You’d think finding a way to involve five running backs in a game and satisfy each of their carry counts would stress out a coach.
Maybe even cause headaches.
But that’s not how UF running backs coach Tim Skipper sees it.
“Never a headache to have talented guys,” he said. “That’s what you want.”
Florida lists five running backs on its depth chart — Jordan Scarlett, Jordan Cronkrite, Mark Thompson, Lamical Perine and Mark Herndon — all of whom will play in the team’s season opener against Massachusetts on Saturday, according to Skipper.
But the bulk of the carries will fall to the hot hand.
“Somebody gets hot, they’re going to be in there,” Skipper said. “You start breaking off some runs. … Like I tell the guys, you get an opportunity, you make the most of it. If you do, you’re going to get more. If not, then the next guy is up.”
The first guy up is likely to be Jordan Scarlett, Jordan Cronkrite or Mark Thompson.
Skipper and other coaches have raved about each of their abilities in practice, but they know uncertainty still surrounds each of them.
For one, none of them have played a full game as a Gator.
Scarlett and Cronkrite, both sophomores, each didn’t eclipse 50 carries or 200 rushing yards last season. Thompson, a redshirt junior, rushed for more than 1,000 yards at Dodge City Community College in Kansas but hasn’t seen a snap in The Swamp.
“How are you going to do when you get in the game atmosphere with all those people in that stadium?” Skipper said. “Are you going to be the same guy as you are in practice? Or are you going to shy away a little bit? Or are you going to rise to the occasion? All those things are factored into it.”
The focus may be on gameplay, but it doesn’t mean offseason and spring work is discarded.
Scarlett added about 10 pounds of muscle and understands the offense a little bit more now, Skipper said.
Cronkrite was back practicing at full pace this week after suffering an undisclosed injury in an Aug. 19 scrimmage.
Thompson leaned out a little bit and is in better condition than when he first arrived on campus, Skipper noted.
Even Perine, the freshman, has made strides.
“Most of the time freshmen in training camp, they hit that wall,” Skipper said. “He never really hit that wall. He got stronger as he kept going. So I’m really excited about the things he did.”
What really tells you how much confidence coaches have in these running backs is their goal-line plan.
It might be easy to assume the 6-foot-2, 237-pound Thompson — the most physically imposing of the bunch — would be the back of choice in short yardage situations.
But Skipper shot that notion down.
“Nah, I wouldn’t necessarily say that,” he said. “The best guy is the goal line option.”
Guess we’ll have to wait and see who that is.
Contact Patrick Pinak at ppinak@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @pinakk12.
Quarterback Luke Del Rio (14) hands the ball to running back Mark Thompson (24) during the Orange & Blue Debut on April 8, 2016, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
