Indiana Football Positional Preview: To Hit the Next Gear, IU's Running Backs Have to Hit the Gas

Morgan Ellison leads the way in the backfield for the Hoosiers in 2018 Image: Sammy Jacobs Hoosier Huddle

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

The 2018 season draws near! That means it is time for a preseason tradition: position previews. We begin by looking at a position group that is absolutely crucial to Indiana’s success this season. In conjunction with the offensive line, this unit has to step up and help IU’s rushing attack dramatically improve. Today, we preview the running backs.

The Starter –

Morgan Ellison – Sophomore – 6’1”/228 pounds

The sophomore from Ohio gained more than 700 yards in 2017, leading the team in rushing. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry but his season was cut short by injuries. Ellison has toned and slimmed down a bit and the hope is that he’ll improve his explosiveness a bit while keeping the power that made his running style effective last season. Ellison is the unquestioned lead back entering the 2018 season and it would be a bit of a disappointment if he doesn’t break 1,000 yards during this campaign (assuming he has a full season). To do so, Ellison must stay healthy and be able to break more big plays when he’s able to get to the second level of a defense.

Running back is a position that requires multiple players and the Hoosiers are likely going to give 4-5 players (at least) regular carries. Not only is that necessary in order to keep the players fresh, the running backs on IU’s roster have different skills that are hopefully effectively utilized by offensive coordinator Mike DeBord. So, let’s take a look at the group of players that are expected to play “back up” or “complementary” roles from the running back position.

The Back-Ups

Cole Gest – Redshirt Sophomore - 5’8”/195

Gest is on the shorter side but he’s not small. If you’ve seen him play or taken a look at the offseason training videos from IU Football, you know the redshirt sophomore from Ohio is powerfully built and very difficult to bring down. Thus far in his career, he has been a one-cut and go back. If there is a hole, he hits it as hard as any IU back on the roster and he has terrific top-end speed to help him break big runs. However, Gest hasn’t shown much elusiveness so far, an area that could be improved upon. He’s been very effective in short bursts during his brief career and I would expect him to begin the season as the man getting the second most carries in the IU backfield.

Craig Nelson – Redshirt Freshman – 5’10”/182

Nelson, a redshirt freshman from Florida, garnered rave reviews from coaches and observers alike for his play during spring practice. He is a speed back that could potentially bring an explosive “home run” element to the IU running game. Nelson is capable of physical running though and his lower body looks like that of a B1G running back. At this time, I think the plan would be to get Nelson 5-10 touches per game. Those could be as a pass catcher and traditional handoffs or pitches in a zone read attack.

Ronnie Walker – Freshman – 5’11”/205

The four-star recruit from Hopewell, Virginia, is someone the Hoosiers hope can blossom into a star. His spring was cut short by a nagging injury but he looked pretty good in his brief time on the practice field. I don’t think he is going to be asked to carry a huge load in his debut season but he will be a factor. Walker is a well-rounded back that can run between the tackles or get to the outside and use his speed to beat defenders.

Ricky Brookins – Senior – 5’8”/195

Ricky Brookins will add depth to the RB unit Image: Sammy Jacobs Hoosier Huddle

Brookins is a walk-on but every time I see him on the field, it appears he belongs. In 2017, he led Hoosier running backs with 19 receptions and he seemed to come through whenever he was called upon. It’s unclear what role he is going to play in 2018 but it would be quite surprising (and disappointing) if the coaching staff does not utilize his pass catching skills out of the backfield.

Mike Majette – Senior – 5’11”/215

Another senior with an unclear role, Majette has not had quite the career many had hoped for. He has had each season in Bloomington stymied by injuries and it seems highly unlikely he’ll be called upon to carry the ball much in 2018. The senior from Woodbridge, Virginia, actually spent most of the spring as a wide receiver. That’s intriguing because he has always looked at his best catching passes and getting into space. Being a good receiver out of the backfield and filling a role as a pass-catcher is his best chance to be a contributor for this squad and ending his career on a real high-note.

Stevie Scott – Freshman – 6’2”/233

The second true freshman on this list, Scott comes to IU after initially committing to Rutgers. The native of Syracuse, New York, is now a Hoosier and he’s going to start his collegiate career as a running back. He played both RB and linebacker in high school but the additions of TD Roof and Dameon Willis made him a much better fit at running back for the Hoosiers. He appears to be in line for a very important “big back” role. Most of IU’s running backs are a bit undersized for short-yardage or goal line situations (Gest, Brookins) so having a big hammer could be a very nice addition for IU. He averaged 10.5 yards per carry in high school so he knows what he is doing with the ball in his hands.

The Walk-Ons

Brookins could have been in this group but I feel he is likely to play pretty much every week as a senior and he belonged one group up. That’s not to say the following walk-ons won’t work themselves into a regular rotation spot or that injuries won’t force the coaches’ hands. For now though, I wouldn’t expect any of the following players to see much of the field in 2018.

Connor Thomas – Sophomore – 5’8”/189

Ahrod Lloyd – Redshirt Freshman – 5’11”/194

Kristian Pechac – Freshman – 6’1”/198

Lloyd was impressive in spring practice and he had a great redshirt freshman season in 2017, earning scout team player of the week four times. Connor Thomas actually appeared in a few games last season and ran the ball three times for six yards. He also had success on the scout team, earning player of the week honors twice. Pechac comes to Indiana after a bit of a winding journey. Initially a four-star recruit, he found himself at Pima Community College. That school announced that they would soon be terminating their football program and Pechac decided to transfer back to Bloomington (he played for Bloomington South High School). There were doubts locally about whether or not Pechac was actually ever a four-star talent. He’ll now have the chance to prove himself.

Prediction

The Indiana Hoosiers coaching staff has been very transparent about what the running game was in 2017 and what it needs to be in 2018. Things were nowhere near good enough on the ground in 2017 and they have made improving there a major priority for this season. Having mobile quarterbacks helps in a big way as does the offensive line turning into a strength. It is now up to the running backs to make good on the promise we feel they have. I think Morgan Ellison looks like a new man and I firmly believe he is ready to have a big season (I’m expecting him to eclipse 1,000 yards). I think Cole Gest and Craig Nelson are going to end up being the next two men up once the season gets into a rhythm and both players have the potential to have some explosive runs, a desperately needed attribute for this attack. Stevie Scott is a talent and he’s physically ready to help the Hoosiers in short-yardage situations. In short, the running game absolutely has to improve and I think we’ll see a big step forward in rushing production. The Hoosiers need to establish the running game early in the season against FIU, Ball State and Virginia. Failure to do so could spell doom for IU’s bowl hopes.