The Utes have added to the running back room with the signing of Micah Bernard, a three star running back out of Gahr High School in Cerritos, CA. The Utes will need to continue to bolster their depth in the back field as Armand Shyne and possibly Zack Moss will be leaving after this next season (Moss’ status for next season and the NFL is still TBD).
Bernard isn’t a burner, with a 4.5-40, but he’s a very patient runner, and allows his line to open up holes for him. He also has nice vision for running lanes, and once he sees the opening he going for it. These are great features to have, as some backs just rely on athleticism to get the job done. I remember Darryl Poston, a USC transfer to Utah back in the 2005-06 time frame, he was a physical specimen, but he just didn’t have a good feel for the blocking that they guys were doing for him.
Bernard’s offer list isn’t huge, with a lot of Mountain West schools in there, but USC did offer him. With running backs, and offensive skill players in general, it’s always interesting to see if they stay at their position. I think Bernard has the skills to stick at running back if he beats out the competition.