IN FOCUS: Running Backs

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Texas A&M certainly wants to run the ball in 2017.  Fortunately, they have talent in the backfield as well as experience. 

Clarence McKinney's running backs totaled 336 carries a year ago. All but 24 of those return.

As a team, A&M rushed for 2,754 yards. The trio of Trayveon Williams, Keith Ford and Kendall Bussey combined to account for nearly 70 percent of that.  They're all back.

Kwame Etwi, whose played in 10 games and rushed for 214 yards in his career, rounds out the depth.

Jacob Kibodi, a member of the 2017 signing class from Baton Rouge, enters the program this August.

 

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• Classification: Senior
• Hometown: Cypress, Texas
• High School: Cypress Ranch HS
• Previous Collegiate Experience: Oklahoma (2013, 2014)
• 2016 Highlights: Ranked second on the team with 669 rushing yards on 126 carries while seeing action in all 13 games ... made nine starts for the season, including starts in each of the Aggies' final five games ... posted six rushing touchdowns, including two against Prairie View A&M and Ole Miss ... also gained 140 yards on eight kickoff returns (17.5 average) ... had a season-high 100 yards on 15 carries vs. LSU ... had a season-high 15 carries vs. LSU and Alabama ... had 10-plus carries in seven games, including the last three of the season.
• Career (A&M): 13 games (9 starts), 126 carries, 669 yards, 6 TDs
• McKinney says: "His biggest issue last season was conditioning.  He'd get out there and get a couple reps and tap out.  We need him to go a little bit longer.  He's spent a tremendous amount of time this offseason getting himself in shape and ready to go."

     

• Classification: Sophomore
• Hometown: Houston
• High School: C.E. King
• 2016 Highlights: First true freshman in school history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season ... True Freshman All-American (ESPN.com) ... named to the Freshman All-SEC team ... led the Aggies in rushing ... posted 19 receptions for 91 yards ... ranked sixth in SEC with a 6.8 yards per carry average ... scored eight rushing touchdowns, including five of 20 or more yards … had long TD runs of 89 yards (vs. Auburn), 49 yards (vs. South Carolina) and 47 yards (vs. UTSA) and also had a 71-yard jaunt vs. Tennessee ... became the first Texas A&M true freshman to surpass the 200-yard barrier in game rushing yards with 217 vs. Tennessee ... also had five kickoff returns for 82 yards (16.4 average).
• Career: 13 games, 156 carries, 1,057 yards, 8 TDs ... 19 catches, 91 yards, 0 TDs ... 5 KOR, 16.4 avg.
• McKinney says: "He needs to be consistent.  Probably his biggest issue last year was pass (protection).  He's a lot more consistent with that over these last couple days.  (He's) Just learning to be physical." 

   

• Classification: Sophomore
• Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana
• High School: Newman
• 2016 Highlights: Carried the ball seven times for 79 yards, including a 27-yard run, in the win over Prairie View (Sep. 10) ... posted a season high 87 yards on 10 carries, including a season-high 29 yard run ... finished the New Mexico State game with 122 all-purpose yards (Oct. 29).
• Career: 5 games, 20 carries, 172 yards ... 1 catch, 5 yards ... 1 KOR, 30 yards.
• McKinney says: "We plan on seeing Bussey. We'd like to have three guys in the mix. Bussey has that experience now. He's ready to contribute. He's going to put pressure on those other two (Williams and Ford)."

 


     

• Classification: Junior
• Hometown: Conroe, Texas
• High School: Oak Ridge
• Highlights: Rushed for 63 yards on 10 carries with one touchdown in four appearances as a sophomore ... gained 32 yards with a touchdown on five carries vs. Prairie View A&M ... contributed 23 yards on four carries vs. New Mexico State ... as a freshman, rushed for 151 yards on 20 carries (7.6 average) in six games of action ... surpassed the 100-yard mark in rushing yards against Ball State with 116 yards on 12 carries in his collegiate debut.
• Career: 10 games, 30 carries, 214 yards, 1 TD.
• McKinney says: "Kwame came into this season the third most experienced of the group.  He's played some for us.  He's done a tremendous job when he has played.  He's a really physical running back.  Although he's small, he's like a little ball of muscle.  It's possible (we'll see more of him)."

 


     

• Classification: True Freshman
• Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• High School: Christian Life Academy
• Highlights: one of the top running backs in the state of Louisiana coming out of high school ... rushed for 1,208 yards and 12 touchdowns on 141 carries as a senior in 2016.
• McKinney says: ""I really don't have any expectations of him.  I'm just going to hope that he learns the offense, and what to do.  In high school he (did) a lot of good things.  He's able to catch the ball.  He's able to be a big, physical back.  Hopefully, when he gets his opportunities, he'll be able to do those things for us."