Gators Football Preview: A look at the running backs
Saturday, July 30, 2011 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida offense is thin on experience up front and at receiver, but it's a different story at running back. The guys taking handoffs from quarterback John Brantley know what to do with the ball once they squeeze it.
The Gators return their five leading rushers from last season, including senior tailbacks Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey. Demps (5-8, 188) and Rainey (5-9, 180) may not be that big in stature, but they are a threat to break off a big run each time they touch the ball.
Demps, a dual-sport star and reigning NCAA Indoor 60-meter champion, is perhaps the fastest player in college football. He rushed for a team-high 551 yards as a junior – the first Gator not named Tim Tebow to lead the team in rushing since DeShawn Wynn in 2006 – and averaged 6.0 yards per carry.
Rainey averaged 7.2 yards per carry and finished second on the team with 366 yards despite missing five games due to off-the-field issues.
“We have some talented players back there who have been productive in our league,'' Gators coach Will Muschamp said. “That's an area we have some experience and ability.''
Both Demps and Rainey also figure prominently into the passing game. Rainey caught 25 passes last season and Demps, 18.
New Gators offensive coordinator Charlie Weis has a simple philosophy when it comes to using running backs as receivers: “A whole bunch,'' he said.
While the speedy duo will get plenty of carries and passes thrown their way, junior Mike Gillislee (5-11, 205) and sophomore Mack Brown (5-10, 205) are more likely to be called upon for the tough yards between the tackles. Gillislee rushed for 325 yards and seven touchdowns a year ago while Brown (broken fibula) managed just 23 yards in two games.
Gillislee and Brown each missed spring practice due to injuries but they enter camp healthy and ready to compete for playing time. Sophomore Deandre Goins (5-11, 185) is another player on the depth chart at tailback.
The Gators won't use a traditional fullback regularly in Weis' pro-style offense, but instead will offer two-back looks that feature sophomore Trey Burton (6-2, 230) in an H-back-type role. Burton was third on the team in 2010 with 349 yards and led the Gators with 11 rushing touchdowns, including five in a victory over Kentucky.
When the Gators do use a traditional fullback, Burton, Gerald Christian (6-3, 245), freshman Hunter Joyer (6-0, 237) and walk-on sophomore Ben Sams (5-11, 215) will fill that role. Tight end Jordan Reed, who rushed for 328 yards and five touchdowns a year ago, could also line up in some formations as a hybrid fullback/H-back.
After serving as tight ends/fullbacks coach his first two seasons at UF, Brian White was named running backs coach once Muschamp took over and assigned roles.
White coached 1999 Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne at Wisconsin and also tutored former Badgers Michael Bennett and Anthony Davis.
White is confident the Gators' backfield will be productive in Florida's new offense. During his 11 seasons at Wisconsin, White worked in a similar pro-style offense that Weis has implemented.
“[The backfield] is very talented and they are very unselfish,'' White said. “They all know there are going to be plenty of opportunities. They all have to work together and compete and push one another and get better every day.
“I think it's an offense that will accentuate a lot of the talents that these young men have.''
While the Gators' passing attack fizzled at times, Florida finished 44th in the country in rushing a year ago (166.5 yards per game). With a new offense and new coaching staff in place, the Gators are banking on the same old production from its veteran backfield.
GatorZone.com senior writer Scott Carter is previewing each position group on the Gators football team leading up to fall camp.
