Micah Bernard shook off his first defender with ease.
The senior running back then turned upfield and churned his legs. This time three more Oklahoma State defenders tried bringing him down. The first rolled off Bernard’s shoulder. Another bounced off his pads. Then he jetted forward before he shook a third OSU player off his tracks.
After flying 62 yards — and dragging a pack of orange with him — Bernard was finally brought down at OSU’s 27-yard line late in the fourth quarter
Runs like these have become common for Utah’s senior running back. Almost two weeks ago Bernard gashed Utah State’s defense for a 64-yard gain. He now has 66 carries, 456 rushing yards, two total touchdowns and an average of 6.9 yards per carry on the season.
He helped No. 10 Utah (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) to a 22-19 win over No. 20 Oklahoma State (3-1, 0-1) last Saturday, the Utes first ranked win of the season. He finished with a career-high 182 rushing yards, his third consecutive game with over 100 yards.
“I heard the play call, and I was like, ‘Oh, can it be another one?’” Bernard said. “I saw a guy just come through the line of scrimmage like last week and gave him a little stiff arm. ... We needed to get moved from being backed up, and the coaches put the ball in my hands and saw what I could do with it. I kept moving my feet and special things happened.”
Heading into 2024 Bernard had questions about his health. There were doubts about his ability to be a lead back. But those concerns have been quelled four games into the season. Bernard is establishing himself as one of the most explosive backs in the Big 12. He’s also provided a spark to Utah’s offense in the absence of seventh-year quarterback Cam Rising, who has missed the last two weeks with a right-hand injury.
Utah running back Micah Bernard (2) runs past Oklahoma State defensive end Obi Ezeigbo (33) in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Stillwater, Okla. (AP Photo/Mitch Alcala)
“I’ve been trying to work for a long time to get here,” Bernard said. “This is the most carries I ever had. I’ve been trying, I’ve been working for the last five, six years to try to get to this level, to where coaches trust me and believe in me to have 25 carries. So it’s been a long time coming, and I’m finally glad that I have everybody’s trust in order to give me the ball.”
He’s certainly earned the praise of Kyle Whittingham. Utah’s head coach said that the backfield was his biggest concern heading into the regular season. But with Bernard’s production, he’s started changing his tune. As Utah continues into conference play, Whittingham wants to keep Bernard’s carries down to maintain his health for the rest of the season.
“He’s right there at or near the top of the league in rushing,” Whittingham said Monday. “He’s been a workhorse for us, and that was probably a little more than we should’ve utilized him. He had 25 carries. I said in the week prior 15 to 20 carries is probably more a realistic figure for longevity’s sake. But, when we needed him, he was there and answered the bell every single time.”
While it might be a surprise for some, Bernard’s teammates saw this coming.
Wide receiver Mycah Pittman says the senior running back has finally earned an opportunity from the Ute coaches after spending five years behind others.
“Micah wasn’t given the opportunity that he’s [been] given now due to whatever circumstances there were,” Pittman said. “But now Micah is getting that opportunity, and he’s out there executing.
“He rushed 25 times, he was able to get into the rhythm of the game and get more confidence in himself and be able to break that tackle. I feel like some coaches don’t understand what it takes to get into the rhythm of the game at times.”
The Long Beach, Calif., native’s last performance wasn’t perfect even if he garnered career-high numbers. He fumbled the ball twice with one resulting in a turnover. He did his part to apologize for his first-half performance afterward.
“I didn’t play my best first half, and ... I want to apologize to the team for that, and I want to apologize to the fans for keeping them on their toes,” he said.
As the Utes cruise into a home matchup vs. Arizona (2-1, 0-1) at 8:15 p.m. on Saturday in Salt Lake City, Bernard’s playmaking ability will be needed to defeat the Wildcats. But, so will his accountability and leadership, as Whittingham and Utah’s offense anticipate the return of Rising.
“When he got his opportunity, he started making those plays,” Pittman said. “The coaches are just coming to realize that. I’m sure he had that belief in himself already.
“That’s all started to come to fruition these past couple games.”
