The Tar Heels are still in search of help at the running back position in this transfer window and after swinging and missing on a multitude of different targets, the team turned their attention towards Scottre Humphrey was one of likely their last gasps at getting some extra help for Davion Gause. On Tuesday, Humphrey committed to New Mexico, meaning the team is now left to dig even deeper if they want to do that. Here are three names that the team could go after if they are still wanting to get another proven option in that backfield.
TJ Harden RB/UCLA
Harden is somehow still available and would be a perfect fit for the team this year. The rising senior, who will have one year of eligibility, was a starter each of the last two seasons for UCLA and was very productive. In 2023, he carried the ball 156 times for 827 yards and eight touchdowns while splitting carries with Carson Steele. This season, despite Steele’s departure to the NFL, he saw his usage drop, as he carried the ball just 124 times for 506 yards and two touchdowns, all while starting and playing the majority of the snaps at the position. While his production may have dropped a little, this would still be the perfect fit for that second running back role with him already having split time in his most successful season at the college level.
Trey Cooley RB/Georgia Tech
Cooley doesn’t have nearly the production that Harden does in his college career, but there is enough of a track record there that it would allow for some competition and, more importantly, security for Caleb Hood. He has one year of eligibility remaining after playing in just two games this season, but his prior three seasons of production were solid. Back in 2021 as a freshman at Louisville, he put together the best season of his career carrying the ball 86 times for 431 yards and one touchdowns and catching 12 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns. He followed that up in his sophomore campaign when he ran for 278 yards and two touchdowns on 59 carries and caught nine passes for 66 yards in seven games. After a transfer to Georgia Tech, Cooley returned to full action in 2023 when he ran for 274 yards and three touchdowns on 64 carries and caught 11 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown. He has shown that he is a capable back and would be a good security blanket for this backfield.
Jordan Fuller RB/Holy Cross
Fuller is another guy that has gotten lost in the portal despite a very productive career at Holy Cross. It started when he was a freshman where he ran for 227 yards and nine touchdowns on 48 carries in 12 games. He followed that up the next season by rushing for 536 yards and 13 touchdowns on 111 carries on his way to receiving second team All-Patriot League. He would take a step further in 2023 when he carried the ball 156 times for 1,046 yards and 18 touchdowns and took home first team All-Patriot League and second team FCS All-American honors. This season, he played in the first three games, running for 283 yards and four touchdowns on 67 rush attempts before suffering a season-ending lower leg injury in that third game. That injury probably has a lot to do with why he is still available, but this might be worth taking the risk on with the need for another veteran in the backfield.
Ky Thomas RB/Kent State
Thomas is an interesting candidate after a bit of a wild ride throughout his career so far. He started his career with the Minnesota Golden Gophers where he ran for 824 yards and six touchdowns on 166 carries and caught six passes for 44 yards in nine games. He transferred to Kansas in the 2022 offseason and played a reduced role for the Jayhawks, carrying the ball 53 times for 162 yards and two touchdowns in nine games. After sitting out in 2023, he would return to action this season with the Golden Flashes, rushing for 549 yards and one touchdown on 135 carries. This is a guy who has certainly moved around in his career, but it is only for one year and he has been effective when he has been on the field.
Frank Peasant RB/Middle Tennessee
Peasant is another experienced and productive option that is coming off a severe injury, but that might be worth the risk. He spent the last five seasons with the Blue Raiders and was a three year producer for the team before he suffered a season-ending injury after just two games. As a redshirt freshman back in 2021, he ran 304 yards and four touchdowns on 79 carries and caught six passes for 26 yards. The next season, as a junior, Pleasant pieced together the best season of his career, running for 777 yards and nine touchdowns on 182 carries and catching 28 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns in thirteen games. Last season, he played in nine games due to injury, carrying the ball 81 times for 306 yards and four touchdowns and catching 16 passes for 126 yards. This season, in the limited snaps he saw, he ran the ten times for 49 yards and two touchdowns and caught two passes for three yards. If the Tar Heel staff can get over the injury history, this seems like a legitimate option that could make plays as that rotational back.