[BJWilliams]

After a bit of a hiatus due to my workload spiking for a bit, We're back to look at the other players in the backfield on offense:

Players Lost
None (Chase Barnett returned to RB)

Players Returning
Aldreakis Allen 120 Rush 612 Yds 8 TD
SirChauncey Holloway 53 Rush 294 Yds 4 TD
Desmond Rice 35 Rush 158 Yds 2 TD
Korrey Davis 11 Rush 34 Yds 1 TD
Andrell Morrison (no 2011 stats, transferred from Dean College in MA)

After a year away, Aldreakis Allen got off to a slow start the first three games, but after getting his legs under him, AA picked his game up and had his high watermark in a key three game stretch including back to back 100+ yard games against Charleston Southern and Presbyterian.

I think itll be a 2 horse race between Allen and Holloway, but Des certainly showed some flashes of what he can be in his limited game time. I wouldnt go so far as to say that you could compare him with another former LCA Bulldog that suited up at RB for the Flames in Rashad Jennings (now with Jacksonville of the NFL along with former QB now WR Mike Brown), but he definitely could make a name for himself this year and next. Davis came in with a lot of hype after transferring back home from UMass (now a I-A/FBS member of the Mid-American Conference), but it looks like he is going to end up the fourth option, and Morrison probably wont see the field unless we are up by 50 or all the other backs are injured.

[Stevev]

According to what I have been reading Barnett is back at RB and is supposed to be competing for a starting job. It seems to be a very close competition amoungs't Allen, Holloway, Barnett, and Rice. It wouldn't surprise me if Davis left the team. They will have to carry more of the load considering who we lost and hopefully will benefit from a more experienced O Line

[jbock13]

Hey Beej... uhm... it's 2012.

[flamehunter]

From Lang's last bit on the team:

RUNNING BACK -- Gill said if he had to name a starter today, it would be senior SirChauncey Holloway. He noted that he’ll utilize a two-back rotation during the season, though, and to not get too caught up on who the starter is going to be. Holloway, Aldreakis Allen and Des Rice will all get touches this season, and all will be in the mix in the fall for the starting job once camp opens. Gill said running back is the strongest position on offense at this point. When asked about moving Chase Barnett back from receiver to tailback, Gill said simply that Barnett is a running back, and not a receiver, and that Barnett may have the best speed of all of the backs.

[BJWilliams]

jbock- sorry I was in a hurry because I had to go and deep clean the carpet in my room for checkout

flamehunter- I forgot that Barnett was moved back to RB so I will fix that accordingly

[mlschubert]

BJ - you should add DJ Abnar into the mix as well.

[BJWilliams]

Im just looking at the guys from last year who were in spring ball. I'll factor Abnar in when I do my 2012 preview threads starting in July