A Look at the 2007 SFA Running Backs
8/12/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 12, 2007
NACOGDOCHES - Over the course of breaking down the 2007 Lumberjack football team, a phrase may get utilized to the extent that it may cause one to think of a broken record. That phrase is, "strength of the team," but in my humble opinion I don't think it is being over used. When a team returns as much talent as SFA has for the upcoming season, there is reason for excitement.
Another reason for that excitement on the SFA campus rests on the back of 6-0, 250-pound running back Louie Runnels. A Bellville, Texas, native, Runnels enters his senior season coming off a first-team all-conference nod, and his second consecutive 700-yard campaign. With 1,702 career rushing yards to his credit, and first-year head coach J.C. Harper running the show, Runnels will have an opportunity to place his name in the record books alongside former SFA greats like Derrick Blaylock, KaRon Coleman and Larry Centers.
"Having Louie back for one more season is a great inspiration to this whole team," said Harper. "He sets the tone everyday with his work ethic. He wants to be the best running back and the hardest worker on this team.
"He wears out opposing defenses, because he just keeps pounding away. He has a lot of speed when he gets out in the open, which tends to surprise some people. You don't expect a guy 6-0, 250-plus pounds to be able to move they way Louie does. He is very hard to bring down, and he enjoys that part of the game being a power back. He presents a tough matchup for opposing linebackers and safeties," added Harper.
A powerful back with intimidating size, Runnels is the kind athlete that would just assume run over a would-be tackler, instead of run by him. His bulldozing style of running placed him among the league's top-five in rushing yards, despite splitting playing time with then senior Jerome Brooks. Runnels finished the year fourth in the league averaging 64.5 yards per game, and sixth in the conference averaging 81.5 rush yards per game.
Runnels was already well respected in the SLC heading to his junior campaign, but really became a back that defensive coordinators hated to run into after his career effort at Southeastern Louisiana last season. Against the Lions, Runnels punished the SLU defense for a career-high 205 yards on 22 carries.
Emerging behind Runnels as the No. 2 back is a guy who wasn't even on the offensive side of the ball last season. A 6-2, 215-pound, senior from Greenville, Texas, Robert Castillo made the switch from defensive end to running back and emerged as another solid option for the 'Jacks during the spring.
"I think that Robert and Louie compliment each other on the field," said Harper. "Louie has some speed, but Robert takes that to another level. When Louie breaks away from a tackle, he'll pick up five to 10 more yards, whereas Castillo has the ability to take it to the house. Robert also does a really good job of catching the pass coming out of the backfield, so I think we have a nice 1-2 combination."
After being worn down all game by the power running of Runnels and Castillo, opposing defenses can't afford to forget about Vincent Pervis. A 5-10, sophomore from Texas City, Texas, Pervis made a name for himself last season earning honorable mention all-conference honors as a kick returner. Pervis proved his ability as a back breaking away from the Tulsa defense for a 28-yard touchdown scamper in the 2006 season opener.
"I personally challenged Vincent to get bigger and stronger during the spring, while maintaining his speed," said running back coach Aaron De LaTorre. "Vincent is the fastest back that we have, running in the low 4.40s. During the offseason he has added about 15 pounds of muscle, and he power cleans 340 pounds. His upside is tremendous. He wasn't a power back when he came to SFA, but he has embraced our philosophy of being a more physical team. He has done an exceptional job."
After taking a look at the 'Jacks' first scrimmage of fall camp, De LaTorre may have an old face that reappears in his running back workouts during practice. Junior All-American linebacker Damian Perkins got his first look at the running back spot since his freshman season and did his best impersonation of Runnels. At 6-0, 220 pounds, the Hallsville, Texas, native proved he wasn't going to be easy to bring to the turf.
"I'm extremely excited to have the opportunity to coach a back of Louie's caliber," said De LaTorre. "But heading into the spring we were looking to solidify the backup roles. I think we came out of the spring realizing that we had two quality backs in Castillo and Pervis. After watching Perkins in the scrimmage, we might be able to claim that we have four backs who can get the job done at this level. Damian just seems to be a natural at whatever he does. Those guys make my job a lot easier."
But before we jump to any conclusions about Perkins returning to the offensive side of the ball, I believe defensive coordinator Darren Drago and first-year linebackers coach Brad Laird may something to say about that.
The Lumberjacks will also return quite a bit of depth at fullback as well. Senior Michael Motte returns for his senior season, after sitting out the 2006 campaign with an injury. Motte is a two-time All-SLC selection, who entered last year as the top fullback in the league prior to the injury.
But even with Motte's injury, the 'Jacks were not lacking at fullback due to the emergence of redshirt freshman Leonard Lynce. A 6-0, 235-pound product, Lynce simply stepped in for Motte and earned second-team All-SLC honors in 2006.
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