Mark Fletcher is the Miami Hurricanes clear-cut No. 1 running back but who is No. 2? The `Canes have a couple good choices
The Miami Hurricanes started spring football practices earlier this week.
So a day after breaking down the quarterbacks, we look at another position that has zero suspense at the starting spot. Senior running back Mark Fletcher is the clear-cut No. 1 entering fall training camp unless something drastic happens during the spring.
Rudy Rodriguez-Chomat, who is a Roundtable Sports contributor and host of the Come On Now podcast, recently gave his thoughts on the Hurricanes crowded backfield.
"The running back room is loaded," Rodriguez-Chomat said. "You got Mark Fletcher, you got Girard Pringle, you got CharMar Brown, you got Jordan Lyle. You got all these dudes in the backfield and they're all going to be important factors. The question here becomes really who is going to be the backup. I think Mark Fletcher did separate himself from the rest of the room."
Last season Fletcher ran for 1,192 yards on 216 carries and had 12 touchdowns. He was a key catalyst in the Hurricanes making it to the College Football Playoff title game. They lost to the Indiana Hoosiers but the Hurricanes are once again loaded up for another run.
But who is the best backup candidate for Fletcher, who passed up on the NFL to play another season in Coral Gables. The likely choice is Pringle, who handled the role most of last season. Then there was the move to use Brown more in the title game, making this an even tougher choice.
Still, it appears this spot goes to Pringle long as Brown doesn't have a breakout in the spring. Regardless, the Hurricanes have three capable players at this position.
"I think the best option when it comes down to Mark Fletcher is having that second option being Girard Pringle," Rodriguez-Chomat said. "I know they went with (Brown) in the playoffs for whatever reason. That was their choice ... Girard Pringle provides that lightning, that quick burst attack. Can he really hit the edges on a consistent basis? And he's a true weapon out of the backfield in terms of catching the football who can be a real problem for potential linebackers."
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Shandel Richardson is the publisher of UCFRoundtable. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com