Sep 14, 2012; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Washington State Cougars running back Leon Brooks (23) runs forward for a four yard gain during the second quarter as UNLV Rebels linebacker Tani Maka (41) and linebacker Princeton Jackson (right) defend at Sam Boyd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
By Nick Nordi:
Washington State has never really been known for its running game and has always been a quarterback school with major names coming out of Pullman and making it to the big stage and I don’t see that changing any time soon with Mike Leach’s “Air Raid Offense.” The amount that WSU ran the ball last season is minuscule to how often other teams ran the ball.
According to ESPN.com the Cougars ran the ball for a total of 349 yards on 252 carries. The top two running backs combined for a total of 141 carries, second fewest of the schools in the PAC-12. Losing lead running back Carl Winston to graduation and being that the second leading running back is a freshman in Teondray Caldwell, the Cougs are going to be packed at the running back position.
University of Arizona transfer, Daniel Jenkins, who will come in as a senior will contend with Caldwell for the starting spot. freshmen Gerard Wicks and Jamal Morrow, juniors Theron West and Marcus Mason, as well as senior Leon Brooks will all be contending as well. With these running backs all contending for playing time I don’t see any back getting any time in his freshman year but slowly working his way into getting good playing time his sophomore year and beyond.
The running backs that Leach and staff are pursuing have potential to work great within the system that is being ran by the coaching staff. This upcoming season will tell a lot about how much we utilize the running back position.