2020 Position Preview – Running Backs

Stevie Scott gets ready for the 2020 season Image: Indiana University Athletics

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

After an offseason full of tragedy, uncertainty and impending massive upheaval in the college football landscape, we have somehow arrived right on the doorstep of the 2020 college football season. While the stadiums might be without fans, the product on the field should be no less enthralling and entertaining. Hoosier Huddle is previewing each position as we crash into IU’s season opener against Penn State. Today, we focus on a position that is very set at the top and looking to develop depth: running back. EDITOR’S NOTE: David Ellis will be with the wide receiver preview although he’s been working with running backs.

Stevie Scott – Junior

Scott battled injuries during his sophomore season but still gained 845 yards (4.7 ypc) with ten touchdowns and added 211 receiving yards. His play earned him second team All-Big Ten honors. He is just 18 yards shy of 2,000 for his career and the junior is a cornerstone piece of the IU attack. Scott is one of three Hoosiers on the preseason Maxwell Award watch list and he is a favorite to land on an All-Big Ten team if he stays healthy. I would anticipate that Sampson James will see more carries than he did a season ago, which likely means Stevie Scott will see fewer of them in an effort to keep him fresh. Ideally, Scott would be able to improve as a pass-catcher and a blocker in passing situations and it would be very interesting to see formations with both Scott and James playing together.

Sampson James – Sophomore

The talented sophomore was a bit slow to get going but he ultimately had 275 yards on just 81 carries and he was massive in IU’s win at Purdue with 118 yards and a score. James looks poised to handle a larger load in 2020. We did not see a ton of him but when he was on the field, James looked the part of a good back.

Sampson James, IU Athletics

Stevie Scott and Sampson James provide a one-two punch that will be among the best duos at the position in the Big Ten. However, the Hoosiers lost Cole Gest, Ivory Winters and Ronnie Walker to transfer. This leaves the position with some questionable depth that will need to be developed quickly during fall camp. The departure of the other scholarship running backs means there is only one more scholarship back on the roster. IU opted not to seriously pursue any other running backs or take anyone in the transfer portal. That tells me they are content with three scholarship backs (Scott, James and Baldwin) plus a good stable of walk-ons. In addition, it would not be surprising to see David Ellis get some carries as the Hoosiers look for unique ways to get the dynamic playmaker the ball.

Tim Baldwin – Freshman

A late addition to the 2020 class, Tim Baldwin was a three-star running back from Nokesville, Virginia. He was a first-team all-state honoree in 2019 and ran for 1,604 yards with 25 touchdowns and he has a frame that should be able to add 10-15 pounds to handle the pounding a Big Ten running back takes. Baldwin showed the ability to break some big runs with a burst that Scott and James might not have. Tim Baldwin would have benefitted tremendously from a full spring camp. He was an early enrollee and that will still be a benefit but he will now need to show and develop the vision and patience he’ll need to use to be successful. IU hopes they can use Baldwin as an emergency back only but if James and Scott get banged up, he’ll need to show the coaches he can be trusted in big games.

The Hoosiers also have a few walk-ons that could be used situationally or on special teams (or in case of injury).

Ahrod Lloyd – Redshirt Junior

The walk-on from Park Tudor High School in Indianapolis redshirted the 2017 season, played in nine games in 2018 and then appeared in every game last season. In fact, he earned a scholarship for the season during fall camp. Lloyd rushed ten times for 19 yards and returned three kicks for 45 yards.

Connor Thomas – Redshirt Senior

Thomas is a bigger back than Lloyd and has been used sparingly in short-yardage situations before. He ran the ball six times for 11 yards in three different games in 2019 and was the three-time special teams scout team player of the week.

Davion Ervin-Poindexter – Redshirt Freshman

Ervin-Poindexter is a walk-on from Merrillville High School in Indiana. He starred at Brother Rice High School in Chicago and was honorable mention all-state. He joined the program during fall camp in 2019 and did not see any game action last season.

Chris Childers – Junior (transfer from Indiana State)

Childers is big, particularly for a walk-on. He played two seasons at Indiana State and rushed for 110 yards last season. This is his first season with the program.

Charlie Spegal – Freshman

I am very high on the future for Charlie Spegal. He was obscenely productive at New Palestine High School, setting record after record. I am of the belief that players like that eventually find a way to contribute. Given the complete lack of a normal offseason, I would guess that time for Spegal will need to wait as he gets used to the major difference between playing high school football and lining up in the Big Ten.