Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Q&A: Beckles talks spring, deep group of RBs
3/29/2021 6:00:00 PM | Football, BRAA
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — This offseason, head coach Rick Stockstill has said he wants to see more production in Middle Tennessee's run game actually come from running backs after quarterback Asher O'Hara led the team in rushing yards the last two years.
Offensive coordinator Brent Dearmon was hired in January, and along with finding a new signal caller after O'Hara transferred, he and running backs coach Jeff Beckles are also tasked with unleashing the Blue Raiders' stable of backs.
Beckles, who's been in his role at MT since 2016, has a talented-looking group on paper.
Redshirt junior Chaton Mobley is the leading returning rusher after amassing 366 yards and four touchdowns on 80 carries in 2020. He has over 1,100 yards in his Blue Raider career.
Freshman Frank Peasant impressed in limited action during his first season on campus in 2020, taking 18 carries for 75 yards and a touchdown. He started in the second game against Troy and scored the first TD of his career.
Two Power 5 conference transfers are also joining the group after opting out of the 2020 season. Amir Rasul and Martell Pettaway came to MT from Florida State and West Virginia, respectively.
We sat down with Beckles to discuss his group and being back at it this spring.
Did you notice more excitement around the team going into this spring after not having spring practice and summer drills last year?
"Yeah, I think there was. Even with how the season ended last year, with us thinking in our minds we had two more games, possibly three, but all those got shut down. I think there wasn't a real ending to the season, and we felt like there was still a little left out there. I think our guys were excited to get back out there, get the uniform and the pads on and run around and compete."
Did not having spring practice last year make you realize how important it is to a football team's season?
"Definitely. You're going for a long period of time there without going through it, especially as a running back, going through your reads and getting your vision together, that kind of stuff. This year is especially important because of the new things we're doing on offense. We need the install period to do it a few times and really get used to it."
What's been your favorite part about Brent Dearmon's offense so far?
"The tempo that we're going at is really good. We've always been a fast team, and that's one thing that Coach Dearmon has stressed. You can see it carry over from position to position. The backs have enjoyed the new system, I think. A lot of the plays are pretty similar to some of the ones we've done in the past here, so they're able to pick it up fast. But, I think with the speed we're doing it, the backs are very excited. There are a lot of them, and a lot of them get to get on the field."
Amir Rasul and Martell Pettaway transferred here last year from Florida State and West Virginia, respectively, but opted out of the 2020 season. They're back this year — what do they add to the group?
"We were excited about getting both of them here. Amir, with his speed, we want to get him on the perimeter. He's a guy who came up in the track system, and when you get him in space, he's hard to bring down. Martell, he's done some big things in some big games. He transferred here from the Big 12 and has gone over 100 yards there a couple of times. He's been under the lights in the big stadiums and has done it, and we're hoping that carries over here and he can show guys that when we get into the stadium, this is how we react."
How important is this spring for them to get back into the flow of football?
"It's huge. They've been out of the game for over a year now, since we didn't have spring and summer and they didn't play last season. Getting back into it, you could see they're a little rusty. Running back is a position where you have to have good vision and know the blocking scheme and anticipate where the holes are going to be, so you have to be in there doing it. … Getting them in shape is one thing, but getting them out there in pads and getting hit and stuff, that's really exciting to see them back in it."
You have those two adding to a group that includes Chaton Mobley and Frank Peasant, who started games for you last year, and Brad Anderson will also be in the backfield some. That depth has to make you giddy.
"Yes, because at running back, it's always good to have depth. That could easily dwindle down, which has been the case for us the past few years with injuries and things like that. Having that group in there healthy, everybody learning the system and having some energy, that's good. That brings along competition, and that makes everybody better."
What do you most want to see out of your guys this spring?
"I just want to see each of them improve on what they bring to the table. With a deep group like that, everybody has their thing they bring to the table. We need to let them know what it is, and improve on that. It's going to take all of them to make this offense work. We don't want to be one-dimensional; we want to hurt teams in several ways. … Whatever it is they bring to the table, I want to see them improve in that so when we need them to step up, they're ready."
Offensive coordinator Brent Dearmon was hired in January, and along with finding a new signal caller after O'Hara transferred, he and running backs coach Jeff Beckles are also tasked with unleashing the Blue Raiders' stable of backs.
Beckles, who's been in his role at MT since 2016, has a talented-looking group on paper.
Redshirt junior Chaton Mobley is the leading returning rusher after amassing 366 yards and four touchdowns on 80 carries in 2020. He has over 1,100 yards in his Blue Raider career.
Freshman Frank Peasant impressed in limited action during his first season on campus in 2020, taking 18 carries for 75 yards and a touchdown. He started in the second game against Troy and scored the first TD of his career.
Two Power 5 conference transfers are also joining the group after opting out of the 2020 season. Amir Rasul and Martell Pettaway came to MT from Florida State and West Virginia, respectively.
We sat down with Beckles to discuss his group and being back at it this spring.
Did you notice more excitement around the team going into this spring after not having spring practice and summer drills last year?
"Yeah, I think there was. Even with how the season ended last year, with us thinking in our minds we had two more games, possibly three, but all those got shut down. I think there wasn't a real ending to the season, and we felt like there was still a little left out there. I think our guys were excited to get back out there, get the uniform and the pads on and run around and compete."
Did not having spring practice last year make you realize how important it is to a football team's season?
"Definitely. You're going for a long period of time there without going through it, especially as a running back, going through your reads and getting your vision together, that kind of stuff. This year is especially important because of the new things we're doing on offense. We need the install period to do it a few times and really get used to it."
What's been your favorite part about Brent Dearmon's offense so far?
"The tempo that we're going at is really good. We've always been a fast team, and that's one thing that Coach Dearmon has stressed. You can see it carry over from position to position. The backs have enjoyed the new system, I think. A lot of the plays are pretty similar to some of the ones we've done in the past here, so they're able to pick it up fast. But, I think with the speed we're doing it, the backs are very excited. There are a lot of them, and a lot of them get to get on the field."
Amir Rasul and Martell Pettaway transferred here last year from Florida State and West Virginia, respectively, but opted out of the 2020 season. They're back this year — what do they add to the group?
"We were excited about getting both of them here. Amir, with his speed, we want to get him on the perimeter. He's a guy who came up in the track system, and when you get him in space, he's hard to bring down. Martell, he's done some big things in some big games. He transferred here from the Big 12 and has gone over 100 yards there a couple of times. He's been under the lights in the big stadiums and has done it, and we're hoping that carries over here and he can show guys that when we get into the stadium, this is how we react."
How important is this spring for them to get back into the flow of football?
"It's huge. They've been out of the game for over a year now, since we didn't have spring and summer and they didn't play last season. Getting back into it, you could see they're a little rusty. Running back is a position where you have to have good vision and know the blocking scheme and anticipate where the holes are going to be, so you have to be in there doing it. … Getting them in shape is one thing, but getting them out there in pads and getting hit and stuff, that's really exciting to see them back in it."
You have those two adding to a group that includes Chaton Mobley and Frank Peasant, who started games for you last year, and Brad Anderson will also be in the backfield some. That depth has to make you giddy.
"Yes, because at running back, it's always good to have depth. That could easily dwindle down, which has been the case for us the past few years with injuries and things like that. Having that group in there healthy, everybody learning the system and having some energy, that's good. That brings along competition, and that makes everybody better."
What do you most want to see out of your guys this spring?
"I just want to see each of them improve on what they bring to the table. With a deep group like that, everybody has their thing they bring to the table. We need to let them know what it is, and improve on that. It's going to take all of them to make this offense work. We don't want to be one-dimensional; we want to hurt teams in several ways. … Whatever it is they bring to the table, I want to see them improve in that so when we need them to step up, they're ready."
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