Miami’s night against Wake Forest took a sharp turn when CharMar Brown went down with a right knee injury Friday night, and ESPN’s broadcast team said it would not show the replay while the Miami running back was being attended to on the field.
There was no immediate diagnosis from the Hurricanes, and Brown’s status won’t be clearer until Miami’s medical staff can examine him further. He entered the game with 13 carries for 97 yards and one touchdown this season.
Even with the injury moment hanging over the game, No. 5 Miami kept rolling.
The Hurricanes scored on the drive and went to halftime in front 24-7. Darian Mensah has been flawless through the air, completing all 20 of his passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns.
Miami has spread the production around. Joshua Moore caught two passes for 15 yards and scored a touchdown, while tight end Elija Lofton also found the end zone on two catches for 34 yards. Malachi Toney has piled up 10 receptions for 111 yards, and Mark Fletcher Jr. added 13 carries for 68 yards and a touchdown.
Brown arrived at Miami after transferring from North Dakota State, where he put together a huge 2024 season with 1,181 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. That year he also won the Jerry Rice Award as the top freshman in the FCS and helped the Bison win a national championship.
Last season at Miami, Brown appeared in 15 games and finished with 474 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. He also contributed as a receiver, catching 20 passes for 138 yards and two more scores.
If Brown is sidelined for any length of time, Miami does have options in the backfield. Fletcher is the lead back, freshman Javian Mallory has already shown what he can do with 173 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including a 142-yard performance against Florida A&M, Girard Pringle has given the Hurricanes another useful piece, and Jordan Lyle appears to be getting closer to playing after some off-the-field trouble.
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Wake Forest Fans Have Every Reason To Hate This Viral Miami Hit
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For Wake Forest fans, the play was a reminder of just how strange the modern roster landscape can be when an older, seasoned defender is crashing into a younger back from the 2024 recruiting class. The hit itself was legal and part of the action, but the reaction around it showed how much the age and experience gap has become part of the conversation whenever Miami is involved in a physical game. [Read more 🡒]