Running backs battle for starting job in rushing attack
When Seattle Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls left the Central Michigan football team after the 2014 season, people questioned who would pick up the slack.
In 2015, CMU ranked last in the Mid-American Conference in rushing offense, averaging 101.3 yards per game on the ground. Opponents outrushed CMU 1,810 to 1,317.
After spring practice season, the Chippewas believe they have some answers.
Incoming senior Jahray Hayes, junior Devon Spalding and sophomore Romello Ross — who rushed for a team-high 100 yards in last season’s Quick Lane Bowl — are among the leaders competing for the starting running back job next season.
Two of the three — Ross and Hayes — will showcase their talents in the annual spring game at 1 p.m. Saturday at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
“We’re just working on getting better every day and working as a unit,” Hayes said. “It’s a lot of competition because we’ve got a lot of great running backs this year.”
Spalding is still sidelined with an injury. He broke his collarbone in last season’s homecoming win against Northern Illinois. Head Coach John Bonamego said Spalding should be healthy in time for fall camp in August.
Running backs Coach Gino Guidugli said he is more comfortable this spring season than last.
“I think we’ll rely a little bit more on our run game (this year),” Guidugli said. “Obviously I feel we’ve got some guys that can be productive with the ball in their hands.”
Martez Walker, CMU’s leading rusher in 2015, transferred to St. Joseph’s College in Indiana. Bonamego said Walker transferred for personal reasons. Walker rushed for 373 yards on 106 attempts last season.
Guidugli said Spalding, Ross and Hayes will be competing for the starting running back job during fall camp.
“They’re all going to have a role, especially at that position,” Bonamego said. “We never go into a game saying we’re just going to give the ball to one player. They all have different things that they do a little bit better than the others.”
Bonamego and Guidugli both said Hayes has looked good this spring. Hayes is in his second season in the system after transferring from City College of San Francisco. He rushed for 324 yards in 10 games last season.
Guidugli said Hayes is slower than Ross and Spalding, but is a “big, bruising back.”
“It’s always better to have competition because in the back of your mind, you are always going to have that thought that you can’t slack today, because somebody is going to outwork you.” Hayes said.
Junior Jay Roberson is a dark horse to compete for playing time, Guidugli said. He added redshirt freshman Matt Krause is “dependable” and freshman Chris Nelson is a walk-on with potential, although he is sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Guidugli said depth will allow incoming freshmen Jonathan Ward and Kumehnnu Gwilly to redshirt, but added if they come into fall camp and “knock their socks off,” he will not be afraid to play them.
“I always tell (our running backs) at the beginning of the season that, before the end of the year we might call on every single one of you guys in one role or one aspect or the other,” Guidugli said. “Everybody in this room needs to be ready.”
