STARKVILLE – Ashton Shumpert has been waiting for two seasons to become the featured running back in the Mississippi State offense.
The junior played behind some talented Bulldog running backs the last two seasons and he learned a great deal from them. Now, it’s his turn to take over at tailback.
“I’ve been here since Perk (LaDarius Perkins) was here, so I’ve been learning stuff since then,” Shumpert said. “Perk and Griff (Nick Griffin) all them, they had some good leadership.
“Josh (Robinson) being short and stuff, he taught me how to lower my pad levels.”
Perkins’ last season was in 2013 leading to Robinson taking over in the backfield last season. Griffin was used some last year as well, but Robinson shouldered most of the load.
Robinson rushed for 1,203 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior. It was his first season as the starter.
“I wouldn’t say he surprised me, but it was something to see,” Shumpert said. “I’m looking forward to doing the same with more.”
Although Shumpert has never started a game in his two-year career, he is the most experienced running back returning, but he hasn’t rested on that in the early stages of fall camp. He has challenged himself to improve in August and he’s actually enjoying it.
“I’m looking forward to it, but I’m kind of liking the practice right now because I’m getting better and better,” Shumpert said. “I’m kind of enjoying the process.”
After leaving Itawamba Agricultural High School, Shumpert saw playing time immediately when he arrived at MSU. The Bulldogs were thin at the running back position and coach Dan Mullen couldn’t redshirt the Tupelo native.
Shumpert carried the ball 46 times for 190 yards and three touchdowns as a freshman. He rushed for 274 yards on 47 carries and two touchdowns as a sophomore last season.
“Being in the offense forever, three years now, just his understanding of it,” MSU running backs coach Greg Knox said. “He doesn’t think, he just reacts. He plays at a fast pace.
“He is now in a relaxed mode. He doesn’t worry about understanding his assignment, knowing his assignment, he knows what to do, so he can play really fast.”
The biggest challenge for Shumpert in his first two seasons was getting used to the playbook and what was expected of him. Going through two fall camps and two sets of spring practices has better prepared him.
He doesn’t have to think as much on the gridiron.
“It’s much different than when I first came in,” Shumpert said. “I came in as a freshman and I had to look at the playbook to know what I’m doing. Now I know it, so it’s just reaction.”
Shumpert missed last season’s first game against Southern Mississippi due to a violation of team rules. That got his season off to a slow start and in his first 10 games, he never touched the ball more than five times.
His best two games came during the last regular season contests. He rushed for 57 yards on 14 carries against Vanderbilt and 68 yards on 10 carries against in-state rival Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl.
“You go look at the good and bad and just go correct the bad and you improve the good,” Shumpert said.
He rushed for just 25 yards on four carries in a loss to Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl.
The 6-foot-2, 218-pound Shumpert hasn’t been that involved in the passing game the last two seasons. He caught just four passes for 22 yards as a freshman and three passes for 18 yards as a sophomore.
That might change this season.
“He’s got a role in everything,” Knox said. “He’s doing a great job. I’m really pleased with his camp so far.”
Along with Shumpert, the Bulldogs have junior Brandon Holloway and redshirt freshmen Aeris Williams and Dontavian Lee at the running back position this season. Williams played his high school football at West Point.
Holloway had his best season last year with 294 rushing yards and one touchdown. Williams and Lee have yet to see the field for the Bulldogs, but they have impressed in practices according to coaches.
They are helping push Shumpert to be the best running back he can be.
“Going out, you just have to know that you have to go out there and get your reps because there are other running backs behind you that are pretty good,” Williams said. “You just have to go out there and show coach Knox that you can compete against the other guys.”
The competition has been fierce this fall, but Shumpert has accepted it. He’s also trying to get the younger guys to the point where they can be a real asset to the Bulldog offense.
“I’ve been trying to be a leader since I’ve been here, so it’s not really a big difference,” Shumpert said. “I try to lead as best I can and keep people’s spirits up.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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