Miami (OH) running back Kenny Tracy was officially ruled out for the season per head coach Chuck Martin. The coach disclosed the nature of the injury in his weekly press conference leading up to the RedHawks’
Week 8 home matchup vs. Eastern Michigan.
“Kenny’s done for the year,” Martin said. “He unfortunately reinjured his knee. He was off to a phenomenal start and playing great football. Horrendous, horrendous for the kid. I could not feel any worse for somebody who’s worked so hard and has had such a nice career for us.”
At the time of his injury, Tracy was Miami’s leading rusher with 272 yards on a 5.2 average. The versatile back still ranks third on the team in receptions and receiving yards with 11 and 121, respectively. Right before suffering the season-ending knee injury against Northern Illinois, Tracy produced back-to-back 100-yard showings — the first two of a long and accomplished RedHawk career.
Tracy was a sixth-year senior who first joined the program during the pandemic-abbreviated 2020 season. He logged 1,021 career rushing yards, often utilized as a secondary back throughout his entire tenure before stepping into the lead role this year. Tracy was also renowned for his effectiveness as a receiver, collecting 51 receptions for 481 yards as a RedHawk.
“It was his time to shine and be the guy,” Martin said. “I obviously feel terrible for the football team because it’s a huge, huge blow for Miami football not to have Kenny Tracy doing all the things at the level he does.”
The injury comes at an unfortunate time considering this past fall camp was Tracy’s healthiest to date. Tracy dealt with hamstring and labrum injuries in the early 2020s, and last season, he suffered a torn ACL fall camp, missing what he anticipated to be his final year. Unfortunately, that knee was reinjured in his fifth game of the year at Northern Illinois, possibly concluding a college career that included a MAC championship, two MAC title game appearances, and two bowl wins — unless Tracy applies for a medical redshirt waiver.
Tracy’s injury leaves Miami with a running back room headlined by Jordan Brunson and D’Shawntae Jones. Brunson is carrying the bulk of the load, producing 73 and 72 rushing yards in the last two games Tracy missed due to injury. The 6’0”, 233 pound Brunson already offers substantial experience, producing 137 yards on an 11.1 average in 2023 and totaling 299 on a 5.6 average in 2024. Jones is newer to the picture, but he’s a short-yardage specialist. Miami’s preferred goal line back, Jones has three touchdown dives this year — exactly half of the RedHawks’ six team rushing touchdowns.
Other names to watch in the running back room moving forward are redshirt freshman Josh Ringer, who is battling injuries and has not suited up since the Sept. 27 game against Lindenwood, as well as redshirt freshman Tito Glass Jr., who has yet to record a carry or reception at the collegiate level.
“I’ve been very pleased for two weeks with Brunson and D’Shawntae, and Tito’s coming along too,” Martin said. “They were more involved this week. They just needed another week of prep, a little more focus on details in our third down offense which they did a really nice job of in the game. D’Shawntae really did a nice job for a redshirt freshman with a lot on his place. Third down offense isn’t easy at any level of football, particularly in college with all the exotic looks you get. Brunson ran the ball hard again, took care of the football. D’Shawntae when he got his opportunity ran the ball hard again, and (Finn) ran the ball hard. Huge experience as we’re gonna need it without Kenny and even when we get Ringer back without Kenny. Guys have really stepped up.”
Miami (OH) hosts Eastern Michigan at noon ET on Saturday, Oct. 18 on ESPN+, looking for its fourth-straight victory.
