July Player Performance Index top 30 deep dive: No. 15 RB Henry Parrish

CaneSport is breaking down the top 30 Miami players on the roster, and today we’re at No. 15, RB Henry Parrish.

THE BIG PICTURE

Last year Parrish transferred to Miami after serving as a backup at Mississippi and won the starting job. He ended the season with 616 rush yards (4.7 yards per carry) and four TDs, adding 17 catches for 120 yards and two more scores. So it wasn’t by any means a “wow,” but he ran hard and was hampered by an offensive line that didn’t open many holes. As we look at Parrish’s role this season, he was the first-teamer in the spring ahead of Don Chaney (and second-year back TreVonte’ Citizen remains in recovery mode off a major knee injury). With a thin depth chart the team brought in transfer Ajay Allen from Nebraska, who is a physical runner entering his second year of college ball. And Miami signed two highly touted freshmen who reported this summer, Mark Fletcher and Christopher Johnson. So Parrish has his work cut out to remain the starter, and as a smaller stature back he might be better suited as a change-of-pace or third down guy. That’s assuming an Allen or Fletcher, most likely, are able to show they are ready to really take on big roles. Johnson is in the same change-of-pace mode as Parrish, but a faster version with championship track speed. And Chaney has to prove he can stay healthy. The battle for reps will heat up in fall drills, but Parrish remains in a decent spot given his experience and a decent level of talent.

THE ANALYSIS

Parrish is a versatile back, but there are probably more purely talented backs on the Miami roster with the ball in their hands. In particular Mark Fletcher could be a future star with a great mixture of size and quickness. Plus Ajay Allen was expected to have a sizable role at Nebraska this season before departing. Christopher Johnson and Don Chaney hope to have a say as well. With that said, Parrish isn’t the most explosive back you’ll find, and he isn’t going to wow you with his speed. But he does a little bit of everything at an above average level, which makes him valuable to the team. He’s also the only back other than the sophomore Chaney that isn’t listed as a freshman on the roster, and he is a returning starter although he didn’t put up big numbers last season. As for his Pro Football Focus grades last season? Parrish graded out at an excellent 80.6 percent overall in 374 reps (84.9 as a runner). He’s not going to power past you as a smaller back, but he has good enough quickness and speed to make plays.

THE PROJECTION

There are several other backs that will push Parrish for reps this season, and it remains to be seen if new coordinator Shannon Dawson will ride with one main back in games or go with a committee approach. As of now it appears most likely that Parrish begins the season as the starter given his experience, but as a Fletcher/Johnson/Allen get acclimated to the offense they could earn more and more time. So we see Parrish sort of in line with his numbers from a year ago at around 600 rush yards and a handful of TDs. But he’s going to have to really earn his reps with some good young talent on the roster.

THE JUMP HE NEEDS FROM SPRING TO FALL CAMP

Parrish was just okay in the spring, similar to last year, and he stressed at that time that he really wants to improve his acceleration hitting the holes. This off-season is key for Parrish, since last year he really was the starting Miami RB by default with Chaney hurt almost all season and Jaylan Knighton banged up early in the year and then suffering fumble issues. This fall camp Parrish will have to show coaches that his experience and ability with the ball trumps some of the superlatives of the younger backs on the roster.

THE QUOTE

“Last year it was a bit rough, and nobody wants that, it was a bad taste. This year my mindset changed, you have to step up, you know? You’re a vet in the room, other guys looking up to me. I have to come in every day and just work.” -RB Henry Parrish

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