New Mexico State position preview: Running back group could be team strength

LAS CRUCES – New Mexico State’s offense has featured gifted operating backs, however depth on the place was not a precedence because the Aggies’ focus was primarily throwing the soccer underneath earlier head coach Doug Martin.

The Aggies averaged 30 makes an attempt per recreation final season and averaged 3.3 yards per rush.

Jerry Kill’s final cease, Texas Christian, averaged 39 rush makes an attempt final season for 5 yards per carry. TCU had six gamers with a minimum of 20 carries final season with 4 gamers speeding for over 350 yards final 12 months. The Aggies had three gamers with over 60 carries final season, however main rusher Juwaun Value (135 makes an attempt for 693 yards) and quarterback Jonah Johnson (130 makes an attempt for 166 yards) have transferred.

Depth within the backfield is a precedence in Kill’s offense and the Aggies have added expertise accordingly.

“I feel by the point fall camp rolls round, there will likely be three or 4 operating backs who will trigger some issues for groups,” Aggies offensive coordinator Tim Beck mentioned.

O’Maury Samuels is the Aggies main returning rusher and Alex Escobar has restricted expertise, as effectively. However Kill addressed the operating again place in recruiting.

Northeastern Oklahoma A&M switch Jamoni Jones and TCU switch Ahmonte Watkins stood out throughout spring follow. The Aggies have added Coffeyville Neighborhood School switch Star Thomas since spring follow and freshman Makhilyn Younger signed in February and will likely be on the sector when fall camp begins on July 29.

“They’ve put an amazing operating recreation collectively and we have now 9 operating backs and I can inform you 100% that every one of us can play,” Jones mentioned. “They need you to have the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, line up within the slot and go block a defensive finish, so you need to be versatile.”

Jones joined the Aggies after taking part in the lead again in a triple possibility offense at NEO, the place he rushed for 487 yards and 11 touchdowns final 12 months regardless of taking part in behind an inexperienced offensive line.

“Not having holes, and having to make it your self was sort of laborious, but it surely’s simply going to assist my recreation extra,” Jones mentioned.

Jones performed receiver in highschool and needed to block in junior school, so he checks the flexibility containers that Kill’s workers covets.

“I feel anytime you go right into a program, the very first thing you do is establish what the expertise is,” Aggies operating backs coach Ghaali Muhammad-Lankford mentioned. “For us, there are a handful of operating backs that present various things, schematically. It is a good room and I really feel snug with a whole lot of these guys and what they create to the desk.”

Whereas Jones supplies a bodily operating fashion at 6-2, 225 kilos, Watkins offered a glimpse of his velocity throughout the spring recreation with a 90-yard landing on a swing go. Watkins is a Louisiana state champion within the 100 meters and 200 meters.

“(Jones and Watkins) each joined us in January and each guys have performed school soccer in order that they have been by way of the method as a university athlete managing time, greater than the freshmen,” Muhammad-Lankford mentioned. “Jones is an enormous again, however he is not restricted to being a downhill again since you see him make cuts generally that not a whole lot of guys can do. Ahmonte was a observe athlete, who’s polished from a operating standpoint. I at all times say that I am unable to coach that.”

Thomas may very well be described as a mixture between Jones and Watkins at 230 factors, who had a suggestion from Louisiana Tech.

“Previous to him going to junior school, he (Thomas) went to work on the pipeline in west Texas to make some cash for his household,” Muhammad-Lankford mentioned. “He brings that work ethic that I would like within the room, however the sort of participant that Coach Kill and Beck sort of made their title on. He is without doubt one of the guys who will discover his approach, due to how decided he’s. He is an enormous again, however he has good ft and a superb mixture of imaginative and prescient and velocity for an enormous again.”

Younger scored 70 profession touchdowns with seven receiving scores at Midland Legacy Excessive College in Texas.

“(Younger) is aware of his id as a runner,” Muhammad-Lankford mentioned. “You see him doing a number of issues, operating previous and thru guys after which catching the ball. Guys who can do a number of issues and be versatile, the extra useful they develop into.”

Samuels rushed for 202 yards on 65 carries final 12 months with a landing in his first season in Las Cruces after transferring from Michigan in 2019.

Samuels, Escobar, sophomore Larenzo McMillan stroll on Tim Gans and freshman Braylon Stewart from Texas, may also be pushing for enjoying time in a operating again rotation the place depth will likely be key all through the course of the season.

“Everybody may have an equal alternative to compete and showcase their abilities,” Muhammad-Lankford mentioned. “We play a troublesome and bodily place. We have now to have that wholesome steadiness of depth.”

Who’s the very best RB in program historical past?

Along with outlining the Aggies roster for 2022, we are going to have a look again as effectively to establish the highest gamers within the historical past of the NM State soccer staff.

The Aggies have had numerous high quality ball carriers, so we’re together with two on this listing of Aggies greats with a key piece from the Sixties with Pervis Atkins, and extra just lately, with Larry Rose III.

Atkins was a first-team All American in 1959 and led the nation in speeding with 971 yards and helped the Aggies to an unbeaten season in 1960. He’s a member of the School Soccer Corridor of Fame. Atkins was drafted within the third spherical of the NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams in 1961. He additionally performed for the Washington Redskins and Oakland Raiders all through a professional profession that spanned 5 seasons. 

Rose III is second all time in program speeding yards with 4,557 yards, tied for first with 37 profession touchdowns, in addition to this system report for probably the most speeding yards (1,651) and speeding yards per recreation (137.6) in a single season, which he set as a sophomore in 2016.