Since the Tigers lost Alley Broussard to a season-ending knee injury during fall practice, the new spotlight position battle — next to starting quarterback — is which running back will start the Tigers’ opener on Sept. 3. Justin Vincent, Joseph Addai and Shyrone Carey — the remaining running backs — have all played in big games and offer different strengths to the position.
“We have so many good backs,” said running back Justin Vincent, 2004 Sugar Bowl MVP. “We bring so many different aspects of the game — run, pass, power, block, speed — between all of us. No matter who we put in, it’s going to be there.”
Vincent was the guy in the National Championship who caught everyone’s attention and national recognition. After rushing for 1,001 yards, he was faced with expectations coming into the 2004 season but rushed for only 322 yards on 76 carries.
“It was a situation where he came into camp, and he was playing,” said offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher. “I think he had such a great freshman year and I think sometimes the harder you try the worse it gets. He started making some mental mistakes and putting pressure on himself so he wasn’t playing up to what he normally plays.”
Despite criticism from others, Vincent’s biggest pressure comes from himself.
“I just go in every day and work hard. I go look at film from last year and 2003 and see what I am doing different — write it down, make mental notes to myself. I don’t think there’s anything different about me. I didn’t there was anything different about me last year, just certain things happened. I didn’t do as well as expected. When you mess up around here it’s like they don’t miss a beat.”
Addai has gained experience in his three years and also taken on a leadership role. Addai’s strength on the field is his ability to not only run, but catch as well.
“We have the type of relationship where everyone is friends but when one of us are out on the field doing bad we try to coach them,” Addai said. “If someone is doing good we’re their number one cheerleader.”
The explosive trio is complete with Carey, who hopes to play more after participating in only six games during the 2004 season, where he rushed for 112 yards on 28 carries. Carey, listed at 5 foot 6, still maintains confidence between the tackles.
“I’m a great outside runner,” Carey said. “I can run in between the tackles. I am just a play maker. I make things happen on the field. Running in between the tackles is harder because I’m small. It’s natural to think I can’t do that, but I can do it.”
Most of the Tigers’ running plays are led with lead blocks from fullbacks, whose play is often overlooked. The fullbacks are hoping to get more carries than last season where sophomore Jacob Hester was the only back to touch the ball with two carries.
“My job is blocking and opening holes for the running backs,” Hester said. “If I can open holes then I know we can make plays because they are the playmakers on our team. We opened up our playbook a lot this year and fullbacks might actually get the ball this year. We’ll still have to block every play. We might get the ball three or four times a game instead of once every year.”
While the players attempt to replace Broussard, they all concede certain things about him cannot be replaced.
“He’s a big jokester,” Hester said. “He is like the funniest guy I have ever met. He always makes me laugh during meetings. I am going to miss him.”
Contact Tabby Soignier at [email protected]