It appears that some of the nation’s top players are beginning to come back to Coral Gables.
In Bleacher Report’s list of the top 100 college football players in 2017, two Miami Hurricanes made the cut -- junior Mark Walton and sophom*ore Ahmmon Richards.
Walton came in at No. 96 in Bleacher Report’s rankings. Arguably the Hurricanes biggest playmaker on offense, many suspect him to carry the offense until new quarterback Malik Rosier can get comfortable.
“As long as he stays healthy, Mark Walton will be a heavily featured player,” Bleacher Report’s David Kenyon wrote. “The versatile back posted 1,357 yards from scrimmage and 15 total touchdowns last season while sharing snaps. Given Miami's suspect depth at running back, those numbers should rise.”
Video: Talking Hurricanes QBs with Matt Porter and Hal Habib
Last season, Walton rushed past Joseph Yearby and Gus Edwards on the depth chart. After the two decided to press their luck in the NFL,Walton was left as the only running back on the depth chart with more than seven carries in his college career.
Richards, who was rated No. 75, enjoyed a breakout freshman season in 2016.
“Miami needs a new quarterback (which in now Rosier), but he already has a go-to target in Ahmmon Richards,” Kenyon wrote. “During his freshman year, Richards set a program freshman record with 934 yards, breaking Michael Irvin's previous mark. Not a bad start to a college career, huh?”
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound wide receiver’s yardage led all freshmen nationally as did his 19.06 yards per catch. Only two ACC wide receivers had more 30-yard catches than Richards 10 catches last season.
See who was the top player in college football at Bleacher Report.
