Coming into this season, the Southern Jaguars were looking to resolve the problems in the running game. It would seem easy enough, last season the Jags averaged 85.6 yards per game (ranked 10^th in the SWAC, 113 in the nation). This season the Jags come in with almost a brand new stable of running back, but there is one key return that is supposed to bring stability to a previously shaky position.

Red shirt junior Larry Nichols comes into this season as the only running back to have any playing time at the college level. In the 2005 season, Nichols had his biggest impact to date for the Jags with 91 touches with a net gain of 303 yards and 5 touchdowns. The Houston native started as the number one back for Southern in the season opener against Bethune-Cookman, but that outing was lackluster at best for Nichols and all of Southern’s backs. Nichols ended the game with just nine touches, resulting in nine yards. Nichols missed the Mississippi Valley game with a back injury he sustained after the season opener. Nichols’s impact has been minimal at this point in the season as he has yet to start another game, and he has only racked up any major playing time in OT against Prairie View.  

The most productive back for Southern this season is walk-on Kendall Addison. Addison’s first college game came in the Jags loss to Prairie View. Addison had the best performance of any back this season, with 59 yards and Southern’s first score by a running back this season. From Belaire High in Baton Rouge, Addison has also seen limited playing time this season as he was replaced by Nichols in the Valley game and has yet to start another game. The major knock against Addison is his size. He is the smallest of the backs. Even without the size of the other backs, Addison is still a between the tackles runner that has the speed the other backs lack. This has gotten Addison up to number two on the depth chart and the most consistent back of the young season.

Brian Threat is the third back to try his hand at taking over as the featured back for the Jaguars. Threat, the true freshman from Pensacola, Florida, started the Valley game and seems to be the number one guy right now. In his first collegiate start, Threat gained 36 yards on eleven carries with no touchdowns.  Threat currently sits atop the depth chart but that guarantees nothing as he has been there before. He had previously lost the starting job to yet another back. This time it was junior Darren Coates that received the starting job. Coates played in the Prairie View game, but left with a hip injury and 8 total yards.

The running back situation at Southern is far from settled, since no back has stepped up and become the featured back. Addison has been the best so far, but his size is a concern since it will limit the touches he will get. Southern has been using the short passes and the rushing production from the quarterbacks to make up for the struggling running backs. With no clear cut answer in sight, one of these talented backs has to step up or the Jags with feel the pressure of no running game even more as the season progresses.

Contact Chad at echadmetz@yahoo.com