Robbie Rouse is proud of the work his guys have put in since the 2023 season ended in Frisco. From the outside, there may be a lot of questions given the graduation and move to the New York Jets for Isaiah Davis but when you continually reload the running back room, fan should feel confident in the future. Rouse says that this is a very talented group overall. There were just four healthy guys through spring ball so everyone received plenty of reps. It was a strong spring and a great summer.
#3 Amar Johnson (5-10, 205, SR) is looking to follow Isaiah Davis, Pierre Strong, and Zach Zenner to the NFL and will hopefully do so with a big season. Amar has been recognized as one of the top FCS running backs headed into this season. For his career, Amar has 277 carries for 1,644 yards (5.9 ypc avg) and 10 TDs. This is wild production given he has played behind two backs who are now in the NFL. Rouse said that Amar looks great and that his speed is up and he has really toned up. Multiple coaches during in my interviews said that Amar has made a jump this offseason and will be force this season. Amar has embraced his role as the leader of the running back room and has attacked this offseason with a really focus to be his absolute best.
A player many Jackrabbit fans are excited to see more from this year is #21 Angel Johnson (5-9, 195, JR). Angel has shown some flashes in the limited action that he has seen the last two years to make fans really wonder what this guy is all about. Last season, in just 43 carries, Angel had 381 yards, and 6 TDs including a long of 80. Angel was a WR in high school and has some phenomenal hands. I’m curious if there will be opportunities to get him the ball in space in the passing game. Rouse said that Angel may be the fastest guy on the team and he is the pound for pound strongest. Rouse said Angel is still learning but he is becoming more and more polished all the time.
#20 Kirby Vorhees (5-10, 205, R-FR) is a new face to the field and someone that Rouse credits with being very versatile in what he can do. The Florida product is really quick, has great hands, is really competitive, and holds himself to a really high standard according to Rouse. It sounds like he does a lot of stuff really well and there will be touches for him in this offense. Kirby was recognized as the teams Scout Offensive Player of the Year in 2023. In limited action, he had 5 attempts for 17 yards.
South Dakota legend #45 Brenden Begeman (6-1, 215, R-FR) capped a solid spring ball with a really good spring game. Rouse shared that the adjustment from 9man to the FCS but Brenden did it with it really starting to click during preparation for the National Championship. Brenden has added weight but has kept his speed. Currently, it doesn’t seem like the Jacks have a power back. Can Begeman fill that void if needed? Only time will tell!
The final returning player in the room is #39 Isaac Kracl (5-11, 170, SO). Unfortunately, Isaac was hurt in the season opener against Western Oregon, missed the entire season and offseason but will return sometime during fall camp. Rouse shared that he is really athletic when healthy and he has some great speed. It will take time to get 100% back but Rouse loves how Kracl has remained committed throughout this challenging process.
Two guys that everyone in the program is excited about are #35 Quin Renfro (6-0, 185, FR) and #34 Maxwell Woods (5-11, 180, FR). Rouse shared that Quin, a Joplin, Missouri product, has great contact balance, vision, and knowledge of the game. He thinks he can be an every down back. Woods was a late addition to the class and the coaches very excited to add him. Rouse loves his movement skills, body control, and twitchiness. He said both have been really hard workers since getting to Brookings.
Isaiah Davis made plenty of highlight runs during his time as a Jackrabbit that we will all remember for a long long time. No one will ever be Isaiah but all of these guys can still be great in their own version of themselves. We thought we’d never replace Zenner and then Pierre came along. We thought Pierre would be impossible to replicate and then came Isaiah. All three were different and all three were successful for the Jackrabbits. Amar and Angel are also different then those three guys and I’m excited to see them in expanded roles and I’m excited to see new guys that we don’t know a ton about yet. There is clearly plenty of talent in the room, I’m just ready to see it on Saturdays!
Go Jacks!
Matt
