Miami is down to two coach openings at running backs and wide receiver to fill the 2023 staff. Finality needs to come quickly for Miami with the February dead period coming to a close in less than two weeks and key visits including the March 4th Junior Day quickly approaching.

Here are some strong fits for the current running backs coach opening.

Familiarity is a path head coach Mario Cristobal has routinely gone down over the course of his head coaching career. If he decided he wanted a guy who is a known recruiter and knows the work it takes to be part of his staff, former Oregon running backs coach and run game coordinator Jim Mastro could be the best candidate for the job.

He is an experienced coach, another pattern we have seen from his new 2023 hires, coaching for over 30 years. Nearly all of that experience was coaching running backs, as well. At Oregon, he coached CJ Verdell and Travis Dye to standout levels. He also fits the profile of a proven recruiter, helping Cristobal bring in several blue-chip backs during his time in Eugene.

The only factor that could cancel Mastro is potential family health issues that could keep him on the west coast.

Does Ja'Juan Seider finally return home to South Florida? He falls under the same category as Pittsburgh defensive line coach Charlie Partridge as a coach that is valued so much at his current home, that Penn State could price Miami out of the market with a pricey extension.

He already has an elevated title, serving as the assistant head coach and co-offensive coordinator. It will be tough for Miami to match or exceed the offerings of Penn State, but the Belle Glade native could see Miami as a chance for him to jump to a bigger job and a chance to get back to his roots.

Before Seider started coaching college ball in 2008, he was a Palm Beach County high school coach. He could be an ace recruiter on this Miami staff. He also has a history with new offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson, coaching running backs at West Virginia with him in 2013 and 2014.

From FIU to Miami in just a couple seasons would be a huge rise up the ranks for UCF co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach Tim Harris Jr., plus the former Miami Booker T. Washington head coach is a University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame inductee.

His ties to the Miami-Dade County area are extensive. From the time he left Miami in 2008 to him accepting the FIU running backs job in 2015, Harris coached at Booker T. Washington as the offensive coordinator or as the head coach.

The Harris family is royalty in South Florida. His father, Tim Harris Sr., actually spent time as the Miami running backs coach, as well and his brother is currently the cornerbacks coach at FAU. Bringing a Harris into the fold brings the same value as when Cristobal hired former Miami Central head coach Roland Smith.

Similar to Harris, Marshall run game coordinator and running backs coach Telly Lockette would pave the way to help control recruiting in South Florida. The only difference is Power Five coaching experience for Lockette.

He spent time at Florida State as the tight ends coach (2018-2019) and Oregon State as the running backs coach (2015-2017). At Oregon State, he developed Ryan Nall into an 1100-yard, 15-touchdown back and also mentored USF and NFL standout Marlon Mack.

Lockette deserves much of the credit for the success of the Miami Central dynasty. He kicked off their state championship-winning tradition when he took the job in 2008 until 2012. He led Central to two state titles in 2010 and 2012 and coached Miami-Dade county greats Devonte Freeman, Dalvin Cook, and Joseph Yearby.

In 2020, Lockette served as an offensive senior quality control analyst at Miami.

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