Spring Football: The Running Backs

With only four practices remaining before the Fastest Friday in Kentucky, GoRacers.com now takes a look at the Murray State running backs.

The Racer offense averaged 468.8 yards last season which was the 15^th highest total in all of FCS, but their 141.2 rushing was only good enough for 86^th. Those numbers, however, are one of the main reason running backs coach Sean Dawkins returned for his fifth season at Murray State, after spending a year at Chattanooga.

"Sometimes stats can be deceiving, and that is a good thing" Dawkins said. "The running backs were not terrible at running the ball; they just didn't have a whole lot of attempts there. The yards per carry, however, were, pretty good."

"I'm happy to be back," Dawkins stated. "I know a lot of people here, a lot of familiar faces so the transition for me has been fairly easy."

"I'm feeling really good," said Dawkins. "We've made some improvements, especially on running the ball. I feel like our biggest issue is ball security, holding onto the football. I just got done telling those guys, we've made a lot of strides running the ball, we just haven't held on to it very well."

The Racers have been know in the past several years as primarily a passing team, evidenced by the fact that they finished third in the nation in that category a year ago. However, one of first-year head coach Mitch Stewart's stated goals is to keep the passing game strong, but to increase the running game at the same time. One of the players that hopes to feature in that increased running game is junior Marcus Holliday.

"I feel like everyone is coming together as a team," said Holiday. "We are working as one unit to make different plays."

Holiday joins senior Pokey Harris, as two players who will help lead the ground attack for the Racers this season. Harris averaged 52.2 yards per game with three touchdowns last season, while Holliday also scored thrice and averaged 40.9 yards per game.

"We've got a couple guys that are pretty good as leaders," Dawkins explained. "They push each other and are all looking like the same player. No one player is taking the lead yet, but as far as leadership goes, all of those guys lead well."

"All of us are close," Holliday said, "we just push each other we all have a really good bond."

While Holliday and the other backs have gotten a chance to work with each other this spring, Harris has not, as he is a two-sport athlete who also plays for the Murray State baseball team. While Dawkins would like to have Harris in spring practice, his absence does present other opportunities.

"It's good to know he is returning" added Dawkins. "I wish he was here so he could be getting better at things he needs to get better at. That's the good thing about this game and really anything in life you can always get better. I wish he was here getting better with the team, but at the same time it gives me a chance to focus on three other guys and help them get better."

Harris was the top returner in FCS last season, taking back a nation-leading three kick-off returns for touchdowns and finishing seventh in the nation in yards per return at 28.8, both of which also led the OVC. Harris was named to eight separate All-America first-teams this postseason, including five of the seven universally recognized teams to earn consensus status.

"I feel confident in the running backs right now, even without Pokey practicing" said Holliday, "I know when he gets back that he will get right back into the groove of things."

While the ultimate goal for everyone this season is to win the OVC Championship, the running backs are focused on smaller goals first.

"For us as a group, I feel like we did pretty well last year," added Holliday. "If coach gives us more opportunities to get the ball in our hands, then we will have more opportunities to contribute to the team's overall success."

Murray State University Athletics

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Pokey Harris

Marcus Holliday

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