Jordan Lyle Eyes Breakout Season as Miami Reloads for Another Title Run
Last season, the Miami Hurricanes made a statement - and it started with a gamble on a quarterback who had everything to prove. Carson Beck, fresh off UCL surgery and a detour through the transfer portal, arrived in Coral Gables with a chip on his shoulder and a championship pedigree from Georgia. He delivered in a big way, leading Miami to its first National Championship appearance in over 20 years.
Now, another Hurricane is hoping to write his own comeback story.
Running back Jordan Lyle, a former four-star recruit out of St. Thomas Aquinas, is back in the fold and looking to turn potential into production. After an injury-limited 2025 campaign, Lyle is healthy, hungry, and aiming to become a key piece of Miami’s offensive puzzle - just as Beck did a season ago.
From flashes to full form
Lyle’s 2025 season was a mixed bag. He appeared in 12 games but saw limited action due to injuries, finishing with 54 carries for 400 yards and four touchdowns.
That 7.4 yards per carry average? It jumps off the stat sheet.
When he was on the field, Lyle showed the kind of burst and vision that made him a coveted recruit. The only thing missing was consistency - and health.
Earlier in the year, he missed time and was limited to just six appearances and two starts. He logged 35 carries for 108 yards and his lone touchdown of that stretch came against Stanford. But even in those limited reps, there were glimpses of what he could be with a full workload.
Now, with his decision to stay at Miami rather than enter the transfer portal, Lyle is positioned to take on a bigger role in a backfield that returns every key contributor.
Loaded backfield, high expectations
Credit to the Hurricanes’ staff - they managed to retain every major piece of their running back rotation. Mark Fletcher Jr., CharMar Brown, and Girard Pringle Jr. are all back. That’s a deep, talented group, and it’s one of the reasons Miami’s run game was such a force last season.
Fletcher Jr. was the engine in the postseason, racking up a record-setting 507 rushing yards during the College Football Playoff run. But it wasn’t a one-man show.
Miami leaned on its depth, and Lyle was part of that rotation when healthy. With another offseason to recover and develop, he could be primed for a breakout.
And that’s not just wishful thinking. Lyle’s high school resume speaks volumes - 2,616 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns on just 255 carries at St.
Thomas Aquinas. That’s 10.3 yards per carry against top-tier competition.
When he’s right, he’s explosive.
Offensive line questions loom
Of course, a strong running back room only goes as far as the guys up front can take it. And that’s where Miami faces some real questions heading into spring ball.
The departures of James Brockermeyer, Anez Cooper, Markel Bell, and Francis Mauigoa to the NFL leave some big shoes to fill on the offensive line. That unit was a cornerstone of Miami’s success last year, giving Beck the time he needed and opening lanes for the ground game to thrive.
How quickly the Hurricanes can rebuild that front five will go a long way in determining how much of a leap Lyle - and the offense as a whole - can make in 2026.
A pivotal spring ahead
Spring training is going to be must-watch in Coral Gables. Lyle’s health and progression will be under the microscope, especially with Brown and Pringle Jr. also pushing for touches. But if Lyle can stay on the field and build off last season’s flashes, he could be the x-factor in Miami’s quest to get back to the title game.
There’s no shortage of talent in that running back room - but Lyle has the kind of upside that could elevate the entire offense. The Hurricanes are reloading, not rebuilding. And with a healthy Jordan Lyle in the mix, they might just have another comeback story on the way.