BOONE, NC (WLOS) – Football is characterized by a balanced attack that consists of a good passing and running game, and that is exactly what Mountaineer football offers.
“I think our running back room is spectacular,” said offensive coordinator Frank Ponce.
“You’ve got Kanye, Anderson, Haywood and the young guys, we’ve got a lot of guys. We’re excited about that room. Our biggest problem, I tell our running backs coach, Coach Haines, is, ‘It’s a good problem, but who are you going to put in there? They can all carry the ball and be good with the football in their hands.'”
Action when carrying the ball is one thing, but being able to protect the pass when the ball goes somewhere else is tantamount to carrying the ball.
“They’re very tough. We always stress the importance of protecting our quarterback. We’re very careful to collect our IDs when we get mugged. They’re very good at it and they’re tough guys.”
Redshirt sophomore running back Kanye Roberts echoes those sentiments.
“We pass first, we do that every day. We pass more than we run. That’s what we’ve got going on this year.”
Roberts, who performed better and better last season, was as impressed as coach Ponce with the versatility and depth of his position.
“Every running back has his own thing. When I come out, it’s not going to be a problem for me at all. I have a lot of confidence in this group. We’re so fast, everyone is very agile. The running backs are going to be a real threat this year.”
While App State has its final practice game on Saturday before focusing exclusively on its Week 1 game against ETSU on August 31, head coach Shawn Clark is excited for his players to reintegrate into normal college life and football, as Thursday’s practice took place in the middle of move-in day.
“When students are back on campus, there’s an electric vibe in Boone. Our kids are excited to see new faces. Sometimes you get through the dog days of camp and you see the same faces day after day. Seeing new faces, meeting new people, and that’s what the college experience is all about. It’s about making sure they have a great college experience and winning football games too.”
