CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Miami’s backfield has taken a hit, but the Hurricanes are still in better shape than most teams would be after losing two backs.
CharMar Brown is done for the season, and Mark Fletcher Jr. was injured late in Miami’s 33-20 win at Wake Forest. That leaves No. 6 Miami leaning harder on a room that still has real depth, and the Hurricanes are grateful they kept Girard Pringle Jr. and Jordan Lyle in the fold this offseason.
Lyle’s path back has included a suspension that now appears close to over. Mario Cristobal said the program kept him working through that stretch so he would be ready if and when his chance came back.
"Well, he didn't play the first three weeks," Cristobal said about Lyle and his suspension. "He served his suspension, obviously doing some other things to go with that. But we have had him in training to make sure that at the end of the day, player safety is at the forefront of everything.
"You have to keep guys in condition and engaged, so that if there is an opportunity to come and play again, they're ready, and that is the case with Jordan, and he's in good shape and doing the right thing, so he'll be able to contribute to the team."
Cristobal also made it clear that trust matters just as much as availability.
"You only play players that you can trust," Cristobal said. "There is so that we're clear at the University of Miami.
There's one criteria for playing players, and that's playing people that give Miami the best chance to win. Period.
Jordan has made a poor decision.
"This will be the last time I address it, not in any way, shape, or form disrespectful to you, but just to make sure we understand clearly. He has done and is doing the things necessary to put himself in a good place with his teammates in our program, and he is a trusted football player and person who is working hard to make sure that he has the full trust of everybody. "
Behind Pringle Jr. and Lyle, Miami still has a freshman who has been getting meaningful work. Javion Mallory has picked up valuable reps over the past few games, and he could see more action in the weeks ahead as he moves up the depth chart.
"I mean, game reps are huge, and he takes a ton of reps on GreenTree against a pretty dadgum good defense," Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said. "And so, we feel good about the guys that are going to be prepared to play, and so it just sucks for those guys. Really, your heart breaks for those guys."
With Central Michigan next, Miami’s running back group is under the spotlight and trying to keep improving every day.
In Other News...
Darian Mensah Sent Miami A Clear Warning About This Offense
Darian Mensah has given Miamis offense a strong early-season jolt, completing nearly 90% of his passes while quickly emerging as the player setting the tone for the Hurricanes. But even with that level of efficiency, the units recent late-game issues against Wake Forest showed there is still work to do if Miami wants to turn solid starts into complete performances.
Mensah pointed to Dre Jacobs and Somourian Wingo as two teammates who can help lift the offense, and he made clear the next step is as much about the mind as the body. For Miami, that matters because the physical edge is already there, but sustaining it when games tighten is what will determine whether this group keeps advancing or lets opportunities slip away. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Suddenly Has A Crucial Receiver Battle To Replace Joshua Moore
Joshua Moores season-ending upper-body injury has forced Miami to reshuffle its receiver plans at a moment when the offense could least afford another setback. With depth already a concern, the Hurricanes now have to find a way to keep the passing game moving without one of the players expected to help shoulder the load, and that puts a sharper spotlight on the receivers behind him.
Darian Mensah has already pointed to Vandrevius Jacobs and Somourian Wingo as the names most likely to rise into bigger roles, and their development now matters more than it did a week ago. Miami may also lean on other receivers to absorb some of the snaps and production, but the larger issue is whether the group can withstand another hit and still give the offense enough reliable options. [Read more 🡒]
Rueben Bains NFL Start Is Already Raising Tough Questions
Rueben Bain Jr.s first NFL season has already turned into a reminder that the jump from college dominance to the pro game is rarely smooth. The former Miami standout entered the year with plenty of buzz after a strong summer with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but through two games he has not yet made much of an imprint, with limited pressure on the quarterback and only one tackle to show for it.
Bains situation has grown a little more complicated with word that he has been missing practice because of a possible shoulder issue, which only adds to the early uncertainty around his role. For the Bucs, the bigger question is not just when he gets healthy, but how he adapts from here, since some evaluators already believe he may need to tweak both his position and his approach to find the kind of success he had been projected to bring into the league. [Read more 🡒]