Dual threat running backs look to make impact
Samantha Madar | Staff Photographer
When it was announced that senior running back Saylor Lavallii would miss the entire 2015 football season, the focus for Central Michigan University’s backfield shifted to two men:
Sophomore Devon Spalding and junior Martez Walker.
At the conclusion of last season, it was assumed Lavallii would carry the largest load for the Chippewas in 2015. Fast forward eight months and Lavallii is on the sidelines for the season as a student assistant. He was advised by specialists to take the season off due to lingering concussion issues.
Out of the injury, an opportunity emerged for Spalding and Walker.
“Martez and I are good buddies,” Spalding said. “We push each other hard daily.”
Spalding appeared in 11 games his freshman season and rushed for 371 yards with four touchdowns. He had an injury scare of his own earlier in camp, but it turned out to be far less severe than coaches and medical staff initially anticipated.
Spalding said he will be ready to go for the first week of play and has respect for his fellow running back and teammate.
“We’re different but I don’t really know how,” said Spalding. “He’s a great running back. He can really put it to a team and he’s really shifty.”
Freshman running back Jarrod Davis was expected to have a role in the offense in 2015, but tore his ACL on the last play of CMU’s 2015 Spring Game, so he will miss the entire season along with Lavallii.
The Chippewas will miss the 215-pound Thomas Rawls, who now plays for the Seattle Seahawks, and then 210-pound Lavallii when it comes to powerful, goal line carries. Yet Walker feels confident in the 203-pound Spalding to run with power.
“I think of myself as more of a ‘scat-back’ where Devon is more of a downhill runner – an ‘I’m going to run you over’ type of guy,” Walker said. “I feel like we go together better as more of a one-two punch. I think we’re going to do great.”
While they differ in how they view each other’s respective running styles, they both share a positive mental attitude, regardless of who’s at the top of the depth chart.
“I have the utmost confidence in my entire offensive line, the entire offense, the entire defense, the whole football team,” said Spalding. “We’ve been working really hard – we both just want to help our offense.”
Walker echoed Spalding’s claims.
“I know our offensive line is going to get the job done,” said Walker. “Even when they’re struggling, we’re going to keep motivating them. It’s great going in game in and game out knowing these guys are going to do their job, so I feel like mine is going to be easy.”
Confidence in the running game is evident from the coaching staff as well.
Head Coach John Bonamego said he sees how the two-pronged rushing attack of Spalding and Walker could be a nightmare for opposing defenses.
“Our running back group is a strength on this team,” Bonamego said. “I think Devon has got a little bit more long speed, maybe he’s a bit more powerful. Martez has power. He’s excellent at changing direction, (and has) great quickness.”
Walker, a native of Orland Park, Illinois, appeared in 11 games and finished fourth on the team with 265 rushing yards a season ago.
Bonamego was not the only member of CMU’s coaching staff excited about the backfield.
“We’ve been pleased with both of them,” said Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach Morris Watts. “We’ll play two backs so we can keep them fresh, so that in the fourth quarter we have guys that are still good to go.”
Watts, who is entering his fifth season as a CMU coach, said he can see the benefit of running more than one man in the backfield.
In agreement with Watts is the team’s Third-year Running Backs Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Gino Guidugli. According to Guidugli, a two-back system will only provide dividends come week one.
“(Spalding and Walker) are two guys you can trust,” Guidugli said. “Those two know the playbook in and out. Martez is kind of patiently waiting and I think he’s primed and ready to be the featured back.”
“Devon ended the last year as one of our go-to guys,” he said. “I’m looking forward to those two carrying a majority of the load.”
Rawls was the main back for most of the 2014 season. He carried the ball 40 times on two occasions and had at least 25 carries in five of his nine games.
Of the 11 running backs on the roster, seven are underclassmen. Walker says he has taken it upon himself this year in camp to give guidance to younger players and is not shy about voicing his opinion.
“I know that I need to be more of a leader,” Walker said. “You have to be able to motivate these young guys because they don’t know anything yet, so we’re teaching them along the way.”
Although Walker is penciled in at the number one spot on the depth chart, the Chippewas will have a pair of reliable options to choose from.
