2003 Football Preview: Running Backs
Aug 01, 2003 | Football
August 01, 2003
 Junior Derek Farmer rushed for 739 yards in 2002, the most by an Aggie back since 1998. |
The Aggies return the leading ground gainer from the 2002 season in junior from Tyler Lee High School. Farmer rushed for 739 yards and seven touchdowns. It marked the second straight season for Farmer to lead the Aggie ground game. Due to injuries, Farmer was able to play in only 10 of the 12 games last season. He rushed for 100 yards or more four times (Texas Tech, Texas, Louisiana Tech and Kansas) including a 132-yard effort against Texas Tech, a season-high.
"We want to be a very aggressive group of running backs," Coach Lee Fobbs said. "We want to win all situations, whether that is running, blocking, catching the football, or carrying out our assignments. We've got to be able to execute in our area. The type of player we need in our offense is a confident, aggressive player who has prepared well. My job is to coach them up and get them prepared to perform to their highest level in competition in order to be successful. There are no other ways. There are no shortcuts. You get to work, practice good habits and let's get the job done that is asked of us on a particular play. Prepare in practice. If you need to stick it up in there and get a couple of tough yards then we will do that. If we need to get to the perimeter, then we will do that. We will accomplish our mission."
One of the bright spots of the spring was redshirt freshman running back from Madison High School in Houston. Lewis displayed excellent instincts and toughness during spring. Lewis also has kick return ability as well.
The only senior scholarship running back is from Ryan High School in Denton. Flemming is a tough runner who carries out assignments and he rushed for 216 yards in the 2001 season.
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Junior , from Lamar High School in Houston, can play both fullback or tailback. He played in one-back sets last fall and has shown some ability in catching the ball out of the backfield.
is a redshirt freshman scholarship running back who was noted for his blocking skills last fall.
The Aggies signed three running backs in the recruiting class and look for from Humble, from Klein Oak and from Naaman Forest High School in Garland, to get into the mix as quickly as they make the transition from high school to college football.
Several walkon running backs displayed flashes in the spring including senior from Lee High School in Tyler.
STATISTICAL LEADERS - RUNNING BACKS - LAST 10 YEARS
Carries Yards Yards/Carry Touchdowns Long Gain 2002 D. Farmer 172 D. Farmer 739 D. Farmer 4.3 D. Farmer 7 D. Farmer 35 2001 D. Farmer 110 D. Farmer 503 D. Farmer 4.6 J. Weber 6 D. Farmer 65 2000 J. Toombs 117 R. Whitaker 493 R. Whitaker 5.4 J. Toombs 14 R. Whitaker 38 1999 J. Toombs 147 J. Toombs 583 J. Weber 5.3 J. Toombs 9 J. Weber 77 1998 D. Hall 243 D. Hall 1,098 J. Toombs 4.9 D. Hall 8 J. Toombs 71 1997 S. Parker 149 D. Hall 973 D. Hall 7.3 S. Parker 10 S. Parker 80 1996 S. Parker 149 S. Parker 704 D. Hall 7.0 D. Hardeman 17 D. Hardeman 95 1995 L. McElroy 246 L. McElroy 1,230 D. Hardeman 5.0 L. McElroy 13 L. McElroy 58 1994 R. Thomas 199 R. Thomas 962 C. Groce 5.5 R. Thomas 12 L. McElroy 59 1993 R. Thomas 191 R. Thomas 996 L. McElroy 8.5 R. Thomas 13 G. Hill 94
2003 Football Preview:
