At the start of the 2005 season, Ohio had two running backs - Kalvin McRae and Voncarie Owens.
Owens got nicked up, and as offensive coordinator Tim Albin said, McRae just took it over.
He had 605 yards rushing in a three-game span against Central Michigan, Ball State and Buffalo and finished the season with 1,153 yards.
Ohio had one running back, McRae had made that clear.
Entering this season, Ohio has four running backs that Albin feels comfortable using. But Albin said he would love it if one of them stood up and took over the position.
Senior Chris Garrett, redshirt sophomore Donte Harden, junior Vince Davidson and senior L.J. Flintall are all still in the mix.
(McRae) took it over by his performance and said
'I'm the guy ' Albin said. 'I can carry the ball 25 carries I can pass protect
I can catch
I can go every down.'
But, at this point, it just hasn't happened, which Albin said isn't that big of a concern.
We're not in a panic
Albin said. We got four guys.
But only two of them are healthy.
Harden will miss the spring while recovering from shoulder surgery. On Saturday, Flintall suffered what coach Frank Solich said was a pretty bad case of turf toe.
Last season, Garrett and Harden got the bulk of the carries. Garrett had the most carries on the team with 117 yards. He rushed for 529 yards and five touchdowns in 11 games.
Harden was limited to only seven games because of injury, but rushed for 454 yards and two touchdowns on 87 carries.
I look at it as competition every day
Garrett said. At practice everybody's pushing each other
day in and day out. I don't look at it as anything but good competition to get myself prepared for the season.
Garrett was also limited last season, but his injury didn't cause him to have to sit out entire games. He broke a rib on his left side and sprained his ankle, but played through them.
Albin said he was encouraged by the final two games against Akron and Miami in which Garrett was able to play all eight quarters.
(There are) a lot of things to build off with him
Albin said. He's a guy that we have to get in the flow of the game early.
Garrett was actually recruited as a wide receiver, and moved over to running back last season.
This gives Garrett a unique skill set. He said he thinks his route running, vision and blocking all are much better because of his time as wide receiver.
But Garrett knows that he can't always get the ball in the open right away. He said he has faith that his offensive linemen are going to create holes big enough to allow him to get into the open field.
And then he can take it from there.
I just want the ball in my hands
put it like that
Garrett said. And when I'm in space
