After going 2-10, the Boston College Eagles were able to increase their win total by five on the back of Heisman finalist Andre Williams.
With more and more teams relying on the passing game, as well as incorporating multiple backs in the run game, Williams was a throw back in every sense of the way.
With a nation high 355 carries, Williams led the nation in both attempts and yards, and was only one of seven running backs to top the 300-carry mark (out of 120 schools in FBS).
Now with Williams moving on to the NFL, Boston College is left with a gaping hole at the running back position. The depth last year was thin and inexperienced as the second- and third-leading runners on the team were true freshman.
Tyler Rouse and Myles Willis combined to carry the ball 86 times for 471 yards and four touchdowns in what was both their first year on campus. Willis is expected to take the bulk of the carries, at least to begin the year. As sophomores, they still remain inexperienced, but with the addition of three freshman running backs, they become the ‘elder’ statesmen of the position.
Jonathan Hilliman leads the group of incoming ball carriers, and could quickly become a major contributor in the team’s rotation. The four-star recruit out of Jersey City, New Jersey received offers from such running back factories like Wisconsin, Oregon, Alabama, and Georgia (among others). Hilliman switched his committed status from the Rutgers Scarlet Knights after watching how much a factor the running game was in turning BC around from a two-win team to a team with a winning record that also appeared in a bowl game.
Vying for playing time along with Hilliman will be Marcus Outlow, the top-rated recruit out of the state of Connecticut. Rated as a three-star all-purpose back by Rivals, Outlow received offers from Texas Tech, UCLA, and Ohio State (among others), and head coach Steve Addazio is ecstatic about the future and present of two of his freshman.
“We’re talking about two big-time backs and I anticipate them playing right away. I told them we’ll get them in, get them playing, and build it for the future. There’s some real talent in this class. You mention two guys who are dynamic players, both big RBs. We’re still going to maintain a big, physical presence even though we’ll have a little more of a spread component attached to us.”
Addazio also has stated that he wouldn’t give any one back a workload that he gave Williams last year, who ran the ball himself more times than four entire schools – and as many as the Oregon State Beavers were credited for.
Richard Wilson wasn’t too highly regarded (given two-stars by rivals), and could be an option to redshirt, but in the coin toss that is the back field, even he could find his way onto the field.
With a transfer quarterback Tyler Murphy set to take the reins after coming over from the Florida Gators, having a strong running game will be crucial. The backfield has more questions than answers, but with plenty of options to give the ball to, they have more than enough players to roll with the hot hand and keep everybody fresh.
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