Washington State RB Wayshawn Parker transfers to Utah – Deseret News

A few weeks ago, Utah’s running backs room was pretty barren.

Micah Bernard, who ran for 1,009 yards in 2024 to lead the team, is ineligible, as is Charlie Vincent (44 rushing yards).

Jaylon Glover (two rushes for 60 yards in 2024), Dijon Stanley (66 rushing yards, 166 receiving yards and two touchdowns) and Anthony Woods (did not play in 2024 due to a season-ending injury) have all entered the transfer portal.

That left redshirt freshman Mike Mitchell (47 carries for 158 yards and a touchdown while battling a nagging injury) as the only running back with 10 or more rushes to return to the team next year.

After Utah plucked New Mexico quarterback Devon Dampier from the transfer portal, the next priority was to refill the running backs room.

That effort began with the addition of New Mexico State University junior running back Mike Washington, who rushed for 713 yards and eight touchdowns last year while adding receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown. Things continued on Friday with the signing of NaQuari Rogers from New Mexico, who played under new Utah offensive coordinator Jason Beck.

While either Washington or Mitchell could compete for the top spot, the best plan of action for the Utes might be to add an RB1 and use either one as a backup defender.

With the transfer of Washington State freshman running back Wayshawn Parker to Utah, who made the announcement on Friday, the Utes may have found their RB1.

Ranked as the No. 2 running back (and No. 40 overall) in this year’s transfer portal class by 247Sports, Parker is a player who will make an immediate impact. In his true freshman season, the 6-foot-1, 199-pound running back rushed for 735 yards and four touchdowns while adding 108 yards on 11 receptions and one score.

Parker will meet with his running backs coach Mark Atuaia in Salt Lake City. Atuaia made the most of Parker’s potential in his first college season and was one of the main reasons Parker chose Washington State. Now the two have the opportunity to continue working together in Utah.

Parker reportedly had offers from a number of schools, including USC, UCLA and Arizona, but narrowed his choices to Utah and Arizona before choosing the Utes.

With the addition of Parker, Utah now has a loaded running back room with Washington State transfer, Washington, Mitchell, Rogers, four-star freshman Raycine Guillory and three-star freshman Daniel Bray.