PLAYER TO WATCH

David Fleming

August 28, 2000

The low point for running back Tshimanga Biakabutuka came in 1998. Plagued by injuries since the Panthers took him with the eighth pick in the 1996 draft, Biakabutuka was relegated to special teams, and opponents laughed at him. "They'd say, 'You're a Number I pick, what are you doing playing special teams?" says Biakabutuka. "It was humbling. I promised myself I would prove them wrong." He started to do that in 1999, running for 459 yards in the first six games before spraining his right ankle and missing five of the last 10 games. To avoid injuries, Biakabutuka took up yoga and martial arts during the off-season. "When he's healthy, he's the best running back I've ever coached," says coach George Seifert.