Hurricanes ‘stacked’ at running back as entire group returns after title-game run
The Hurricanes boasted depth at running back throughout the 2025 season.
Miami rotated Mark Fletcher Jr., Jordan Lyle, Marty Brown and Girard Pringle Jr. throughout the season, and when the playoffs started, it leaned on the veteran Fletcher.
The fact that UM coach Mario Cristobal and his staff could recruit a talented group of running backs was not surprising. What was a surprise was that all four of Miami’s top running backs stayed with the team. Fletcher, who was eligible for the NFL draft and could have cashed in on his playoff success, opted to return for his senior year. The other three running backs, who all played rotational roles, decided not to transfer to another program where more playing time might have been available.
“That shows you what type of guys are in the room and the type of thing that we’re building here,” Fletcher said. “The fact that every single running back came back, and there’s only one or two guys who can be on the field at a time, that just shows how special our bond is and what we’re focused on building.”
The result is a group of running backs that is one of the deepest groups in the nation.
“The running back room is obviously a huge strength, and we’re stacked in that room,” Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said. “… We’re going to be comfortable with the fourth or fifth guy probably playing in that room, which is a great thing.”
The group has a new position coach this year. Favian Upshaw takes over as the running backs coach after Matt Merritt left to take the same job with the Arizona Cardinals . Upshaw spent the last three years as a quality control coach with the Denver Broncos .
“He’s a great guy. … He’s a pro,” Fletcher said. “He’s just letting us be free. He’s not coming here to create any roadblocks. Heard a lot of great things about him, and he’s been nothing but good for us.”
Fletcher will likely be the lead running back again this year. The veteran finished his junior campaign with 1,192 yards and 12 touchdowns. He had 69 carries in four playoff games and rushed for 100 yards or more in three of the four games. But after it was over, Fletcher said he still felt healthy.
“I enjoyed it,” Fletcher said. “I had some good massages, cold tubs. I’m just ready to go now.”
Fletcher’s impact on the running backs and the team as a whole is well-documented, and he is often complimented for his role on the team. Dawson said the American Heritage alumnus is one of the best leaders he has ever been around.
Behind Fletcher is a group that has proved it can impact the game while Fletcher gets rest. Brown, a power back like Fletcher, was Miami’s No. 2 runner last season. He had 474 yards and seven touchdowns, and the rising redshirt junior had multiple crucial runs during the Hurricanes’ playoff run.
Pringle, who is entering his second season, provided a spark late in the regular season, rushing for 116 yards in a win over N.C. State. Although he played sparingly in the playoffs, Pringle ended the year with 375 rushing yards and four touchdowns, averaging 6 yards per carry.
Pringle briefly considered transferring, sharing a post that he was entering the transfer portal in January. But he reversed course and stuck with UM.
Miami also returned Lyle, a St. Thomas Aquinas alum who appeared poised for a big 2025 season. Lyle had a strong freshman campaign in 2024 and started the Hurricanes’ season-opener against Notre Dame. But Lyle was limited by injuries, and he rushed for just 108 yards on 35 carries. He averaged 3.1 yards per carry in 2025 — less than half of his 7.4-yard average in 2024.
“He’s a very humble guy, just hard-(working),” Fletcher said. “A lot of people telling him he should’ve left; he could’ve done this, could’ve done that with the way things went. He didn’t listen to anything of that. He believed in himself, and he canceled all that out. He just continued to work. … He’s going to show you guys a lot this year. I’m just very proud to be his teammate.”
UM also returns Chris Wheatley-Humphrey, who had 108 yards and 22 carries, and added another South Floridian, freshman Javian Mallory. Mallory was the Sun Sentinel’s Palm Beach County large schools offensive player of the year after helping lead West Boca Raton to its second consecutive state championship.
“I’ve said this a lot, but that position takes the most abuse on offense,” Dawson said. “… So we like to share the abuse, I call it, at that position. So it’s good to have that position to be deep.”
