I don't know who it will be, but I'm almost 100% sure we'll have a 1000 yard rusher this season.
It is one of the keys to the season.
Last year, our running game was okay.
Dungey was our leading rusher with 949 yards rushing and 15 rushing TDs. But he averaged more than 4.0 ypc in only 4 games (4.10 ypc overall).
Mo Neal had 869 yards rushing and 5 rushing TDs. But he averaged less than 4 ypc 5 games (4 in the first 8 games; his production got better as the season progressed).
Jarveon Howard averaged 4.63 ypc.
Even Abdul Adams only averaged 2.38 ypc in the bowl game.
We struggled to establish a consistent ground game last season and had to rely on Eric Dungey's legs to get a lot of tough first downs on 3rd and medium yardage.
The OL and the RBs have to do a better job this season. It is one of the reasons I think it is likely Dakota Davis, whose strength is run blocking, is going to end up starting this year.
My guess is Neal and Adams split most of the carries, with Howard and maybe Jordan also getting some run. Eric carried the ball a lot and most of those attempts will go to RBs this season.
I think Mo goes for around 1250 yards and Adams a little less. Howard and Jordan might split up another 600 yards between them. We had 2601 yards rushing last season. I think we get about 3000 this year. If we can just get a little more consistent running the ball, it will take a lot of pressure off Tommy.
The hope is that Tommy will burn defenses with long accurate throws enough early in the year that defenses overplay the pass a bit, use an extra DB a lot and make it easier for us to run it.
It should be a really interesting season. Our first look at how the Babers' offense is supposed to work in its ideal form.
