Issue is less workhorse status and more lack of other options; Bernard is the one thing not wrong with Utah offense

Nov 7, 2024
11:55:33am

krindorr All-American

He's carrying/catching the ball as much as any Utah back from the last 5 years and on par with Zack Moss (though not the absurd levels of Devontae Booker or Joe Williams), but in recent years, Utah has always had a quality secondary option. The Utah RB2 is averaging less than 3.5 yards per carry and they're getting less out of their QB (both in volume and efficiency) than ever before

The below chart includes FBS games only. Touches here is defined as carries+catches (to include QB sacks because that's how data is reported, but not snaps where they threw)

Year	RB1 Touches/Game	RB2 Touches/Game	QB Touches/Game
2024	Micah Bernard 20.3 (6.0 ypc)	Mike Mitchell 5.2 (3.4 ypc)	Isaac Wilson 6.7 (1.1 ypc)
2023	JaQuinden Jackson 14.5 (4.8 ypc)	Jaylon Glover 11.3 (4.1 ypc)	Bryson Barnes 8.2 (2.9 ypc)
2022	Tavion Thomas 13.6 (4.9 ypc)	Micah Bernard 10.4 (4.8 ypc)	Cam Rising 6.3 (6.2 ypc)
2021	Tavion Thomas 16.2 (5.2 ypc)	TJ Pledger 8.6 (6.6 ypc)	Cam Rising 6.2 (6.7 ypc)
2019	Zack Moss 21.1 (5.8 ypc)	Devin Brumfield 4.3 (4.3 ypc)	Tyler Huntley 7.5 (2.7 ypc)
2018	Zack Moss 21.0 (5.8 ypc)	Armand Shyne 9.1 (4.3 ypc)	Tyler Huntley 12.6 (3.0 ypc)
2017	Zack Moss 18.3 (5.4 ypc)	Devontae Henry-Cole 4.6 (5.1 ypc)	Tyler Huntley 16.7 (3.1 ypc)
2016	Joe Williams 25.5 (6.9 ypc)	Zack Moss 8.4 (4.5 ypc)	Tyler Williams 8.8 (2.1 ypc)
2015	Devontae Booker 30.5 (4.7 ypc)	Joe Williams 11.5 (4.6 ypc)	Travis Wilson 11.7 (3.5 ypc)

Other notable usage for RBs that weren't top 2 for the season

2022 Jaylon Glover with 8.8 touches per game
2022 JaQuinden Jackson with 6.8 touches/game
2021 Micah Bernard with 8 touches/game
2016 Armand Shyne with 18 touches/game (small sample size, only played 4 before being hurt)