Bucknell University Athletics
Photo by: Jon Lambert
Football Position Preview: Running Back
8/27/2018 10:09:00 AM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell football team will utilize a running-back-by-committee approach in 2018. With Chad Freshnock lost to a season-ending injury, Marquis Carter and the rest of the Bison backs will need to step up for the offense to be successful.
For the past two years, Freshnock backed up Joey DeFloria, who became the 10th Bison to surpass 1,000 rushing yards in a single season during the 2016 campaign and graduated in 2018 with 1,653 rushing yards and 432 receiving yards. When DeFloria was hampered by injury in 2017, Freshnock led the Bison with 525 yards on the ground. Head coach Joe Susan believes Carter, Jared Cooper and Stefone Moore-Green will step up just as Freshnock did in DeFloria's absence.
Carter in particular will be critical to the offense's success. As a freshman a year ago, he made the most of his limited repetitions. Against Monmouth, he became the first member his class to find the end zone, rushing for a three-yard score. At Lafayette, he set seven career highs, including in rushing yards (31) and receiving yards (18). He ultimately wrapped up the year with 50 yards on 28 carries.
"Marquis is a big, downhill back who has great straight-line speed," said assistant coach Jake Flaherty, who mentors the running backs. "He runs with violence and aggression, and he's done a much better job of being patient and letting plays develop."
"Joey was patient and knew the game so well while Chad is intense and relentless," Carter said. "Watching them helped me grow as a running back. This preseason, I've worked on setting an example for the incoming freshmen, like they did for me, and being more patient. I try to let things develop, and I have a better understanding of when I should run at full force."
Behind Carter on the depth chart are Cooper and Moore-Green, both small, shifty backs who can also be utilized as slot receivers. Flaherty noted they complement the "explosive" Carter well, saying that Cooper has shown "tremendous patience and maturity for a young running back" while Moore-Green has excelled in the screen game.
Joe Fex, a converted safety, and Alex Jones, a freshman, may also see game action during the 2018 campaign.
SUSAN'S STATEMENT ON FRESHNOCK AND ADEMILOLA'S SEASON-ENDING INJURIES: "We lost both Chad Freshnock and Marcus Ademilola to season-ending injuries. We will continue to rely on their leadership and support them through their rehabilitation. Our team has always operated with the 'Next Man Up Principle,' and we are fortunate that both the running back and tight end positions have talented depth."
NOTES: The Bison have six running backs on their roster: two juniors, two sophomores and two freshmen ... Flaherty said the running backs "have done a really good job making plays in the pass game" throughout camp ... After Freshnock was felled by injury, Fex and Moore-Green were moved to running back ... Moore-Green, who was supposed to transition back to wide receiver after spending 2017 as a running back, has primarily been utilized on kickoff returns to date and enters 2018 with only one career carry ... Flaherty said Moore-Green has "been physical in pass protection despite his smaller size" ... Fex has looked strong at his new position, and Flaherty praised the sophomore for his high football IQ and ability to find open field; Fex's father, Steven, is a high school football coach who played football at Oregon, Western Oregon and with the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League ... Cooper, at 5-foot-7, and Moore-Green, at 5-foot-8, are the two shortest players on the 2018 roster ... Flaherty noted that Jones runs with a "linebacker mentality" and has proven a hard worker to date.
For the past two years, Freshnock backed up Joey DeFloria, who became the 10th Bison to surpass 1,000 rushing yards in a single season during the 2016 campaign and graduated in 2018 with 1,653 rushing yards and 432 receiving yards. When DeFloria was hampered by injury in 2017, Freshnock led the Bison with 525 yards on the ground. Head coach Joe Susan believes Carter, Jared Cooper and Stefone Moore-Green will step up just as Freshnock did in DeFloria's absence.
Carter in particular will be critical to the offense's success. As a freshman a year ago, he made the most of his limited repetitions. Against Monmouth, he became the first member his class to find the end zone, rushing for a three-yard score. At Lafayette, he set seven career highs, including in rushing yards (31) and receiving yards (18). He ultimately wrapped up the year with 50 yards on 28 carries.
"Marquis is a big, downhill back who has great straight-line speed," said assistant coach Jake Flaherty, who mentors the running backs. "He runs with violence and aggression, and he's done a much better job of being patient and letting plays develop."
Carter said that DeFloria and Freshnock were both instrumental in helping him develop as a running back, noting that he's taken on elements of their unique styles.Check out our final #BandOfBison Spotlight, featuring RB Marquis Carter. #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/GiMSKDLkm0
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) August 26, 2018
"Joey was patient and knew the game so well while Chad is intense and relentless," Carter said. "Watching them helped me grow as a running back. This preseason, I've worked on setting an example for the incoming freshmen, like they did for me, and being more patient. I try to let things develop, and I have a better understanding of when I should run at full force."
Behind Carter on the depth chart are Cooper and Moore-Green, both small, shifty backs who can also be utilized as slot receivers. Flaherty noted they complement the "explosive" Carter well, saying that Cooper has shown "tremendous patience and maturity for a young running back" while Moore-Green has excelled in the screen game.
Joe Fex, a converted safety, and Alex Jones, a freshman, may also see game action during the 2018 campaign.
SUSAN'S STATEMENT ON FRESHNOCK AND ADEMILOLA'S SEASON-ENDING INJURIES: "We lost both Chad Freshnock and Marcus Ademilola to season-ending injuries. We will continue to rely on their leadership and support them through their rehabilitation. Our team has always operated with the 'Next Man Up Principle,' and we are fortunate that both the running back and tight end positions have talented depth."
NOTES: The Bison have six running backs on their roster: two juniors, two sophomores and two freshmen ... Flaherty said the running backs "have done a really good job making plays in the pass game" throughout camp ... After Freshnock was felled by injury, Fex and Moore-Green were moved to running back ... Moore-Green, who was supposed to transition back to wide receiver after spending 2017 as a running back, has primarily been utilized on kickoff returns to date and enters 2018 with only one career carry ... Flaherty said Moore-Green has "been physical in pass protection despite his smaller size" ... Fex has looked strong at his new position, and Flaherty praised the sophomore for his high football IQ and ability to find open field; Fex's father, Steven, is a high school football coach who played football at Oregon, Western Oregon and with the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League ... Cooper, at 5-foot-7, and Moore-Green, at 5-foot-8, are the two shortest players on the 2018 roster ... Flaherty noted that Jones runs with a "linebacker mentality" and has proven a hard worker to date.
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