Since 2012, the LSU backfield has seen a knee injury, two players leave for the NFL and a late-night punch that led to a starter’s suspension.
And though coach Les Miles has yet to name a starter for the season opener against TCU, the Tigers have a stable of experienced, talented running backs for senior fullback J.C. Copeland to make holes for.
Sophomore running back Jeremy Hill usurped the starting position last season after a 124-yard and two-touchdown breakout game against South Carolina. He appeared to be the starter in 2013 before being suspended for his role in an April Tigerland fight.
Hill pled guilty to misdemeanor simple battery in July, and he received community service and extended probation. Miles reinstated Hill August 5 after his team voted to allow him back onto the field.
“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that it’s bigger than me,” Hill said. “The program is bigger than me, and I can’t make selfish decisions.”
Junior lineman La’el Collins said it was great to have his old high school teammate back and that Hill has been constantly improving.
“Jeremy is a totally different guy from high school,” Collins said. “He can read the defense, pass block and do the little things right. All he needs is a crease and he is gone.”
Senior running back Alfred Blue had two straight 100-yard rushing games before injuring his knee against Idaho. Blue said he has worked on his mental toughness to be able to bounce back from his injury.
“Physically, I’m 100 percent. I’m just going out there and trusting my knee is back together and nothing is going to happen,” Blue said. “I feel good when I carry the ball and get hit a couple of times.”
Sophomore linebacker Deion Jones said Blue is the most difficult of the LSU running backs to tackle because he is faster and shiftier than the other runners.
The arrival of new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron means the running backs will be more involved in the passing game, including being split out wide in five wide-receiver sets, Blue said.
“But we are going to run the ball, you can believe that,” Blue said.
Junior running back Kenny Hilliard was “lighter and faster” at the end of the summer, Miles said, and Hilliard endorsed his weight loss as a way to stay healthy and become more explosive.
Hilliard, who has assumed the power back role in Miles’ offense, scored six touchdowns last year, a decline from his eight in 2011.
After Hill’s breakout game against South Carolina, Hilliard had only 45 carries the rest of the season and did not play against Alabama.
Hilliard said he will be more involved in Cameron’s passing game, something he had experience with in high school.
“You’ve got to catch the ball and protect the quarterback,” Hilliard said. “You’ve seen Ray Rice catch a few balls and that’s something Cam [Cameron] can bring to the offense.”
Junior running back Terrence Magee hopes he can crack his way into the running back stable with Cameron at the reigns after making a switch to wide receiver last season.
Magee wasn’t able to break through the experienced running backs’ and wide receivers’ depth chart last year, ending the season with only one catch and one rush.
“Moving to wide receiver helped fine tune my route running ability,’ Magee said. “Especially how you square up [defensive players] and things like that.”
Magee said he thinks this is the year he can begin to contribute, but he realizes it will be no easy task competing with the other backs wearing the purple and gold.