Updated on Monday, 7:12 p.m. ET: After Mark Walton's DUI charges were dropped, Miami announced Monday evening that the running back had been reinstated to the program.

"Following today's decision by the State Attorney's Office to drop all charges against Mark Walton, and after addressing the matter with Mark, he has been reinstated to the football program."

Miami's statement comes hours after Walton's charges were dropped. However, from one report, Walton had still been an active member of the Hurricanes even though he was going through legal issues. "Walton had been immersed in all team activities in recent weeks," multiple sources told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

UM did not comment to Jackson on whether Walton would be punished further, including any possible in-season suspension.

Walton had 461 yards last season and a team-best nine rushing touchdowns.

Original story: While Georgia fans have their own legal issues to discuss at SEC Media Days, new Miami coach Mark Richt received some good news on the player discipline front on Monday.

Sophomore running back Mark Walton's DUI charge from an April 23 arrest, was dropped on Monday in a Miami-Dade courtroom. Walton was suspended indefinitely after the arrest by Richt, and there's been no word regarding his status or potential return during the ongoing legal process. With the charge dropped, the chances of Walton being in the mix for the Canes this fall are significantly better.

Walton's arrest was concerning, since it came with reports that he was being investigated for impersonating an officer and groping a woman. He was only officially charged with driving under the influence, and Walton's attorney, according to the Palm Beach Post, alleged that the running was the victim of a "warrantless and unauthorized sting operation" by authorities.

While Brad Kaaya is the most notable name on Miami's 2016 offensive depth chart, Walton might be the most important. Kaaya might benefit from having Richt, a former Miami quarterback himself, on the sidelines, but the coach's recent Georgia teams have highlighted top-notch running back talent, particularly when there are multiple capable backs in the rotation. With Walton, who rose to the top of the depth chart during spring practice, and talented junior Joe Yearby, that's exactly what Miami's got going into 2016.

Yearby, a product of South Florida, ran for 1,000 yards last season but saw his yards per carry and yards per game numbers drop significantly in conference play without much of a change in the workload. There's a chance that competition between the two backs will benefit everyone involved, and Miami could not only have one of the top quarterbacks in the league, but also one of the best 1-2 punches at running back.

Miami's been given good odds to win the ACC Coastal Division for the first time in school history in 2016, but it's hard to see that happening without a balanced backfield. With Walton's DUI charge dropped, Canes fans have one less thing to worry about heading into a season with sky-high expectations in Coral Gables.