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Four score Auburn's backfield quartet ready to take on SEC, nationPosted: Thursday August 14, 2003 11:49 AMUpdated: Thursday August 14, 2003 11:54 AM
AUBURN, Ala. -- Outlined against a gray August sky on the Auburn practice field, the Four Horsemen rode again. OK, so the nickname isn’t exactly original, but it’s one that Auburn tailback quartet Carnell Williams, Ronnie Brown, Tre Smith and Brandon Jacobs eagerly embrace. “We’ll be better than the first one,” said Jacobs, referring to Notre Dame’s famed 1925 backfield. “With that group,” said offensive lineman Monreko Crittenden, ”if we need to pass, we’re not doing something right.” Yes, the consensus preseason SEC favorites still plan to pass the ball this season, but with the sixth-ranked Tigers’ opener against No. 8 USC just over two weeks away, anticipation is building for the nationally televised debut of what could be the most unique backfield situation in college football. It starts with Williams, the junior who averaged 123 yards the first six games last year before breaking his leg. Then there’s fellow junior Brown, who picked up where Williams left off last season, finishing with 1,008 yards and 13 touchdowns. As if that’s not enough, you’ve got Smith, a sophomore who, when Brown had to miss the Alabama game last November, promptly stepped in with 126 yards of his own. Finally, there’s newcomer Jacobs, a menacing 6-foot-4, 257-pound transfer from Coffeyville (Kan.) Junior College who was rated the top juco running back in the nation last winter.
It’s a collection that’s been four years in the making for Tommy Tuberville and running backs coach Eddie Gran, whose first Auburn team in 1999 “didn’t even have one” tailback, said Tuberville (that team ran for a grand total of 748 yards). Both Brown and Williams were blue-chippers coming out of high school who could have played anywhere. Auburn was just about Smith’s only suitor that didn’t want to turn him into a defensive back. And Gran’s pursuit of Jacobs dated to his high school days three years ago. “It’s not over-recruiting,” said Tuberville, whose previous proteges include NFL first-rounders Deuce McAllister and John Avery at Ole Miss and 2000 SEC player of the year Rudi Johnson at Auburn. “Since Ole Miss, we’ve built our philosophy around running the football. You’ve got to have a running game in order to be successful in college football.” With experienced quarterback Jason Campbell, future NFL fullback Brandon Johnson and four offensive line starters also returning from a team that last year averaged 203.7 yards rushing, Auburn plans to attack defenses this season using any number of combinations of its four ruthless runners. Exactly which combinations remain a major source of intrigue. If the fans who lined the practice field Wednesday were hoping to see all sorts of exotic formations utilizing the Horsemen, they would have come away disappointed. The Tigers are still very much an I-back or pro-set team, with Williams and Brown, in that order, getting almost all the first-team reps, Smith and Jacobs the rest. “Ronnie and Carnell, they’re our two workhorses,” said Tuberville. “We’ll try to get [all four] in the game, but if Ronnie and Carnell stay healthy, it’s going to be tough.” But he then goes on to say, “We’re trying to get back to Atlanta [site of the SEC championship], and we’re going to do whatever it takes to get there. If that means Brandon running 30 times against a particular team, fine. “We want to use them in different roles. All of them will play special teams. We might use Tre at slot receiver some. We can put two of them in there at once. We can use them in situations where they run the ball, and we can use them as decoys.” For four guys, any of whom would be justified wanting to tote the rock 40 times a game, the players themselves seem remarkably unconcerned about reps and playing time. In an interview with all four at once Wednesday, the only trash talking of each other involved their showdowns on NCAA Football 2004. “We have a love-hate relationship with each other,” said Smith. “We love each other like brothers, but we’re out there every day competing for the starting job.” “I’m as excited for the season as I was last year,” Williams said of going from the featured guy to part of a committee. “Everyone knows our role on the team.” (Incidentally, it should be noted that each has his own video-game approach to managing the tailback situation. Williams says he keeps each one in until he gets tired. Smith admits only using himself on kick and punt returns. Brown avoids the issue altogether and plays with Ohio State.) After a limited spring, neither Williams nor Brown have shown any ill effects from their injury. Williams turned on a dime to break several big runs Wednesday, while Brown was his usual steady self inside. Smith, who also lined up at receiver and returned punts, is deceptively fast, and Jacobs, though still learning the offense, can be a powerful force. Collectively, they should wreak plenty of havoc on defenses this season, never more so than if they get their ultimate wish: for the Four Horsemen to ride together just once. “I’d split out at receiver to have all four of us out there at once,” said Smith. “It would be awesome.”
Trojans add a few horsesIt's been a while since USC lived up to its "Tailback U" reputation, but that could be changing as early as this season. Observers at practices thus far have been blown away by the Trojans' trio of highly touted freshman runners, Reggie Bush, LenDale White and Chauncey Washington. Bush, the nation's top running back recruit last winter coming out of La Mesa, Calif., wasted no time living up to his billing, showing off his elusiveness and breakaway speed with several long touchdown runs in the team's first pads practice last weekend. Coach Pete Carroll has made no effort to downplay the 6-foot, 190-pound speedster's abilities, and it's quite possible he'll steal the starting job from sophomore Hershel Dennis sooner rather than later. White, a 6-2, 230 bruiser from Littleton, Colo., has impressed coaches with his blocking ability, while Washington, 6-1, 205, from South Torrance, Calif., is a "tweener" who brings a little bit of everything. The trio is part of a recruiting class deemed by many recruiting experts to be the best the West Coast has ever seen. Others expected to make an immediate contribution are receivers Steve Smith and Whitney Lewis, whom Carroll is experimenting using in the "H-back" role in which Malaefou McKenzie thrived last year, juco cornerback Will Poole and juco guard John Drake. Vaunted quarterback John David Booty, who made waves by leaving Shreveport (La.) Evangel high school after just three years, has been limited in practice by back spasms. The one-time four-man quarterback race seems now to be down to sophomore Matt Leinart, who's held the No. 1 position since spring and in Tuesday’s scrimmage went 11-of-15 for 190 yards.
Musical quarterbacksGeorgia Tech coach Chan Gailey, desperate for more consistent play from the quarterback position, has now demoted both of his experienced returnees. Senior A.J. Suggs, who started all 13 games of last year's 7-6 season but threw 15 interceptions, entered fall practice as a backup. Sophomore Damarius Bilbo -- who threw four picks in the Silicon Valley Bowl -- supplanted him at No. 1 during the spring, but has now been moved to backup tailback. Suggs remains buried down the depth chart as well. The guy Gailey is making room for is true freshman Reggie Ball. The Stone Mountain, Ga., native shined in Tech's first scrimmage of the fall, has been practicing with the first team ever since and, barring any unforeseen circumstances, is expected to take the first snap at BYU on Aug. 28. The move completely stunned Tech followers, none more so than Bilbo. The Moss Point, Miss., native told the Atlanta Journal Constitution he will "more than likely" transfer before the start of classes Monday. He's asked his high school coach to contact Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
Worth notingWashington, coming off its worst rushing season in school history (74.5 yards per game), is taking a hard look at redshirt freshmen tailbacks Kenny James and Shelton Sampson in practice, while three-year starter Rich Alexis is apparently sliding down the depth chart. ... Fleet-footed Tennessee quarterback James Banks is still Casey Clausen's primary backup but has been spending the majority of his practice time at receiver. … Maryland could be without stars Bruce Perry and Steve Suter for its Aug. 28 opener against Northern Illinois. The former All-ACC tailback Perry suffered a high ankle sprain in practices, while ace punt returner Suter pulled a hamstring. … Miami's receiving corps has been riddled with injuries. Roscoe Parrish will miss the 'Canes opener against Louisiana Tech following arthroscopic knee surgery this week; Kevin Beard, who had reconstructive knee surgery last November, is practicing sparingly; Sinorice Moss is out with a high ankle sprain; and Jason Geathers and Ryan Moore are nursing bad hamstrings. ... Highly touted Michigan recruit LaMarr Woodley has moved from linebacker to defensive end. ... Florida has bolstered its offensive line with a couple juco additions. Tavarus Washington, 6-4, 295 from Mississippi Delta JC, is the likely starter at left tackle (with incumbent Max Starks moving to right guard), while 6-3, 285-pound Billy Griffin of Ventura (Calif.) JC is making a push at center. Stewart Mandel covers college sports for SI.com. To send a question or comment for Stewart's Mailbag, click here.
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