A Look at Next Year: Running Backs

So far, I have looked at what our receivers, quarterbacks, and offensive line should look like in 2012 (you can find those reviews in the "Topics" box to the left, under "A Look at Next Year"). So here, I'm going to finish off the offense by looking at the running backs -- quick note: I'm going to have to look at the receivers again when recruiting is over. 

Folks, I don't have to tell most of you that the Spartans are “suffering” an embarrassment of riches at running back. The Spartans are returning all their running backs, including Le'Veon Bell, Edwin Baker, Larry Caper, and Nick Hill. Any one of these guys could start for any other Big Ten team, but at MSU, they have to share the carries. 

Bell may turn out to be the best of the lot. He is big and strong, but he also possesses great vision and surprising shiftiness. This year he ran for 900 yards and averaged 5.5 yards per carry. I'm fully expecting him to surpass those number next year, by a wide margin. 

Baker needs to redeem himself after this year, and I think he will. After running for 1200 yards as a sophomore, he set a goal to rush for 2000 yards this year, as a junior. He didn't even come close. He ran for 655 yards, averaging 4.0 yards per carry. And he fumbled so often that he was replaced by Bell for long stretches. I hope he comes back angry, because Baker is a first-rate talent that could light the Big Ten on fire, if he just gets his cards in order. 

Caper is a solid backup who won’t get a chance to do much unless there are injuries. He only ran for 116 yards, averaging 3.9 yards per carry. There’s always talk about him being the third-down back who can catch passes coming out of the back field, but I just didn’t see much of him this year. He’s simply a victim of how deep MSU is at running back. He was good his freshman year, so we know he can play if he is needed. So at least he offers good depth. 

Nick Hill is another victim of MSU’s depth at running back. He was only able to carry the ball 29 times this year (for 118 yards), and I’m afraid he won’t get much of an opportunity next year, unless there are injuries. He has become an excellent kick returner, and when he carries the ball he does look explosive. Like Caper, he’s there to provide good depth, if the Spartans need it. 

The Spartans also have an exciting recruit named Nick Tompkins coming in at running back next year. He has some of the most exciting highlight videos I’ve ever seen, due in large part to his speed. He may get to play his freshman year, just because he is so incredibly fast. He is undersized, so he won’t play a lot, until he adds more weight; but I could see him getting used to run some reverses or other trick plays. Anyway, here is some of his video.

Were it not for the fact that they are losing senior fullback Todd Anderson, I would unhesitatingly declare the running backs to be the Spartans' strongest unit for MSU. But Anderson was a behemoth of a fullback (6'2" 265 lbs), who did an outstanding job this year. Nonetheless, Anderson is the only significant loss and fullbacks are traditionally easier to replace than most other positions. In fact, Anderson himself was new to the position this year, having converted from defensive end. The Spartans have several fullbacks returning next year, including Anderson's backup, redshirt freshman Niko Palazeti. And who knows, maybe they will convert another lineman into a full time fullback.

So add up the strength of the running backs with that of the offensive line and you have the makings of an elite running game, next year. The only thing that could slow down the running game next year is the weakness of the passing game. If Andrew Maxwell falters, defenses will simply line up to stop the run. Even if they do that, I think the running game will be strong enough to rack up some yards; but it would be nice if Maxwell could make their jobs a little easier by just doing an adequate job, himself. He doesn’t have to be senior-year Kirk Cousins. If he plays as well as junior-year Kirk Cousins, this offense could be explosive.