Desmond Reid tops list of transfer RBs off to a fast start

By Mark Pszonak

With at least two games played for most teams, several transfer running backs have quickly stood out as difference makers. Here are five who have shined:

Desmond Reid, Pittsburgh (Western Carolina)
Not much attention was paid to Reid when he decided to follow his head coach Kade Bell from Western Carolina to Pittsburgh. Bell, now the offensive coordinator for the Panthers, knew what he was getting though. And Reid, whose role immediately became vital when Pittsburgh announced in late August that running back Rodney Hammond would be ineligible this season, has exploded during his first two games at the FBS level. Having rushed for 293 yards and one touchdown, grabbed nine receptions for 117 yards and one touchdown and returned his only punt return for a touchdown, Reid has helped the Panthers to a quick 2-0 start.

Ja’Quinden Jackson, Arkansas (Utah)

Expectations have been rather low in Fayetteville this season and head coach Sam Pittman is firmly on the hot seat, but if the Razorbacks are able to achieve some level of success in 2024, Jackson will play a huge role in it. Along with transfer quarterback Taylen Green , they form an exciting duo that could surprise a few teams in the SEC. While the Razorbacks lost a tough overtime game at Oklahoma State on Saturday, they showed life and fight. A good part of that came from Jackson who rushed for 149 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries, which now gives him an SEC leading five touchdowns this season. It'll be a tough road for Arkansas, but at least they now have some hope.

Jonah Coleman, Washington (Arizona)

The Huskies had to overhaul their roster after their magical 2023 season, but with the help of new head coach Jedd Fisch they already seem to be on stable footing. Part of that is because of Coleman, who followed his coach from Arizona. He has proven to be reliable and explosive in two games while totaling 231 yards and three touchdowns on only 27 carries. The schedule hasn’t been difficult so the next step is to see if he can be as productive against Big Ten competition, which is coming soon with games against Michigan, Iowa and Rutgers around the corner.

Henry Parrish Jr., Ole Miss (Miami-Florida)

Parrish started his collegiate career with Ole Miss, before transferring to Miami for two seasons and then returning to Oxford. His play during the first two games of the season has been surprising, as he already has more rushing touchdowns (4) than during either of his first two seasons with the Rebels. Ole Miss has a deep backfield so it’ll be interesting to see how they distribute carries, but for now Parrish is in position to be a major player this season.

Quali Conley, Arizona (San Jose State)

Conley played two seasons at Utah Tech before transferring to San Jose State and eventually followed his head coach, Brent Brennan , to Arizona. Despite a successful season with the Spartans, rushing for 842 yards, nine touchdowns and averaging 6.4 yards per carry, he arrived in Tucson without much fanfare. However, he has immediately become a vital part of the Wildcats offense with 202 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries on the ground and eight receptions for 67 yards through the air. His role became even more important last week when running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s eligibility suddenly became a concern. Big tests await the next two games with road trips to Kansas State and Utah, so Conley’s importance will only increase.