Red Wolves needing to build RB depth in a hurry

Arkansas State running back Michael Gordon rushed for 754 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, but he has been slowed by a foot injury early in fall camp.
Arkansas State running back Michael Gordon rushed for 754 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, but he has been slowed by a foot injury early in fall camp.

JONESBORO -- Blake Anderson counted depth as a primary concern at several positions heading into his first fall camp as Arkansas State coach. But no position with so many question marks has taken as many additional hits as running back through the first week.

Returning starter Michael Gordon and projected backup DeKeathan Williams each watched Wednesday's practice in red pullover jerseys while nursing minor injuries. Gordon, who rushed for 754 yards and 10 touchdowns last year, injured his foot during a drill with linebacker Qushaun Lee on Monday and hasn't practiced since. Williams, who moved from linebacker in the spring, has a sore knee.

Anderson said neither injury is considered serious, but doesn't expect either to play in Saturday's scrimmage, providing a scenario that highlights its biggest deficiency among the running backs.

"We don't have any depth," Anderson said. "Not any depth with any experience. We've got some bodies, but they haven't played before."

With Gordon and Williams out, running backs coach Anthony Tucker worked with three players during position drills Wednesday, and all three rotated during 7-on 7-and team drills. The most experienced was Johnston White, a redshirt freshman who has yet to carry the ball in a game. The others were true freshmen Brandon Byner and Terrance Hollingsworth.

"It's a tougher load on me," White said. "The stamina, it plays a part. But you just have to fight through it. That's why I stay in the cold tub a little extra."

The lack of the top two backs allows Tucker a chance to learn more about the freshmen who will likely be needed to play this year.

"It's a great opportunity for those guys to get experience," Tucker said. "When you have guys who haven't been there, and you get them on the field, and get them reps and get them reps and get them reps, that's what we're trying to do."

Gordon isn't exactly looking at it that way, though. He said Wednesday that he tried to convince Anderson to let him practice, but the coach told him rest is more important. Gordon said he understands he's the only running back on the roster that has a carry in a game, and wants to get back to find a rhythm within the new offense.

"When it happened, I was like, 'I really need to get back,' " Gordon said. "I know I need to be back, just for the simple fact that I don't want to be out and everybody else is getting in better shape than me."

His absence also makes it hard for Anderson and Tucker to find an answer to another pressing question: How much of a load can Gordon handle?

The junior backed up David Oku through the first eight games last year before becoming the starter when Oku was suspended for a Nov. 9 victory at Louisiana-Monroe. Gordon averaged 15.6 carries per game as a starter, but said Wednesday he thinks he can handle up to 20 per game after putting on 15 pounds in the offseason.

"Yeah. That's my range, 17 to 20," he said. "I know I can get more than that, it just depends on how the hits are coming."

Anderson still isn't sure how much they can throw at Gordon.

"That's really the question," Anderson said. "How much can he handle effectively? We're going to push the tempo, and some guys handle it better than others. It's going to be up to what he can handle, and I don't think we will know that for a little while.

"I know he had a great summer, which gives him a chance to have the foundation to carry a good bit of load, and we'd sure like him to."

Regarding the backs that might have to handle what Gordon can't, Anderson called White "quietly consistent" and said Byner and Hollingsworth are each still trying to grasp the offense.

Both freshmen, though, aren't expected to redshirt, considering ASU's need on special teams and at running back.

"We're so thin at any of those spots," he said. "I sure don't want them thinking about redshirting. If it happens by accident, then we'll deal with it. I just don't have the luxury of telling any of our skill guys to redshirt. They have to be ready to play."

Sports on 08/07/2014

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