After making a splash in non-conference play, freshman running back Jordan Lyle has not gotten much time on the field since.
The St. Thomas Aquinas alumnus had 233 rushing yards — including a 91-yard touchdown — in Miami’s four non-conference games to open the season, but has had just six carries on seven total snaps through the Hurricanes’ first six ACC games.
Lyle received the opportunity to play a little more in Miami’s win against Wake Forest, and he took advantage of that chance. He broke off a 61-yard run and scored an 18-yard touchdown, helping propel UM to its 42-14 win. Lyle finished the game with 115 yards on seven carries.
“I didn’t take advantage of my opportunities before, so I told coach (Matt) Merritt and I told the other running backs in the room, next time I get an opportunity, I’m going to take advantage of it,” Lyle said. “They’ve been pushing me this whole week. So I feel like they got me better this whole week.”
Lyle’s success is no shock to Miami’s staff. UM coach Mario Cristobal had high praise for the freshman during a radio interview on WQAM’s The Joe Rose Show on Monday morning.
“Watching him in high school, we all felt that he would be an impact guy,” Cristobal said. “We all felt that he has a chance to be one of the best to ever go to the University of Miami. He’s as good of a running back as I’ve ever had the opportunity to recruit. He’s a hard-a–, tough-a– dude. He wants all of it. He’s all about it. You can get after him because he’s been coached at such a high level. His football IQ and respect for the game and approach to the game is awesome.”
Lyle was not relegated to the sidelines because of any issues with his performance, offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said. He is a victim of the Hurricanes’ deep running back room.
Veteran Damien Martinez leads the team with 135 carries for 739 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Sophomore Mark Fletcher Jr. has 87 carries for 499 yards and six scores. Pro Football Focus rates their performances well, giving Martinez an 89.6 rushing grade and Fletcher an 89.1 grade. They rank 10th and 13th in the nation among running backs with 50 or more carries, respectively.
Lyle does not even have exclusive rights to the No. 3 spot. Ajay Allen has 24 carries and has been explosive when he has gotten the ball, rushing for 183 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
“That room’s a talented room,” Dawson said. “We’ve talked about that all year, of splitting up reps and all the rest. We just thought it was appropriate to get (Lyle) some carries.”
Fortunately for UM, there is no apparent animosity as the running backs divvy up their playing time.
“I think when you’re winning, things hold together pretty tightly,” Dawson said. “But I do give those guys and the people that coach them a lot of credit. They do seem genuinely happy for the guy that makes the play. They really do. At the end of the day and the end of the game, do people go back in their room and wish they had more or whatever? I’m sure they do. … That’s the natural response. But overall, you can see them doing little things for each other that is pretty unique, and I think those guys are genuinely bonded together.”
Lyle got a dose of that from the other running backs after his performance this week.
“It was a lot of, ‘I’m proud of you, bro,’” Lyle said. “That’s really what I got from them. I was just trying to take everything in. I’m just thankful to be a part of that brotherhood.”