UM running back Mark Walton has Seminoles' full attention

As Florida State prepared this week for its annual clash with No. 13 Miami this Saturday at 3:30 p.m., there’s no question where the Seminoles were focusing their efforts on defense.

That honor belonged to junior running back Mark Walton. The Miami-Booker T. Washington product leads the Hurricanes (3-0, 1-0 ACC) in rushing with 403 yards. His average of 9.2 yards per carry is second only to Stanford running back Bryce Love’s average of 11 yards for best in the country.

“He’s an every-down back,” FSU safety Derwin James said. “He’s very special with the ball in his hands. He has a great cut, he reads his blockers well and he’s an all-around athlete.”

Walton has carried the ball 44 times for 401 yards and three touchdowns this season, on the heels of last year when he ran for 1,117 yards and 14 scores as a third-team All-ACC selection.

The 5-foot-9, 205-pounder has four carries of 20 yards or more this season, including an 82-yard touchdown against Toledo. He’s also lost just 11 total yards this season, which FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said is a testament to his north-south running style.

“He’s a dynamic guy,” said Fisher, whose Seminoles are 1-2 overall and 1-1 in ACC play. “You don’t ever see many negative plays with him. He’s a strong-bodied guy. He’s not a tall guy ... a lot of your great backs aren’t. But he’s very strong and powerful, very quick. When you make the big plays and you don’t have many negative plays, that really knocks (the average-per-carry numbers) up there. He’s so consistent and strong, very instinctive when he runs.”

FSU's defense did a nice job of corralling Walton and former UM star Joe Yearby in last year's game. The Seminoles held Walton to 39 yards on 14 carries and limited Yearby to 39 yards on 10 attempts.

Last week, Duke was able to hold Walton to just 51 yards on 17 carries. His longest run of the night was for 11 yards.