The Jackrabbit running back room is rich in tradition and currently has three guys in the NFL. Running back coach Deonte Cooper says the year one to year two jump has been great and he is even more excited about year two because of how close this group has become and how the group has grown and improved. He is confident that this group can get it done with the guys they bring back and with the transfers they brought in.
The Jacks brought in Vanderbilt transfer #29 Dom Rezac (6’1, 190, GR) this summer after four years in Nashville. At Vandy he split time at safety and running back and contributed on special teams. Coach Coop credited him with bringing a veteran and mentoring presence to the room. He’s creating competition and doing a good job of leading the group. Coach also said that Rezac is not just here to do that but is pushing and competing for reps.
The other veteran in the room is #24 Brenden Begeman (6-2, 210, JR). Begeman was really coming on last season and playing well before he suffered a rib injury and missed a stretch of games. Begeman was injured while breaking a tackle which is something he is great at. He’s a big physical runner who is reliable. He just needs to stay healthy according to Cooper.
The other transfer the Jacks brought in was #6 Ramon “Junior” McKinney Jr. (5-10, 180, JR). Cooper credited Junior with adding some pure speed to the group. His explosive ability was evident in the spring game with an electric play when he scored on a 50 yard catch and run, breaking multiple tackles along the way. His raw ability is carrying him right now as he is still learning the running back position after switching from quarterback prior to last season when he was at Northeastern State (D2). He rushed for 1,093 yards and 15 touchdowns on just 164 carries (6.66 ypc) while also catching 35 passes for 340 yards and three TDs.
The Jacks have four second year players who all experienced highs and lows in their freshmen campaign. #34 Josiah Johnson (6’0, 220) led the group with 325 yards and 6 TDs on 78 carries (4.1 ypc). Coach Cooper was very excited to talk about Josiah and about his ascension last year. He started the season on the scout team and slowly came up with the highlight of his season coming with some tough runs against UND. Coop said that Josiah is so tough to tackle because of how he runs behind his pads. He’s playing with some swagger and coach thinks Josiah is trending up.
#32 James Basinger (5’10, 200) came in last season with a real maturity to his game. He was the first of last years first year players to see the field and ended up with 80 carries for 308 yards and 5 TDs. He also added 8 receptions for 72 yards through the air. Cooper said that James practices the right way and just has a real understanding of football. He’s good in blitz pickup which is how he found his way on the field so soon last season. Coach says that James is competitive and that he added good weight throughout the offseason program.
The final second year player that saw action last season is #4 Corey Blair Jr. (6’3, 210). Corey had “wow” moments when he was on the playing field but struggled with injuries and that limited his overall impact last fall. Ultimately, he ended the season with 20 carries for 96 yards and 1 TD. Coach said that Corey has high potential. He shared that Corey had a great spring and added weight. If he can stay healthy, this is a HUGE fall camp for him.
The last second year player is #34 Josh Myers (6’0, 190). Josh played at Sioux Falls Lincoln and has sprinter speed. Coach said that Josh is doing good things and he has a lot to prove to himself. He missed a little bit of spring dealing with an injury but has crushed the offseason. He has a real chance to compete and see the field this fall.
The Jacks brought in just one true freshman at running back this year. #32 Jay’Veon Scott (6’3, 215) is a big back from St. Louis that Coach Cooper is pumped to have in Brookings. He shared that Jay’Veon has done a good job since arriving in Brookings and is learning the playbook and the expectations of the rooms. He’s a raw talent that oozes with athleticism, similar to Corey Blair. He rushed for 18 touchdowns as a senior and also spent time at wide receiver and defensive back.
I think this room goes one of two ways. It stays with a committee or someone steps up and becomes “the man” in this room. The Jacks have a history of doing it both ways. If that happens, I think it could be any of the second year guys. This camp will really be interesting to see who begins to separate themselves.
Go Jacks!
Matt
