One interesting reason why new running back picked Canes. And personnel news
Former North Dakota State standout running back CharMar Brown had a lot of reasons for picking Miami when he decided to transfer: He felt a bond with the coaches and the other running backs. He liked the school and its tradition.
But there’s another reason, too, that might surprise some people.
While some players want to go to a school where they will be a starter, Brown preferred to find a place where he wouldn’t be required to carry the full load.
And there’s a good reason for that: Some NFL evaluators view it as a negative if a college back has too much tread on the tires -- in other words, too many college carries that might limit their effectiveness as they get into their late 20s.
“I [don’t] have to carry the ball 25 times a game,” Brown said. “GMs look at that; I want to keep my body fresh. As a running back, you get dinged up. There are a lot of great players ready to hit.”
Brown, who is 6-2 and 225 pounds, has impressed everyone with his physical running style. He has both power and speed. “I’m consistent what I do,” he said. “I play very hard, not going to lose yards. Yards after contact is what I do well.”
He has studied former Pro Bowl running backs Marshawn Lynch and Jonathan Taylor, seeing similarities in their games. The move up in competition from North Dakota State is “not going to be much,” he said.
UM running backs coach Matt Merritt said Brown is “very powerful. That’s what stands out. His weightlifting sessions, you can see the explosiveness. He’s very mature. He’s got a very even-keeled, calm demeanor to himself, but he’s a consummate professional. What he will bring to the room will be beneficial to everybody.”
Brown scored the game-winning touchdown in the FCS championship game against Montana State and his 1,181 yards ranked 20th nationally and were the most among freshmen. His 15 rushing touchdowns were tied for 13th nationally, including FCS schools.
“I love how physical he runs it and how he sets things up,” said Mark Fletcher Jr., who’s the returning starter at the position.
Brown, who pick Miami over Nebraska and California, said he loved “how Miami recruited me. I had lunch with Fletch and [Jordan Lyle] and said I was needed. It was great to have that welcome from other players.”
That welcoming attitude speaks well of Fletcher and Lyle.
Special teams update
We hear the kicker battle between Texas transfer Bert Auburn and FAU transfer Carter Davis has been very close. Both kicked in the last scrimmage.
UM believes Davis is better than his 4 for 11 field goal numbers at FAU would suggest. Those numbers were skewed by some snaps and holds that weren’t great. And he has a booming leg.
But it also would be understandable if UM leans on Auburn’s experience in the Aug. 31 opener against Notre Dame at Hard Rock Stadium (7:30 p.m., Channel 7.2-ABC Miami).
Special teams coach Danny Kalter said of Auburn:
“You bring in a guy like Bert, who a couple of years ago made more kicks than anyone in the country, and you bring him into the right situation where he’s going to have the right headspace. What a lot of people don’t realize is he’s going to have the right operation of snapper and holder.
“Same thing with Carter Davis from his last spot. Both of those guys, with our operation, with their mindset, with their ability, I truly believe we have the two best kickers in the ACC.”
Auburn, who has one year of eligibility remaining, has made 66 of 86 career field goals (76.7 percent), including 24 of 39 from at least 40 yards.
Auburn was excellent in 2023 (29 for 35 on field goals, including 9 of 12 from 40 to 49 and 2 for 4 from 50 plus) but less so last season, when he went 16 for 25 on field goals, including 6 for 12 from 40 to 49 yards and 0 for 2 from 50 or longer.
Davis is just 4 for 11 on field goals in his career at FAU but has a strong leg and high touchback rate on kickoffs.
▪ In receiver Keelan Marion and slot cornerback Keionte Scott, UM has two players who led their conferences in kickoff and punt returns, respectively.
“They’re great decision makers,” Kalter said. “Keelan, a lot of experience in the kick return game, Keionte, a lot of experience in the punt return game, but what flashes on film is their decision making–when to run up and catch a ball, when to let a ball go through the back of the endzone as a touchback.
“That’s all the discipline that goes into being a great returner. If you’re a great ball securer first, a great decision maker second, we know that we have the athletes here at Miami that are really going to change the game.”
Marion is the front-runner to be UM’s kick returner: “When I got back there for the first time, I was pretty nervous. But it’s so simple right now.” He said he has elusiveness as a returner “and the ability to cut back and forth and hit the gaps.”
Marion last year was a second-team All-Big 12 pick as a kick returner after returning 18 kickoffs for 472 yards (a conference-leading 26.2 yard average) and two touchdowns.
In 2023, Scott led the SEC in punt return average (14.8), with 15 returns for 222 yards and a touchdown. He’s firmly in the mix to be UM’s punt returner.
Scott played offense until junior college, playing both ways: “My time on offense, always having the ball in my hands, punt return - trying to make a play for the offense - is something I always look forward to. It’s an opportunity to create any momentum for the offense.”
This story was originally published August 20, 2025 at 1:47 PM.
