It has been reported that Jahvid Best, former standout Cal running back is back in college as a student/assistant coach. He will be helping out Khalfani Muhammad, the expected starter for the Bears at running back.
The move brings back memories of when Best was on the Bears and the team was very good. With Best carrying the load in 2008, the Golden Bears finished 25th in the nation and went 9-4 with their final game being a victory in the Emerald Bowl. Best finished the season with 1,580 rushing yards, an 8.1-yard per carry average, and 15 touchdowns. A frightening concussion ended the promising 2009 season for Best, but it is argued that when healthy, he was the best running back ever for the California Golden Bears.
Skip forward a couple of years. The Bears were an air-raid team in 2013. Not because they wanted to be, but because they had to be. Brendon Bigelow was good, but they couldn’t consistently have even a decent running game. Jared Goff was forced to throw the ball every play with an inexperienced offensive line unable to open up holes for Bigelow. A number of injuries on both sides of the ball (the Bears had to throw more when trailing in games) didn’t help either.
As much fun as it is to watch 50 passes a game, defenses are too good in the Pac-12 and know how to key in on a one-dimensional offense. More than ever, the team desperately needs a player like Jahvid Best. They need someone to step it up and provide them with a strong running game to complement Jared Goff.
Can Khalfani Muhammad be that player? Muhammad ran for 445 yards and 4 touchdowns with a 6.0 average as a backup last season. He also added 187 yards and a touchdown through the air. ‘
As a football player and a track and field runner, Muhammad runs with blazing speed. He is the kind of back that could burst through the line for a 80 yard TD run, just like Jahvid Best used to do.
It is important to note that Muhammad was just a freshman last season. If as a freshman he could put up those kind of numbers, it is scary to think how good he will be this year and going forward.
Is it over-hype to give the young sophomore this much pressure? Yes, but time is not on Sonny Dykes’ side. Dykes needs wins very soon for him to keep his job and Muhammad just may be the answer to his prayers.
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