After losing running backs coach Matt Merritt to the NFL, Mario Cristobal dipped into the league to fill the vacancy on staff.
InsideTheU and 247Sports' Matt Zenitz learned that the Hurricanes have tapped Denver Broncos quality control assistant Favian Upshaw to be the program's next running backs coach.
Upshaw, a former college quarterback at FIU and Georgia Southern, began his coaching career at Tulane as a graduate assistant. Upshaw signed with the Panthers when Mario Cristobal was leading FIU.
He got his first on-field role at his alma mater in 2021, coaching the tailbacks at Georgia Southern and helping the Golden Eagles average 192.5 yards per game.
In 2022, Upshaw joined Tulane's staff as an assistant quarterbacks coach. He then spent the next three seasons with the Denver Broncos, where he worked with talented players like RJ Harvey, JK Dobbins, JaVonte Williams, and Jaleel McLaughlin, who was developed as an undrafted free agent, totaling 906 yards over his first two seasons with the organization.
This offseason, Upshaw was interviewed for the Broncos' wide receiver coach job and also coached running backs at the Senior Bowl for the National Team, per Zenitz.
Upshaw inherits a room that is led by Mark Fletcher, who passed up the opportunity to go to the NFL to return to Miami for his senior season following a campaign where he totaled 1,192 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns.
Miami also returns prized second-year running back Girard Pringle Jr., redshirt sophomore CharMar Brown, and Jordan Lyle.