2008 Position Breakdown: Running Backs

2008 Position Breakdown: Running Backs

Position Overview: More than any other position on the 2008 Husker squad, the running back spot is stacked with quality and quantity. Start with senior Marlon Lucky, the Big 12’s leading returning rusher. With Lucky, we all know what to expect. He’s an excellent pass catcher out of the backfield, and is very good, if not spectacular, in nearly every other aspect of the running game. Lucky’s experience and versatility will be extremely valuable for the Big Red as they work to reestablish the power running game and give the young receivers time to develop.

Sophomores Roy Helu and Quentin Castille will provide ample depth behind Lucky. Helu turned plenty of heads during spring practice and made news by earning “co-first team” status with Lucky on the team’s pre-fall depth chart. Helu is a potent mix of toughness and quickness and clearly has the trust of the coaching staff. Like Helu, the sky is the limit for Castille. He brings 4.5 speed and 240 pounds of muscle to the table. Ask safety Rickey Thenarse how it feels to knock shoulder pads with Castille.

I may be a homer, but it doesn’t seem like a stretch to say all three of these backs could be playing in the NFL some day.

Providing further depth and an added dose of speed will be redshirt freshman Marcus Mendoza. Essentially an unknown quantity (last seen he fumbled a few punts and caught a swing pass for a touchdown in the spring game), Mendoza could be used as an occasional change-up speed back when the situation dictates.

Speculation is that Husker fullbacks may actually carry the ball again in 2008, after serving almost exclusively as blockers under the Callahan regime. Steady senior Thomas Lawson will likely begin as the starter, while Justin Makovica (it’s good to have a Makovicka in the backfield again) will man the second team.

Reason for optimism: There are plenty of reasons. Lucky is pre-season All Big 12, Helu has the coaches raving and Castille could potentially be better than either of them. Add in that the backs behind Lucky are all sophs or younger, and this position should be good for a while.

Reason for concern: For all his talent, Castille needs to hang on to the football. If the team is to pull off some upsets this year, the Huskers will need to be able to count on the sophomore from Texas in goal line situations.

New blood: Freshmen Collins Okafor from Omaha and Lester Ward out of Brenham, Texas will join the fray in the fall. Both seem to be good candidates to redshirt in 2008.

What to expect in ’08: New running backs coach Tim Beck brings not only excellent recruiting connections, he also helped develop some strong running attacks while at Kansas. In the last few seasons, Beck helped turn KU’s Jon Cornish and Brandon McAnderson into 1,000-yard backs. His presence, along with pre-season vows from Offensive Coordinator Shawn Watson and O-line Coach Barney Cotton to reemphasize a smash mouth running attack, should result in big yardage out of the running back spot.