The last two years the Wildcats have taken the field with young running backs looking for experience.
This season, those young backs have become seasoned veterans, giving running backs coach Ron Caragher his most experienced unit during his three-year tenure.
?I?m really excited about our running back corps this year,? Caragher said. ?This is the first year that we have a lot of experience coming back at the running back positions and hopefully it pays dividends with our seniors Arliss Beach, Alexis Bwenge, Draak Davis, and Justin Sprowles.?
This deep and now experienced group has the ability to showcase a variety of different skills this season.
Senior Arliss Beach looks for a return to full health and to be the complete multi-threat back he has shown throughout fall camp.
?Arliss Beach, while he has the ability to make big plays, is the most solid and consistent of the backs,? Caragher said. ?He also pass protects the quarterback really well and can release out of the backfield to catch balls.?
Beach, an Ashland, Ky. native, while being known for his consistency, has taken great pride in being a player the coaching staff can count on to suit up come game days regardless of how nicked up he may be. He has played with several injuries during his career, especially over the past two seasons.
?I want to be out on the field playing,? said Beach, who has appeared in 33 games with seven starts in three years. ?If I?m hurting, I want to be out there being a part of the game with my teammates. I want to be out there shedding blood and tears with the guys who I know would do the same for me.?
Fellow senior fullback Alexis Bwenge also returns to provide versatility and leadership. Caragher says Bwenge, who has 478 career rushing yards, has shown excellent vision and pass catching skills in practice. Bwenge has impressed the coaching staff with ability to be to able carry the ball from the tailback spot when the team has had injuries.
Bwenge will be joined at the fullback spot by another senior, Justin Sprowles. The Charlotte, N. C., product has shown great blocking skills this fall and will provide the needed depth at the position.
Also returning this year is sophomore running back Rafael Little. Little started the final three games of last season and led the team in rushing with 265 yards and yards per carry with a 5.0 average.
Little will be counted on to impact the game with his exciting playmaking skills.
?I know I really can contribute speed from the running back position,? Little said. ?I?m working on my power, but I know I can add speed. I?m looking to make big plays on field.?
One experienced tailback the staff was looking forward to utilizing because of his speed and breakaway ability was sophomore Tony Dixon. Dixon, who rushed for 244 yards last season, suffered an ankle injury in camp that will keep him out until next season.
The loss of Dixon will open playing time for newcomers that include junior college transfer Terrell Bankhead and freshman Alfonso Smith.
Bankhead and Smith are physical runners who will bring a tremendous change of pace to the quicker running backs like Little, Beach, and Draak Davis.
With the desired experience a coaching staff looks for and the promising young backs in camp, the Wildcat backfield looks to make the push for an improved running game in 2005.
