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Backs in a rush to develop
By JOE SCALZO
YOUNGSTOWN
Minutes after Saturday’s practice, Youngstown State running back Allen Jones walked past fellow freshman Adaris Bellamy and said, “Carry my pads, rook.”
Bellamy laughed but, truthfully, Jones was as qualified as anyone to do a little hazing. The former record-setting running back from Ursuline High has easily played the most games at Stambaugh Stadium of any running back on YSU’s roster.
Of the five tailbacks on YSU’s roster, three are true freshmen (Jones, Bellamy and Jordan Thompson), another is a redshirt freshman (Torrian Pace). The fifth, Jamaine Cook, is a true sophomore and the only tailback on the team to have played a college game.
“The new guys are getting acquainted and I’m just trying to help the younger guys learn the plays,” said Cook. “It’s a whole different level from high school and there’s a learning period.”
Cook can sympathize. He went through the same thing last summer.
“I was overwhelmed at first,” said Cook, who had 110 yards on 20 carries last fall as a backup running back. “Then, over time, after a couple practices I got used to the speed of the game and the size.”
The unit may be young but it’s talented. Jones (5-10, 200) and Cook (5-9, 195) are smaller, quicker backs but are capable of breaking tackles and delivering a hit. Pace (5-10, 230) and Bellamy (5-10, 210) are bigger backs but have good speed for their size. Thompson (6-1, 215) is a good mix of both.
“I wonder if we can play with five running backs,” said Wolford after Saturday’s practice. “Those running backs all had pretty good days; it’s not very hard to figure that out.
“Those guys just come running around all over the place. It’s a good problem to have.”
Pace and Cook emerged as the presumptive starters following spring practice. They’ll be pushed by the younger guys, something Cook has embraced.
“I’m a real competitive guy,” Cook said. “I like to compete. That’s the only way you get better.”
Pace has missed the first three practices with a hamstring strain, although he’s been on the sidelines in uniform and spends the practice time rehabbing his leg.
“We don’t have the big ol’ sledgehammer in there,” said Wolford. “That’s the Pace Man. He likes to pound it in there.
“We get him back, we’ll be rolling.”
Bellamy is a highly-touted recruit from Dunedin, Fla. He originally signed with South Florida but had to make a detour at Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy. By the time he got his grades in order, South Florida was out of scholarships and the Penguins snatched him up.
“It’s been good,” Bellamy said. “It’s a little tiring getting back in the groove of everything, but we’ve got a good team, good coaches and everything’s going good right now.”
Jones, who led Ursuline to Division V state titles the past two seasons while playing home games at Stambaugh, said he’s adjusting to the size and speed of the college game but said the biggest difference has been in the film room.
“In high school you watch film as a team,” he said, “but now you go in there and watch it by yourself and evaluate yourself and get yourself better every day.
“There’s a lot of meetings. It’s all basically about evaluating yourself and coming together as a team, so we do a lot of social bonding, team bonding drills, that type of thing.”
And with an equally young group of quarterbacks on the roster, the running backs are looking to lead the offense early in the season.
“Our backfield is crazy,” said Jones. “We’re like the Miami U. of running backs.
“It’s very talented and very competitive right now.”