From redcuprebellion:
The O-line gets a lot of grief, but the guys toting the ball own some culpability in last season's ground woes. With Jaylen Walten back and a pair of bigger runners poised to step up, the position should be better off in 2015.
The Rebels need Walton to be as, if not more, effective than he was a year ago. However, they also need an effective power pack to compliment his style of play. That's where Akeem Judd andJordan Wilkins are brought into the equation.
We'll start with the more proven commodity in Wilkins. The consensus four-star recruit out of the Volunteer state finished second on the team in rushing as a red-shirt freshman. Though his total numbers don't jump off the page, the 6'1, 215-pound back averaged 6.9 yards per carry. He's a bigger back that has good speed and agility and can even throw a perfect pass for a touchdown when the moment calls for it.
Judd is a bit of an unknown right now. He did not see any action in 2014 due to an injury but has the size at 5'11, 222-pounds that Ole Miss fans have been begging for at the running back position. As a member of the 2014 signing class, Judd was ranked as the top JUCO running back by Rivals.com. He has battled the injury bug some in his career but is healthy and ready to go for the 2015 season.
Eugene Brazley ads quality depth to a position that desperately needs it and D.K. Buford has recently made the switch over to running back.
Mark Dodson and I'Tavius Mathers have transferred out of the Ole Miss program. Both were promising recruits out of high school but neither had any significant impact on the field a year ago. Those transfers don't have major repercussions from a production standpoint, but they do take away from the quality depth they had at the position a year ago. That depth took another hit recently when prized recruit Eric Swinney suffered a stress fracture that required surgery and will likely sideline him for the 2015 season.
What to Expect
The Ole Miss rushing attack simply has to improve if they want to meet their lofty expectations for the 2015 season. They have a proven senior running back that has a ton of game experience paired with a couple of big body complementary backs. As a result, you should expect the Rebels to maintain their offensive identity by getting its play-makers in space but you should also expect them to have the ability to go inside when needed -- so long as the interior of the offensive line improves, of course.
Link:
http://www.redcuprebellion.com/2015...football-position-previews-2015-running-backs
The O-line gets a lot of grief, but the guys toting the ball own some culpability in last season's ground woes. With Jaylen Walten back and a pair of bigger runners poised to step up, the position should be better off in 2015.
The Rebels need Walton to be as, if not more, effective than he was a year ago. However, they also need an effective power pack to compliment his style of play. That's where Akeem Judd andJordan Wilkins are brought into the equation.
We'll start with the more proven commodity in Wilkins. The consensus four-star recruit out of the Volunteer state finished second on the team in rushing as a red-shirt freshman. Though his total numbers don't jump off the page, the 6'1, 215-pound back averaged 6.9 yards per carry. He's a bigger back that has good speed and agility and can even throw a perfect pass for a touchdown when the moment calls for it.
Judd is a bit of an unknown right now. He did not see any action in 2014 due to an injury but has the size at 5'11, 222-pounds that Ole Miss fans have been begging for at the running back position. As a member of the 2014 signing class, Judd was ranked as the top JUCO running back by Rivals.com. He has battled the injury bug some in his career but is healthy and ready to go for the 2015 season.
Eugene Brazley ads quality depth to a position that desperately needs it and D.K. Buford has recently made the switch over to running back.
Mark Dodson and I'Tavius Mathers have transferred out of the Ole Miss program. Both were promising recruits out of high school but neither had any significant impact on the field a year ago. Those transfers don't have major repercussions from a production standpoint, but they do take away from the quality depth they had at the position a year ago. That depth took another hit recently when prized recruit Eric Swinney suffered a stress fracture that required surgery and will likely sideline him for the 2015 season.
What to Expect
The Ole Miss rushing attack simply has to improve if they want to meet their lofty expectations for the 2015 season. They have a proven senior running back that has a ton of game experience paired with a couple of big body complementary backs. As a result, you should expect the Rebels to maintain their offensive identity by getting its play-makers in space but you should also expect them to have the ability to go inside when needed -- so long as the interior of the offensive line improves, of course.
Link:
http://www.redcuprebellion.com/2015...football-position-previews-2015-running-backs
