Running back position runs deep

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As a redshirt freshman last season, Carl Volny didn’t even score a rushing touchdown.

In fact, the running back from Miramar, Fla., didn’t see a carry until the sixth game of the season, when he carried six times for 23 yards.

However, when CMU begins the 2008 season Thursday against Eastern Illinois, Volny will take the field with the first team offense and likely see a majority of the carries.

What’s more surprising about Volny’s emergence, however, is that CMU returns each of their rushers from last season, including two seasoned seniors, in last year’s leading rusher Justin Hoskins and Ontario Sneed. Also looking for carries are junior Marcel Archer and freshmen Jahleel Addae and Paris Cotton. Freshman Bryan Schroeder will start at fullback.

“Everybody’s looking good,” Hoskins said. “Carl’s running the ball real hard. The freshman are the learning the system and they’re doing pretty good in this camp. The running games going to be real good.”

Last season, Hoskins finished with a team leading 664 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns, while Sneed finished 486 yards and 6 touchdowns.

But Hoskins is coming off an ankle injury and Sneed is recovering from a broken arm he suffered during the spring. Although not 100 percent, Sneed and Hoskins both should be ready Thursday’s opener.

The injuries opened up opportunities for other backs to prove themselves during the offseason.

Coach Butch Jones was impressed with the most was Volny. Volny, in his redshirt freshman season, ran for 100 yards and caught six passes for 43 yards and a touchdown.

“He’s done a great job,” Jones said. “He’s added size, he’s added speed. And he really understands the offense.”

The trio of freshmen – Addae, Cotton and Schroeder – also were able to get more opportunities with the two seniors on the sidelines this offseason.

“We’ve come in, we’ve paid attention during the meetings, we’re picking up the plays quick,” Addae said. “And sometimes you get you there and there is so much tension and you tend to forget, but I think us three coming in as true freshmen are doing pretty good.”

All three freshmen come to CMU after standout performances during their high school careers. Addae ran for more than 1,400 yards and scored 15 touchdowns his senior season, was third team all-state and ran for more 1,000 yards in three straight seasons. Cotton ran for 854 yards and 12 touchdowns, and also played in the Dade-Broward All-State Game. Schroeder ran for more than 6,000 yards and almost 100 touchdowns during his time at North Harrison High School in Corydon, Ind. He was named all-state three times.

Despite having Sneed, Hoskins, Volny and Archer in the backfield already, Jones said the three will see carries this season.

“You’ll see three true freshmen playing in the backfield at some point in time this year,” Jones said.

sports@cm-life.com