Running backs

[PonyPride]

Xavier Jones and Braeden West burst on the scene last year with impressive freshman seasons, raising optimism that the running game is in pretty good shape for the next few years. In the spring, they were joined by early enrollee Aphonso Thomas and JC transfer Joseph Paden. Now they have added two more running backs in freshmen Ke'Mon Freeman and Jordan Carmouche.

So now there's a dilemma: the team rarely has two running backs on the field at the same time, and now the team is six deep at the position (assuming Carmouche doesn't move to linebacker — the other position at which he was recruited). They're all pretty good athletes, and presumably can contribute on special teams. So if you're the coaches, and barring injuries, how many do you suit up for games, and how many do you redshirt?

[SMUguy]

OK, I'll bite. In a perfect world, I'd say you redshirt all 3 freshmen, but that seems unlikely. My guess is that Freeman and maybe Thomas redshirt. Carmouche is so big that you can use him as a blocking back and in roles on special teams that the others might not be able to do. Then if he moves to LB after a year, he could be redshirted then to give him a year to learn the new position.

[JasonB]

They are taking a really hard look right now at Carmouche and Freeman to decide whether or not to redshirt them. IMHO, Thomas isn't afraid to run up the middle and has more shake and speed than either. He got the fewest carries of the 5 (Peden had maybe 2) in the scrimmage and still scored 3 TDs.

Carmouche and Freeman both have the size to allow more zone read plays on the dive. But I don't think a couple of those plays a game are worth burning the redshirt. I would try to redshirt both of them. If Carmouche moves to LB he would start by the end of the season I think.

[PonyPlayer4]

How did Carmouche move around and carry himself at 240 lbs?

[Stallion]

Thomas isn't going to redshirt-he's going to play a large role on this team. Freshman are going to play-but Freeman and Carmouche are learning new positions. Carmouche would likely redshirt except he offers the size none of the rest can duplicate

[JasonB]

How did Carmouche move around and carry himself at 240 lbs?

He isn't just a giant slug. He is quicker than that. Powerful runner. The advantage to not redshirting him is that if the other team is exhausted at the end of a drive in the red zone, or you are trying to kill off a tired team at the end of the game, he is going to be really difficult to stop.

I think Morris said they are scrimmaging again this week mid-week. I bet in next weekend's practice we get a pretty good idea of who is sticking in the rotation and who is going to get redshirted. The DL, LB, and RB rotations should all be really interesting at that point.

[PonyPride]

Running back depth was one of the topics Chad Morris addressed with the media before Tuesday's Kickoff Luncheon.

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