2022 Season Running Backs Preview + Depth Chart Projection

As we put together for the 2022 West Virginia College soccer season, we preview every place group and place so as of the place they may fall on the depth chart.

Tony Mathis Jr. is anticipated to be the day one starter and aiding with the load within the backfield will likely be Justin Johnson Jr and Jaylen Anderson. Johnson has extra expertise than Anderson, however I assume each will see motion inside the Air Raid system put in by newly employed offensive coordinator Graham Harrell.

Clemson switch Lyn-J Dixon departing this system in late June opened the door for Johnson to earn instant taking part in time. He was rated as some of the versatile backs within the nation in of the 2021 class, speeding for 1,086 yards and hauling in 833 receiving yards and 27 complete touchdowns. 

Tony Mathis Jr. (5’11”, 207-pounds)

Class: Redshirt Sophomore

Hometown: Orlando, Florida

Profession Stats: 90 carries / 367 yds / 1 TD

Tony Mathis Jr. will carry the load out of the backfield for the Mountaineers this season. The fourth-year again patiently waited behind two-time 1,000-yard rusher Leddie Brown the previous two seasons however confirmed flashes of turning into ‘the man’ the final two years, highlighted by a career-high 118 yards on the bottom in opposition to Kansas within the 2021 season finale, together with 70 speeding yards within the fourth quarter to shut out the sport.

Justin Johnson Jr. (5’11”, 198-pounds)

Class: Sophomore

Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri

Profession Stats: 24 carries / 90 yds

Justin Johnson Jr. made eight appearances final season however solely carried the rock in 4 video games. The majority of his manufacturing got here within the second sport of the season versus Lengthy Island College the place he rushed for 42 yards on 10 carries.

As one of many prime recruits popping out of Illinois, Johnson set an Edwardsville Excessive College (Class 8A) profession file 4,175 speeding yards and 62 touchdowns.

Jaylen Anderson (5’11”, 214-pounds)

Class: Redshirt Freshman

Hometown: Perry, Ohio

Jaylen Anderson was rated because the No. 6 greatest all-purpose again within the nation of the 2021 class by 247Sports. In a shortened senior yr, as a consequence of COVID-19, he rushed for 875 yards and 13 touchdowns however as a junior, he accounted for 1,086 speeding yards and 16 touchdowns to go along with 51 receptions for 833 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Markquan Rucker (5’11”, 210-pounds)

Class: Redshirt Freshman

Hometown: Middletown, West Virginia

Profession Stats: 2 carries / 6 yds

Markquan Rucker walked onto this system in 2020. Nevertheless, he labored his approach onto the sphere final season for 25 snaps, totally on particular groups, however earned two carries for six yards in opposition to LIU in week two. 

Owen Chafin (5’8″, 202-pounds)

Class: Redshirt Junior

Hometown: Huntington, West Virginia 

Owen Chaffin completed his profession at Spring Valley Excessive College with greater than 4,200 profession speeding yards and 210 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns, incomes two-time All-State, four-time All-Tri State and three-time all-conference.

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