STARKVILLE — Greg Knox knows how important his position group will be this season.
The Mississippi State football running backs coach is getting his guys prepared for more of a run-oriented offense. With the loss of quarterback Dak Prescott, MSU coach Dan Mullen said the Bulldogs may try to run the ball more.
Even though the battle between Damian Williams, Nick Fitzgerald, and Nick Tiano to be the team’s starting quarterback has attracted most of the attention in the preseason, the running backs also have a battle on their hands. Knox has six running backs taking reps in practice. But unlike the quarterback position, rotating running backs in and out of the game is common.
“You want to take the pressure off the quarterback and you can do that with a solid running game,” Knox said. “I think our guys will be solid. We’ve got a good, solid group, and we’ve got to produce.”
Knox has a mix of veterans, young guys, and first-time players. When last season began, there was a lot of buzz around former West Point High School standout Aeris Williams and Dontavian Lee. Both were redshirted in 2014, but many believed they were going to be a big part of the offense in 2015.
The two found out how hard Southeastern Conference football can be and had their ups and downs, but they learned what was expected of them. The running backs will look to get off to a good start this season when MSU plays host to South Alabama at 11 a.m. Saturday (SEC Network) at Davis Wade Stadium
In 2015, Williams had 206 yards on 40 carries and led the running backs with three touchdowns. Lee had 137 yards on 22 carries, but he failed to score. Lee said the most important thing he learned last season was patience and soaking up as much knowledge as he could.
Lee said he and Williams aren’t feeling anxiety to preform this season.
“It’s all faith,” Lee said. “I have faith in the coaches to put me on the field when I’m ready. I’m continuing to get better to make it to where they have no choice but to put me on the field. Instead of asking, ‘Why would I put him on the field?’ I want them to say, ‘Why not keep him on the field?’ I’m just continuing to get better.”
Brandon Holloway led all running backs with 413 yards on 92 carries. The senior is expected to be the starter.
The 5-foot-8, 165-pound Holloway isn’t like the other running backs. Knox called him the “changeup” because he isn’t a bruiser like the other five.
Players like Williams and Lee are your typical running backs. Holloway said they have been eager in practice, but they have all the tools and desire to be successful.
“If you ever talk to Aeris and Lee, you can see they’re two of the hungriest people out here. I definitely think they’re really ready to get it started this year,” Holloway said. “I don’t think athletic ability or anything like that has ever been in question, but definitely getting smarter with the football. They’ve gotten a lot better.”
Senior Ashton Shumpert has 692 yards and six touchdowns in his three-year career.
Redshirt freshman Nick Gibson and Alec Murphy are still learning, but they will add needed depth.
There were times last season when Knox had to get after Williams and Lee to motivate them. He said that persistence has paid off and they have progressed nicely in the last two years.
“I think spring helped them. I think they’ve gotten a lot smarter, which is going to make them better players,” Knox said. “I think this spring eliminated a lot of thinking, so they’re doing a lot more reacting, which makes them play a lot faster.”
Knox said he is looking for consistency from Williams and Lee, but he said they have a long way to go to reach that pinnacle.
The 6-1, 230-pound Lee had 1,590 yards and 13 touchdowns and 29 catches for 432 yards as a senior in 2013 to help Forrest County Agricultural High win the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 4A State championship.
Williams had 3,994 yards in his career at West Point High. He was the fourth Green Wave player selected to The Clarion-Ledger’s Dandy Dozen.
Williams has added about 15 pounds and now weighs 217 pounds.
“He should be stronger,” Knox said. “It’s more muscle than weight, which is good. He should be a lot stronger runner.”
With few reps to be had, Williams and Lee could let that affect their progress, but Lee said he makes up for it by watching film and getting into his play book.
“They’re not going to have me sit down forever,” Lee said. “They’re going to have to call my name eventually. When they call my name, you best believe I’m going to be ready.”
With so much uncertainty surrounding the quarterback position, the Bulldogs are counting on the running backs to deliver. Even though he has several options, Knox said Williams and Lee could be difference-makers if they can do well enough to see the field.
“We’ve got to do the little things right that’s going to create the extra yards that will move chains,” Knox said.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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