OPTIONS AT RUNNING BACK
4/16/2021 7:31:00 PM | Football
Returning for 5th Year, Ebner Brings the Most Experience
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
Partially because of injuries, Baylor had a revolving door at running back last season that saw four different players start and two others have highlight-reel moments.
That leaves second-year running backs coach Justin "Juice" Johnson with a crowded room that includes All-American kick returner Trestan Ebner, an explosive sophomore in Craig "Sqwirl" Williams coming off an injury and talented but largely unproven younger players like Qualan Jones, Taye McWilliams and Jonah White.
"We always preach next-man-up mentality," Johnson said, "so they're always preparing as the starter. If a guy goes down, the next guy's job is to step into that role and be ready to roll. I think it did create some depth and just kept guys on their toes to be prepared to step into that role and perform the way they needed to."
Granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA because of COVID, Ebner opted to come back for a fifth season because "last season just left a bad taste in my mouth, going 2-7." While he averaged 32.2 yards and scored two touchdowns as a kick returner, it was also his least productive as a runner with just 107 yards and one touchdown on 50 carries.
Johnson said getting Ebner back was "huge for the group, huge for the team, huge for him, quite honestly."
"I think he felt like he still has this stuff out there to prove," Johnson said. "Anytime you get a player like that willing to come back, that's a testament to (head coach Dave) Aranda and the program, with him just wanting to be around it. He understands things are going in the right direction, so he's been approaching it the right way. We are truly blessed to have him and the rest of the guys back, to create some depth and competition."
The new wide-zone running attack in first-year offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes' system also seems to be a good fit for Ebner, because "it just allows me to make one cut and get up to the second level and make my moves off the safety," he said. "I feel like it opens up holes, and I can just use my speed to make plays."
It also gives him an opportunity to "prove he can run the ball between the tackles and be an every-down back," Johnson said.
"He wants to show that he can run it on third-and-one if you need him to," Johnson said of Ebner, who has 2,834 all-purpose yards in his career, including 891 yards rushing and 99 catches for 1,231 yards. "That's another element of his game that he's looking to improve, and he's approaching it that way."
While the other backs don't come close to his experience, they definitely have potential and have shown flashes. Despite missing the last four games with a knee injury, Williams actually finished as the leading rusher with 197 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries. Jones and McWilliams combined for 117 yards on 27 carries against Texas Tech, while White had nine catches for 63 yards in the loss at Oklahoma.
"Taye is explosive, and he's big and strong," Ebner said. "Once he makes that one cut, he's got a lot of strength behind him. So, he can run through a lot of arm tackles. I'm really excited to see what he can do."
Johnson said the 5-11, 230-pound Jones is a power back who can "get you two yards if you need it," but also has a unique skill set that allows him to "break a 40- or 50-yard run as well."
As a group, which includes 6-0, 205-pound sophomore Jacoby Clarke, the running backs' approach is to be the most "physical group on the field," Johnson said.
"We want to run with passion," he said. "We want to bring energy with everything we do. You have the right approach when you're doing that. In the daily work, they're attacking it the right way, just bringing that energy, bringing that edge and playing physical. I think we're playing with the right mentality. We're getting there."
Baylor will finish up the week with an open practice at 11 a.m. Saturday at McLane Stadium. Gate C will open to fans at 10:30 a.m., with masks and social distancing required.
The Bears will wrap up spring football with the Green & Gold game at 12 p.m. next Saturday, April 24, at McLane Stadium. Baylor kicks off the 2021 season on Sept. 4 at Texas State and will have seven home games this season. To purchase tickets, go to the 2021 Baylor Football Tickets link.
Baylor Bear Insider
Partially because of injuries, Baylor had a revolving door at running back last season that saw four different players start and two others have highlight-reel moments.
That leaves second-year running backs coach Justin "Juice" Johnson with a crowded room that includes All-American kick returner Trestan Ebner, an explosive sophomore in Craig "Sqwirl" Williams coming off an injury and talented but largely unproven younger players like Qualan Jones, Taye McWilliams and Jonah White.
"We always preach next-man-up mentality," Johnson said, "so they're always preparing as the starter. If a guy goes down, the next guy's job is to step into that role and be ready to roll. I think it did create some depth and just kept guys on their toes to be prepared to step into that role and perform the way they needed to."
Granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA because of COVID, Ebner opted to come back for a fifth season because "last season just left a bad taste in my mouth, going 2-7." While he averaged 32.2 yards and scored two touchdowns as a kick returner, it was also his least productive as a runner with just 107 yards and one touchdown on 50 carries.
Johnson said getting Ebner back was "huge for the group, huge for the team, huge for him, quite honestly."
"I think he felt like he still has this stuff out there to prove," Johnson said. "Anytime you get a player like that willing to come back, that's a testament to (head coach Dave) Aranda and the program, with him just wanting to be around it. He understands things are going in the right direction, so he's been approaching it the right way. We are truly blessed to have him and the rest of the guys back, to create some depth and competition."
The new wide-zone running attack in first-year offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes' system also seems to be a good fit for Ebner, because "it just allows me to make one cut and get up to the second level and make my moves off the safety," he said. "I feel like it opens up holes, and I can just use my speed to make plays."
It also gives him an opportunity to "prove he can run the ball between the tackles and be an every-down back," Johnson said.
"He wants to show that he can run it on third-and-one if you need him to," Johnson said of Ebner, who has 2,834 all-purpose yards in his career, including 891 yards rushing and 99 catches for 1,231 yards. "That's another element of his game that he's looking to improve, and he's approaching it that way."
While the other backs don't come close to his experience, they definitely have potential and have shown flashes. Despite missing the last four games with a knee injury, Williams actually finished as the leading rusher with 197 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries. Jones and McWilliams combined for 117 yards on 27 carries against Texas Tech, while White had nine catches for 63 yards in the loss at Oklahoma.
"Taye is explosive, and he's big and strong," Ebner said. "Once he makes that one cut, he's got a lot of strength behind him. So, he can run through a lot of arm tackles. I'm really excited to see what he can do."
Johnson said the 5-11, 230-pound Jones is a power back who can "get you two yards if you need it," but also has a unique skill set that allows him to "break a 40- or 50-yard run as well."
As a group, which includes 6-0, 205-pound sophomore Jacoby Clarke, the running backs' approach is to be the most "physical group on the field," Johnson said.
"We want to run with passion," he said. "We want to bring energy with everything we do. You have the right approach when you're doing that. In the daily work, they're attacking it the right way, just bringing that energy, bringing that edge and playing physical. I think we're playing with the right mentality. We're getting there."
Baylor will finish up the week with an open practice at 11 a.m. Saturday at McLane Stadium. Gate C will open to fans at 10:30 a.m., with masks and social distancing required.
The Bears will wrap up spring football with the Green & Gold game at 12 p.m. next Saturday, April 24, at McLane Stadium. Baylor kicks off the 2021 season on Sept. 4 at Texas State and will have seven home games this season. To purchase tickets, go to the 2021 Baylor Football Tickets link.
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