WKU Football: Running Back Week — The Freshman Movement Starts In The Backfield

Welcome to the third week of football preview coverage here on The Towel Rack. Last week, we chronicled the quarterbacks and this week…

Welcome to the third week of football preview coverage here on The Towel Rack. Last week, we chronicled the quarterbacks and this week, we’ll take a look at the guys who join them in the backfield as we take a look at how the running back crops can take a gigantic step forward from 2017.

If it weren’t clear before, it’s becoming abundantly clear with each passing day until kickoff; youth is going to make or break the Hilltoppers this season.

I can’t count how many times Chad Bishop has talked about how young yet talented this Topper squad is. And there may be some truth to that (we wont know, obviously, until toe meets leather in Wisconsin), but in some spots on the field, the position will go as the youth goes.

Maybe the most obvious example is in the backfield.

It’s been well chronicled the struggles of last year’s running game for WKU, but they’re talking all the right talks in preseason interviews, and they’re getting a couple of sparkplugs in the line up with the additions of Gino Appleberry Jr. and Garland LaFrance.

Both three-start talents from this past year’s signing class, it isn’t going to be on Appleberry and LaFrance to necessarily resurrect the running game (that distinction will fall on D’Andre Ferby, not due to necessity but come on, he’s too good to only finish with 350 yards again), but they will be key in not only helping the Tops have more success on the ground than last season, but will be two of the success stories of 1.) Sanford’s recruiting and 2.) freshmen stepping up in a big way.

Appleberry Jr. reminds me of a mini-Ferby, he can blow past guys while also isn’t afraid to lower his shoulder and bounce off tackles to get yards.

LaFrance is more slippery than bouncy in the way Appleberry is. I can’t tell if he’s faster than Appleberry, but he’s able to get out of defenders arms and doesn’t need a ton of space in order to make things happen.

This duo, along with redshirt freshman Joshua Samuel, will be able to provide a spark to the Tops’ run game in the fact that 1.) they’ll be able to give guys like Ferby and Trigg breathers and 2.) don’t have the baggage of last year’s disappointment on their shoulders. Sure, playing with a chip can help (get ready for some angry Ferby runs), but Appleberry and LaFrance will be working with not just a clean slate, but a fresh slate.

A successful running game is arguably the biggest key to the Chrome Domes success in 2018, and the future is in good hands.