The Miami running back unit is 16th nationally entering the 2025 season, per Steve Lassan of Athlon Sports in an article published on Friday. Miami lost 2024 leading rusher Damien Martinez to the NFL but returns second and third leading rushers Mark Fletcher Jr. and Jordan Lyle in 2025.
Miami has the second-best RB unit in the ACC behind Louisville, whom Lassan ranks fourth nationally. Rotating Fletcher Jr., Lyle and Martinez, Miami was 31st nationally in 2024, rushing for an average of 188.92 yards per game and sixth, posting 5.67 yards per carry.
Martinez ran for 1,002 yards, 6.3 YPC and 10 TDs in 2024. Fletcher Jr. had 607 rushing yards, on 5.42 YPC, with nine TDs. Lyle ran for 400 yards, 7.41 YPC and four TDs. Fletcher Jr. and Lyle will be joined in the 2025 rotation at RB by North Dakota State transfer CharMar Brown.
Freshman Girard Pringle and redshirt freshman Chris Wheatley-Humphrey will also have opportunities to receive carries during the 2025 season. Wheatley-Humphrey had one carry for seven yards versus Florida A&M in 2024.
● RB Spotlight ●
— NCAAF Nation (@NCAAFNation247) June 10, 2025
CharMar Brown
NDSU ➡️ Miami
• The Canes already had Mark Fletcher Jr & Jordan Lyle and with the addition of Brown they'll have one of the best RB corps in #CFB. Last season as a Freshman CharMar rushed for 1,181 yards 15 Touchdowns and caught 6 passes for… pic.twitter.com/9ERCHXPt12
At 6'2, Fletcher Jr. provides Miami with size in short yardage. Lyle provides Miami with more speed in the backfield. Brown is 5'11, 214 pounds and ran for 1,181 yards and 14 TDs in 2024. Behind an experienced offensive line, Miami is expected to be more run-oriented during the 2025 season.
Penn State is the top-ranked RB unit by Lassan. Notre Dame, whom Miami hosts in the August 31 season opener, is second. Florida, whom Miami hosts on September 20, is 11th on Lassan's list and Pittsburgh, where Miami finishes the 2025 regular season on November 29, is 21st.
With their penultimate 2025 road game at Virginia Tech and the following week at Pittsburgh, Miami is going to need strong performances from its RBs at the end of the season. The experience of Fletcher and Lyle will be critical for Miami offensively in 2025.