a team-best 67 yards, including an acrobatic 26-yard touchdown run.
Fletcher has missed four games this season. He missed Miami’s previous three contests as he dealt with a stress fracture in his foot. He returned Saturday and rushed for 47 yards on 11 carries, scoring the game-winning touchdown in overtime.
MARK FLETCHER WILL NOT BE STOPPED‼️🙌
📺: @accnetwork #GoCanes pic.twitter.com/hppPFo70cc
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) October 28, 2023
Citizen has yet to make his college debut, but he dressed in full uniform for the first time for the Hurricanes’ win over the Cavaliers. Cristobal said he did not know when Citizen would get the chance to make his debut, as he still needs to work off the rust after missing nearly two full seasons.
“He is cleared. He is ready. He is rusty,” Cristobal said. “We want to make sure that when he does get into that it’s because he has a chance to help us win games. The best part about it is there’s no question he is going to be … himself, whenever that point is.
“It’s a little bit different when you’re a running back. It’s such an instinctive position, like a middle linebacker, that your body is almost going to do things at a rate and a speed and from a reaction standpoint that it just takes reps. He’s getting a lot of reps in practice. Everyone’s really happy for him because what he went through is obviously a tough thing. I can’t put a timeline on when exactly he’s going to get reps.”
A healthy group means the Hurricanes can play the person performing best in practice and in games instead of simply relying on the players who are healthy.
“It’s kind of a neat balance right now,” Cristobal said. “It’s good pressure by them on themselves, right? A guy gets banged up or a guy’s missing a little bit of time or maybe is not at his best, well a couple guys there are ready to take some carries. It’s the right kind of competitive culture. It’s a healthy competitive culture. Got to have more of that at all the other positions.”
Arroyo’s injury appears minor
Hurricanes tight end Elijah Arroyo needed a long time to return to the field after suffering a torn ACL last year. He finally returned against North Carolina, but he suffered another injury against Virginia on Saturday.
Fortunately for Arroyo and for Miami, Cristobal said the team is optimistic about his return.
“He got rolled up. You saw him, he came on out,” Cristobal said. “He is day-to-day. We feel pretty optimistic from what we saw this morning. After the game, it was like, ‘Well you know, it’s going to be touch-and-go.’ But we’re pretty optimistic. I think we’re going to be in good shape.”
Bain highlights group of ‘Canes with ACC honors
For the second week in a row, Hurricanes star freshman Rueben Bain Jr. earned conference honors. The defensive end was named the ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week.
Bain had seven tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss, two sacks and one pass breakup in UM’s win.
Safety Kamren Kinchens earned ACC Defensive Back of the Week after making nine tackles and notching his first pick-six of the season.
Kicker Andy Borregales was named ACC Specialist of the Week after notching three field goals of 47, 48 and 50 yards in the win, including a game-tying kick with 1:23 left in the fourth quarter.
