Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Fall camp position breakdown: running backs
8/12/2018 11:00:00 AM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee's running backs group had plenty of question marks going into last season, but it turned things around with multiple players contributing as the season progressed into its later stages.
The strong finish to the year is causing expectations for the group to rise going into 2018.
Three players – senior Tavares Thomas, redshirt junior Terelle West and sophomore Brad Anderson – comprise a three-headed monster that should lead the way. A solid offseason from Chaton Mobley and Maurice Gordon has also caught the eye of running backs coach Jeff Beckles. He said the competition has been great so far.
Here are the running backs on the roster:
The Big 3
Tavares Thomas, Sr., 6-4, 245
Running backs coach Jeff Beckles: "With Tavares, he's a big guy who can run. He's hard to tackle – you can see that from his film last year.
"We've gotten him to really work on his pad level to be even harder to tackle. He's good between the tackles and outside. His speed is sometimes deceiving to you."
Notable:
Terelle West, R-Jr., 5-10, 203
Jeff Beckles: "Terelle has been here a long time. He understands Coach [Tony] Franklin and knows the offense, and he's one of the ones who helps the other guys out a lot. He wants all of the backs to be the best they can be … and, obviously, when he's healthy, he can go. He puts that foot in the ground and goes north and south."
Notable:
Brad Anderson, So., 5-8, 175
Jeff Beckles: "Brad is a jitterbug. You get him out in space, and he has the speed we need to get around the perimeter. He also has good hands – he had a lot of receiving yards last year. He can still run between the tackles, too. He has good vision and hits the hole well."
Notable:
Others
Chaton Mobley, R-Fr., 6-1, 235
Notable:
Maurice Gordon, R-Jr., 5-10, 198
Notable:
Landon Board, R-Fr., 5-8, 172
Notable:
D'Monte Kemp, R-Fr., 5-9, 177
Notable:
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
The strong finish to the year is causing expectations for the group to rise going into 2018.
Three players – senior Tavares Thomas, redshirt junior Terelle West and sophomore Brad Anderson – comprise a three-headed monster that should lead the way. A solid offseason from Chaton Mobley and Maurice Gordon has also caught the eye of running backs coach Jeff Beckles. He said the competition has been great so far.
Here are the running backs on the roster:
The Big 3
Tavares Thomas, Sr., 6-4, 245
Running backs coach Jeff Beckles: "With Tavares, he's a big guy who can run. He's hard to tackle – you can see that from his film last year.
"We've gotten him to really work on his pad level to be even harder to tackle. He's good between the tackles and outside. His speed is sometimes deceiving to you."
Notable:
- Changed from LB to RB in the sixth game of 2017
- Hadn't played RB since senior year at Lamar Consolidated High School in 2014
- Team-high 507 rushing yards, 9 rushing TDs
- Named to Doak Walker Watch List
- Navarro College transfer in 2017
- First Team All-SWJCFC in 2016 as a LB at Navarro
- Rosenberg, Texas native (Lamar Consolidated High School)
Terelle West, R-Jr., 5-10, 203
Jeff Beckles: "Terelle has been here a long time. He understands Coach [Tony] Franklin and knows the offense, and he's one of the ones who helps the other guys out a lot. He wants all of the backs to be the best they can be … and, obviously, when he's healthy, he can go. He puts that foot in the ground and goes north and south."
Notable:
- 308 rushing yards, 4 TDs, 5.4 yards per carry in 2017 (seven games)
- Missed eight games combined the past two seasons due to injuries
- Averages 4.9 yards per carry for his career
- 634 career all-purpose yards
- Most Improved Running Back following spring drills (2017)
- Pinson, Alabama native (Clay-Chalkville High School)
Brad Anderson, So., 5-8, 175
Jeff Beckles: "Brad is a jitterbug. You get him out in space, and he has the speed we need to get around the perimeter. He also has good hands – he had a lot of receiving yards last year. He can still run between the tackles, too. He has good vision and hits the hole well."
Notable:
- Second on the team in rushing yards (491) and receptions (33)
- Missed last two games of the regular season and the bowl game due to injury
- Missed spring drills while recovering from injury
- Listed at 5-foot-8, 175 pounds
- Forms half of "Smash and Dash" combo with Tavares Thomas
- Nicknamed the "Little General"
- Huntsville, Alabama native (Bob Jones High School)
Others
Chaton Mobley, R-Fr., 6-1, 235
Notable:
- Redshirted in 2017
- Switched from LB to RB in 2017 fall camp
- Knoxville native (Fulton High School)
- All-State (2015, 2016)
- All-Region (2014, 2015, 2016)
- 1,235 rushing yards, 29 TDs, 183 tackles, 10.5 sacks in high school career
- Class 4A state champion (2014)
- 2014 BlueCross Bowl Defensive MVP
Maurice Gordon, R-Jr., 5-10, 198
Notable:
- Redshirted in 2017
- Most Improved Running Back following spring drills (2018)
- Transfer from Navarro College in 2017
- All-SWJCFC in 2016
- 903 rushing yards, 12 total TDs (9 rushing), 23 receptions, 201 receiving yards in 2016 at Navarro
- Denton, Texas native (Denton Ryan High School)
Landon Board, R-Fr., 5-8, 172
Notable:
- Redshirted in 2017
- Owensboro, Kentucky native (Owensboro High School)
- Owensboro's second all-time leading rusher (3,609 yards)
- 1,805 rushing yards, 27 TDs as a senior
- 1,804 rushing yards, 34 TDs as a junior
D'Monte Kemp, R-Fr., 5-9, 177
Notable:
- Redshirted in 2017
- Millington, Tennessee native (Millington High School)
- All-Region First Team as a senior as a kick returner, second team on offense and defense
- Lettered in football and track and field
- Qualified for the state meet in the 100 meters
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
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