Faculty soccer season is quick approaching, with the Hurricanes opening their 2025 marketing campaign with an enormous dwelling recreation in opposition to Notre Dame on Aug. 31.
Miami is coming off a 10-3 season that began promising however ended with two late-season losses, which value UM a shot at an ACC title and a Faculty Soccer Playoff berth. The Hurricanes’ season ended with a loss to Iowa State within the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
However the 2024 season is within the rearview mirror. Earlier this week, we previewed Miami’s quarterback state of affairs after Cam Ward departed for the NFL. Carson Beck takes over at quarterback, and we take our first take a look at his supporting solid: UM’s working backs.
Who left
The Hurricanes misplaced three working backs from final yr: Damien Martinez, Ajay Allen and Chris Johnson Jr.
Martinez is the largest loss. The previous Oregon State again spent one season at UM and made probably the most of it. The veteran rushed for 1,002 yards, changing into Miami’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Mark Walton in 2016. Martinez had 10 speeding touchdowns and added 204 receiving yards.
Martinez had a 91.2 offensive grade from Professional Soccer Focus, which tied for third amongst all working backs. The Seattle Seahawks picked him within the seventh spherical of the draft.
Allen and Johnson didn’t play as a lot as Martinez, however they’re gifted runners, as nicely.
Allen spent two years at UM as a rotational working again. Final season, he had 183 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries. PFF gave him an 85.8 working grade in his restricted position. Allen transferred to FIU after which to Tulsa.
Johnson, a Dillard alum recognized for his blazing pace, additionally departed — becoming a member of former UM offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee at SMU. Johnson had six carries for 31 yards and eight catches for 72 yards and two scores final yr.
Who returned
Miami introduced again its two high non-drafted working backs from final yr: Mark Fletcher Jr. and Jordan Lyle. The pair of Broward County working backs will possible type the one-two punch for the Hurricanes this yr.
Fletcher, getting into his third season with the Hurricanes, recovered from a foot damage to be the No. 2 working again final season. The American Heritage alum improved on his freshman yr, speeding for 607 yards and 9 touchdowns on 112 carries, incomes a 75.6 offensive grade and an 84.7 working grade from PFF.
Fletcher’s working grade was fifth amongst ACC working backs with 100 or extra carries. Now, he’s poised to tackle the majority of the carries this season.
“This yr, I simply need to take off as a lot as I can and do higher than I did final yr, for positive,” Fletcher mentioned in March.
Lyle, a St. Thomas Aquinas alum who UM flipped from Ohio State, had a breakout freshman yr. He rushed for 400 yards and 4 scores on 54 carries, averaging 7.4 yards per carry — second-best within the ACC. He set the Miami report for longest run from scrimmage with a 91-yard landing in opposition to USF.
Lyle had an 84.8 working grade final yr, which was fifth within the ACC amongst working backs with 50 or extra carries.
“Every thing’s working easily now for me,” Lyle mentioned in March. “Now I’m on the level the place I’m making an attempt to assist the younger guys get acclimated and get acclimated heading into the season.”
Miami additionally returned South Broward alum Chris Wheatley-Humphrey, who performed one recreation final yr and rushed one time for 7 yards.
Who arrived
The Hurricanes added a pair of working backs within the offseason — one through the switch portal and one in its 2025 highschool recruiting class.
CharMar Brown is the switch addition, coming to Miami after two seasons at perennial FCS energy North Dakota State. Brown redshirted in 2023 after which excelled final yr, speeding for 1,181 yards and 15 touchdowns. Brown received the Jerry Rice Award as the highest freshman in FCS.
Brown earned a 90.8 offensive grade and an 89.5 speeding grade from PFF.
UM additionally added freshman Girard Pringle Jr., a four-star prospect from Seffner Armwood Excessive close to Tampa. Pringle had 1,199 speeding yards and 19 touchdowns on 147 carries. He additionally had a pair of landing catches.
Pringle arrived on Miami’s campus earlier than spring soccer started, giving him an opportunity to get acclimated to school life and follow.
“That boy’s like lightning,” Fletcher mentioned in March. “Tremendous quick. He’ll work on his endurance, however he’s simply hungry, able to work, very humble.”
