One of the most debated topics in Mississippi State football right now is the running position. Many feel as if our current tailback, Ashton Shumpert, isn’t fully living up to the standard Mississippi State is used to seeing in players such as Vick Ballard, Anthony Dixon, or even Josh Robinson. Through four games Shumpert has accounted for 128 yards on 32 carries, good for an average of four yards per tote.
By comparison Josh Robinson totaled 62 carries for 485 yards with 7.8 yards per carry.
This being the case, Mississippi State fans are seeing various backs with no guaranteed position. We often see Shumpert running for negative yards and then see Brandon Holloway run for positive, minus the size difference. While many fans are concerned with Holloway’s well-being in the backfield, we should also enforce other new backs into the running scheme like Aries Williams. Holloway is a good a reliable back but the Bulldogs would probaly need another reliable tailback, besides Shumpert, who can be a force on the ground.
Aeris Williams is 6’1 and 205 pounds. The redshirted freshman is a four star recruit out of West Point, Mississippi. He is a bruiser type of back with an impressive field vision for the field. Williams might not get you the full 10 yards every time, but he is exactly what we need in the backfield. A running back that isn’t afraid to hit the hole when called upon, which will also help out Dak Prescott and the offense.
We also don’t have the experienced offensive line we had a year ago, but with a big force running back that will fill the whole, Mississippi State will get back to the traditional NFL potential running backs we have always possessed in the past. With William’s size and speed to fill the hole, he isn’t the type of tail back to shy away from contact. That is a bonus to the field when your running back can show how strong he is with enough speed to keep the secondary on their toes.
Davis Wade has a high stand in football. We have expectations from our fans to be great. With all the record breaking and packed games week after week, I think it is only fair that we give the Bulldog family exactly that. Shumpert will not take us to the promise land with him running scared like in previous games. Holloway is a real contributor to the team, but he can’t carry the load every game with his size difference.
That’s why Williams would be the next obvious option to place in the backfield. Given that rising star Gabe Myles is from Starkville, it would be really something to have our running back from West Point, which is also a neighboring city to Starkville.
This will show that Dan Mullen is improving his recruiting in the Magnolia State. All in all, Williams would be the best option for the backfield to help our football team. So continue to watch our tail back position and expect some changes to the backfield.
