Countdown to Camp: Running Backs

RUNNING BACKS

They're back: Lamical Perine (5-11, 218, Junior); Malik Davis (5-11, 194, Sophomore); Jordan Scarlett (5-11, 206, R-Junior); Adarius Lemons (6-0, 201, Sophomore).

Fresh faces: Iverson Clement (5-11, 193, Freshman); Dameon Pierce (5-10, 207, Freshman).

Overview: This not only is the deepest position group on the team, but a case could be made it's the deepest group of running backs in the Southeastern Conference. No, the Gators don't have the league's best all-around back — candidates for that figure to be Damien Harris (Alabama), D'Andre Swift (Georgia), Benny Snell (Kentucky) and Trayveon Harris (Texas A&M) — but individually they boast some terrific players who, assuming Coach Dan Mullen can invigorate an offense that's been asleep

for the better part of the last eight years, could have breakout seasons. Or breakout careers. The best and most experienced of them all did not have a single carry in all of 2017. That's because Scarlett sat out the entire season as one of the nine players who were suspended for the entire year due in the credit card fraud case. In 2016, though, Scarlett started eight games and led the team in carries (179), yards (889) and rushing touchdowns (6). The year off apparently did not hurt him, as Scarlett, once reinstated in the spring, showed up in phenomenal shape and honed his massive build even more under the direction of new strength/conditioning coordinator Nick Savage. He's an all-purpose guy, who can pound it between the tackles and carry the ball 25 times a game. He's also a good receiver and has deceptive elusiveness and break-away speed once in the open field. Davis (534 yards, 2 TDs), as a freshman last season, looked like the real deal — and a home-run threat — in averaging 6.7 yards a pop, but suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Week 7 against Georgia. Davis has had a remarkable rehab and is on schedule to be available for the start of practice, likely in a non-contact capacity. He could be cleared for the start of the season. Perine, now a junior, topped the team in rushing (588 yards) and TDs on the ground (8) last season and obviously figures very much into the mix. How much, though, remains to be seen (and may depend on Davis's availability). He might be the best run-blocker of the bunch. The Gators don't figure to be in many two-back sets in Mullen's scheme, but Perine's willingness and skill as a pass-blocker could keep him on the field more. And then there's Pierce, the freshman and five-star recruit who rushed for 2,123 yards and scored 32 touchdowns as a senior at Bainbridge (Ga.) High last season. Pierce had his pick of schools and many figured he'd stay home and play for the Bulldogs, especially given UGA coach Kirby Smart is a Bainbridge grad. Nope. Pierce signed with UF in December, enrolled in January and dropped some jaws with some of his runs in the spring. He will play. Maybe even a lot. Lemons (139 yards in '17), a sophomore, is a tough guy who will have a say in the rotation, while Clement has some physical developing to do and if he's to compete for playing time.

As a freshman, Malik Davis (20) averaged 6.7 yards per carry before suffering a season-ending knee injury against Georgia.

If the season started today: Scarlett got the bulk of the first-team carries during the spring and as a fourth-year junior (and even with his poor-decision making of a year ago) is well respected as a leader on the team. The job looks like his to lose, but Davis and Perine have both proven to be quality SEC backs. And feel free to get excited about Pierce, who showed in March and April that he is an exciting player who bears watching.

Speculation: Even if Davis is cleared for contact sometime during fall camp, the trainers and coaches likely will be cautious with him, given such a severe knee injury occurred inside of 10 months. A big hurdle for the sophomore will be the mental one, as far as his cuts and confidence in taking a hit. And if the running game is going to compete in the SEC, obviously the offensive line will have to open some holes for the backs. That was a struggle last season, even after then-Coach Jim McElwain declared in the preseason that his offensive line was the best overall unit on the team. It was not. Far from it, actually. This season, it needs to be much better.

Up next: Receivers

The Series
Part 1: Quarterbacks

Gators Calendar

Countdown to Camp: Running Backs

Players Mentioned

Iverson Clement

Malik Davis

Adarius Lemons

Lamical Perine

Dameon Pierce

Jordan Scarlett

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Countdown to Camp: Running Backs

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Players Mentioned

Iverson Clement

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Adarius Lemons

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Dameon Pierce

Jordan Scarlett

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