In an NFL Draft loaded with running backs can the Miami Hurricanes Mark Walton pull off a shocker and move up into the top 50 overall picks and be selected in the second round?
In his latest “Move up the Sticks” podcast NFL.Com’s Daniel Jeremiah thinks so. If Walton is selected in the first 50 overall picks it would definitely qualify as a shocker. Walton is coming off season-ending ankle surgery last fall that limited him to four games for the Miami Hurricanes in 2017.
Walton entered last season as a first-team All-ACC preseason selection. He burst out for 1,117 yards as a Sophomore in 2016. Miami Head Coach Mark Richt saw Walton’s talent immediately. He made Walton the starter despite the Hurricanes returning 1,000-yard rusher Joe Yearby from 2015.
Walton is equally adept running and receiving. In two and a half seasons Walton finished with 2,006 rushing yards and 56 receptions for 624 yards receiving. He also added 26 touchdowns on the ground and two through the air.
Walton finished his Miami career third all-time in touchdowns scored. He finished his Miami career with 28 total touchdowns. That was just four behind Duke Johnson’s all-time school record. It was a record Walton almost definitely have broken if he stayed healthy or returned for his Senior season.
The Miami Herald quoted Jeremiah from his podcast on his observations about Walton.
"“Not a first-round pick. That coffee’s a little too rich. He’ll be a top 50 pick and will be picked ahead of a lot of big-name backs we’ve talked about in this run up to the draft…"