Rushers aren't in any rush

UCA Head Coach Steve Campbell is shown in this file photo.
UCA Head Coach Steve Campbell is shown in this file photo.

CONWAY -- Central Arkansas Coach Steve Campbell has watched four weeks of preseason practices and still isn't sure which running back will take the first carry of the season.

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Democrat-Gazette file photo

Blake Veasley missed spring practice this year while recovering from knee surgery, but he said he is ready to take on a bigger role for Central Arkansas this season. “It’s a responsibility, but it’s a wanted responsibility,” he said.

Senior Blake Veasley could start tonight's season opener at Samford. Or it could be Dominique Thomas, a sophomore who packed on 12 pounds of muscle in the offseason.

Tonight’s game

CENTRAL ARKANSAS AT SAMFORD

WHEN 6 Central tonight

WHERE Seibert Stadium, Birmingham, Ala.

RECORDS Central Arkansas 0-0; Samford 0-0

COACHES UCA: Steve Campbell (6-6 in second season at UCA, 33-14; 132-44 in 15th season overall); Samford: Chris Hatcher (0-0 in first season at Samford, 121-57 in 16th season overall)

RADIO KUCA-FM, 91.3, in Conway; KKPT-FM, 94.1, in Little Rock

INTERNET ESPN3.com

Whoever it is, the competition to be UCA's top running back isn't anywhere close to being over, and Campbell, Veasley and Thomas are fine with that.

"It's always a good thing when you've got competition," Campbell said leading up to today's 6 p.m. game in Birmingham, Ala. "I've been the other way, when you don't know who to put out there because you don't feel good about any of them."

That's not the case this time.

The official depth chart released earlier this week listed Thomas ahead of Veasley, but the two were separated by an "or," meaning a starter hadn't been decided. When asked earlier this week, Veasley said he expected to take the first snaps but still wasn't sure.

"It'll probably be whoever is rolling the best," he said.

Neither Veasley nor Thomas care much about who gets the first carry because both are expected to get plenty of opportunities this season.

The Bears enter their second season under Campbell, trying to improve their rushing statistics from a year ago when they averaged 159.5 yards per game, which ranked eighth in the Southland Conference and 69th nationally.

Senior Willie Matthews received the bulk of the work, rushing for 740 yards on 182 carries. Veasley was second with 79 carries, and Thomas was third with 54.

Campbell wants a consistent running game first and foremost, and he said that distribution will likely be more even this season because of his confidence in Veasley, Thomas and a handful of complimentary pieces.

Campbell said he likes the potential shown by Darrien Daniels, Kelton Warren and Jeff Anderson.

"I'm pleased with the way those guys have worked," Campbell said. "We've got a little bit more depth. Now we've still got to play and show that we can do it, but I really like the way that group has been working."

This is the chance Veasley has been waiting for since arriving at UCA two years ago. He signed with Memphis out of Cross County High School in Cherry Valley but transferred after one season and one spring practice under Coach Justin Fuente. He played behind Matthews the past two seasons, scoring eight touchdowns, and has a chance to start for the first time this season.

Veasley missed this past spring while rehabbing from knee surgery, but said he's felt fine since the start of fall practice and is ready to take on as big a role as possible.

"It's a responsibility, but it's a wanted responsibility," Veasley said. "As a running back, we want the ball. We want the offense to work through us. It's a very wanted responsibility."

Thomas averaged 6.3 yards per carry last season, the best on the team. During the offseason, he added about 12 pounds of muscle. He played in the spring at 225 pounds, but felt it was a bit too much, so tonight he will play at about 217.

Like Veasley, Thomas is ready to take on the lead role, too.

"It makes you feel good to know that you're counted on as a player," he said.

They will try to establish a running game against a Samford team picked second in the Southern Conference with seven defensive starters returning.

It's a good test for the running backs, for sure. But it's not a final exam.

"A lot of positions, the competition ends after the first week in camp," Veasley said. "Ours was pretty much going all the way up until [Tuesday]. Still, guys are competing for reps. But I wouldn't have it any other way."

Sports on 09/03/2015

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