Miami’s running back room will start 2025 with an extra chip on its shoulder after none of them made the Doak Walker Award preseason watch list. The official candidate release lists 104 names and does not include Mark Fletcher Jr. or Jordan Lyle, Miami’s top returning rushers.
Fletcher is coming off 607 rushing yards on 112 carries (5.4 YPC) and nine rushing touchdowns in 2024, while Lyle added 400 yards on 54 carries (7.4 YPC) and four scores. Miami averaged 43.9 points per game last season, finishing No. 1 nationally in scoring. Even if watch lists are only snapshots, and are subject to change, it did come as a surprise that they were left out.
If nothing else, the schedule guarantees opportunities to change minds. Miami’s 2025 slate features a ton of watch-listed backs — a big opportunity for Miami backs to get on the list. Notable names the Hurricanes will see include Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame) in the opener, Jadan Baugh (Florida), Gavin Sawchuk (Florida State), Sedrick Irvin (Stanford), Derrick McFall (SMU), Hollywood Smothers (NC State), Terion Stewart (Virginia Tech) and Desmond Reid (Pitt).
Another name for Miami that should be mentioned is transfer RB CharMar Brown from North Dakota State. After redshirting his true freshman season, Brown had a breakout campaign in 2024 with 1,181 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns. Brown also added some hardware in the form of an FCS national championship and the Jerry Rice Award. He could potentially be one of the most underrated transfers from this past offseason.
With Brown, Lyle and Fletcher fully in the fold, Miami's RB room should be reliable. But, at the same time, it makes sense for the RB's to be left off the preseason watch list since it appears like a committee approach could be possible.