Wayshawn Parker on Pace for First 1,000-Yard Season at Utah

Utah Utes running back Wayshawn Parker entered the 2026 season with a chip on his shoulder. In his mind, he let down fans after falling short of his 1,000-yard goal. Not only is he looking to finish with a career year, he's do so as the main rushing threat in the backfield.

The Utes are multidimensional on offense, making them one of the best among Big 12 teams. While BYU and Texas Tech get a majority of the attention, the returning core in Salt Lake City has made a statement as the only undefeated team left in the conference. Parker's role has been similar to the end of last year. His breakthrough performances with back-to-back 100-yard games against Iowa State and Kansas have him ready for a career year with the Utes.

As of now, Parker will need 71.2 yards per game in the final five to hit 1,000 yards for the season. At the current rate of 6.3 yards per carry, he'll need a bit over 11 carries per game. All very obtainable under the current formula. Being able to stay healthy will be key. Parker has 102 carries for 644 yards and eight touchdowns.

Parker came into the season knowing he was prepping for the best season of his career. The Washington State transfer has gotten behind a group of talented offensive linemen who were ready to make a name for themselves. As it turns out, that paid off.

"I feel (the new guys) are going to be better than the O-line was last year," Parker said during the offseason. "We've got a couple weapons that nobody really knows about."

When it comes to the type of offensive linemen stepping into the fold this season, they had big shoes to fill. Both Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu were first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, Parker believed that the newcomers were ready and opponents were now getting a full dose of the Utes' offense.

Utah has always been known as a solid producer in the trenches. Now they have shown there's no gap between where Kyle Whittingham left off and Morgan Scalley picked up in his first year as head coach. That's truly the mark of a good program, and an outstanding culture.

Scalley is constructing the right balance within the offense. After spending several years becoming a defensive mastermind, the new Utes coach has seemed genuinely excited to put his fingerprints on the offense. And for the best reasons. He has made his career around breaking down opposing offensive schemes and can use a little reverse psychology.

If Parker turns up the heat in the final five games, he'll be in the conversation as one of the best rushers in the country. This could be the year NFL scouts move him up the draft board.

Utah travels to Cincinnati on Saturday (3:45 p.m. ET, ESPN).