Indiana Running Backs Growing as Spring Practices Marches On

Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

One of the biggest questions coming into spring practice a few weeks ago was, how are the Hoosiers going to improve the run game? The obvious answer is to improve the offensive line and find ways for Morgan Ellison and Cole Gest to be more productive and consistent. The Hoosiers finished 106th nationally in rush offense with 131 yards per game. However, the actual answer is much more complicated.

Indiana running backs coach Mike Hart has a young group heading into the 2018 season with a 17-yead old true freshman, a redshirt freshman in Craig Nelson, a true sophomore in Morgan Ellison and a redshirt sophomore in Cole Gest. The “old hats” of the group are Mike Majette and Ricky Brookins who have provided vital leadership to this young stable of backs. So what does Hart think about his room?

“They are coming out here and getting better every day” he said Tuesday. “Morgan (Ellison) and Cole (Gest) are more confident out here after having a year playing under their belts. Mike (Majette) and Ricky (Brookins) are our old hats, you know the old men out there. You have Ronnie (Walker) and Craig (Nelson). Craig is doing a tremendous job actually, so I don’t know why I forget Craig’s name. He’s done a great job out here. I think he is probably one of the biggest guys I am happiest about. He redshirted last year and he has shown a lot of good things out here in spring ball” he added.

Both Ellison and Hart have credited strength coaches David Ballou and Matt Rhea with changing the running backs’ bodies this offseason.

“I just feel better” Ellison said after practice on Tuesday, “my body feels healthier. I had a lot of kinks and stuff like that, that I felt. Getting banged up was new to me, but that like working those hamstrings, those quads, (that) stuff that every coach doesn’t work. Coach Ballou, Dr. Rhea they are one of the best out there I think.”

Hart has a lot of confidence in the youngsters. He gushed about Gest and Ellison. “I’ll tell you what, between him and Cole (Gest) I think we are going to be alright back there. Cole is doing a great job, Morgan (Ellison) is doing a great job. Between those two we have a lot of competition. They are definitely battling every day to see who is going to be the guy out there.”

The competition doesn’t stop with just Ellison and Gest. Veterans Mike Majette and Ricky Brookins can add value with their potential versatility out of the backfield. “Everybody’s greedy” Majette said, “so not only are we competing out here but we are competing in the weight room. Us competing in winter workouts and in the weight room, the classroom, challenging our brains and coming out here challenging our bodies so we are all sharpening out iron.”

Sophomore Morgan Ellison led the Hoosiers in rushing last season with 704 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. He has looked like a feature back in practice as he has broken loose several times and flashed his improved speed. While Cole Gest is coming off a season where he rushed for 428 yards in 10 games and Majette and Brookins added 324 all-purpose yards in limited playing time. Another back who has impressed at practice this spring who will be added to the mix is Craig Nelson, whose speed can make him a scoring threat from anywhere on the field. Add in four-star recruit Ronnie Walker and this group could turn around a disappointing 2017.

If the Hoosiers can get more consistency from Ellison and Gest and if Walker can mature into the back IU recruited him to be, IU should be just fine with what they have. An improved line will also help pave the way to a running game that will bring balance the IU offense. Right now the running backs are all focusing on being the best player they can be and that’s alright for Mike Hart this spring.

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