Running into the Record Books
By David Villavicencio
Duke Johnson, Ottis Anderson, Edgerrin James, James Jackson and Clinton Portis.
Willis McGahee, Frank Gore, Lamar Miller, Alonzo Highsmith and Melvin Bratton.
The list of illustrious running backs in Miami Hurricanes history is a long one and the aforementioned 10 are just a taste of the greatness at the position in Coral Gables, Fla., over the years. This season, Miami has a trio of talented running backs carving a niche among the legends of Hurricanes lore.
Mark Walton, Joe Yearby and Gus Edwards started off the 2016 season with a bang, combining for 327 yards and four rushing touchdowns in a 70-3 victory against Florida A&M.
Walton ran for a career-best 116 yards, Edwards added 106 and Yearby finished with 105. Miami had three 100-yard rushers in the same game for the first time since 1987, when Bratton, Leonard Conley and Warren Williams combined for 335 yards rushing in a 48-10 win at Cincinnati.
“That was pretty impressive,” Miami offensive coordinator and running backs coach Thomas Brown said. “Obviously when running backs run for a lot of yards, they get a lot of attention. But it was a total team effort, starting up front with the o-line, the quarterbacks getting us into the right checks, the tight ends being involved and really the receivers, downfield blocking-wise, being able to give us some one-on-one opportunities and make some touchdown-making blocks for us.”
The season opener was an unforgettable experience for each of Miami’s three 100-yard rushers, but it also was unique to each one in the trio.
“It was an amazing feeling,” Yearby said. “It was a good start for me. I felt like it gave me confidence and motivation for the upcoming season. And it was the first time in my career that three of us got 100 yards, so for that to happen, I was very happy about it.”
For Walton, Saturday’s performance against Florida A&M was another step towards he and his teammates joining the great running backs in Miami history.
“It means a lot for me to be part of that,” Walton said. “I’m thankful to be a part of that monstrous groups with the Duke Johnsons, Edgerrin Jameses, Willis McGahees and Clinton Portises. Joe Yearby, Gus Edwards and myself, we are just trying to be a part of that legacy and help this team.”
Edwards may have had the most special experience of the three, playing in his first game since 2014 and breaking off a career-long 74-yard run for a touchdown.
“I was excited the whole time, just on the sideline waiting for my opportunity and just trying to stay poised because it had been a while,” Edwards said. “But when I got out there, I just let it loose. It was real fun being out there and it was great being back, feeling 100 percent. Just a great feeling being back out there with my teammates.
“After my touchdown, my teammates did a good job showing me how much they appreciate me,” Edwards said. “They all did a good job celebrating with me and everyone on the sideline was congratulating me because they know it has been a while. It boosted my confidence a lot knowing these guys support me just as much as I support them. So it was a great feeling.”
Head coach Mark Richt liked what his saw from Miami’s potent ground attack in Week 1, but made sure to credit everyone involved in helping the Canes be the top rushing offense in the ACC after one game.
“They’re all very quality backs,” Richt said following the game. “The blocking was good. A lot of times they did make people miss, but there was some good blocking up front, there was some good blocking on the perimeter.”
Part of that blocking was due to newcomer Marquez Williams’ hard work as Miami’s fullback.
“We’re definitely blessed to have him,” Brown said. “We’ve always played with a fullback in Coach Richt’s offense, even from the days when I was playing with him, or back at Florida State. Giving us the chance to be more of a downhill, physical team, but also throw the ball to him out of the backfield so he can at least catch it and find a way to get into end zone for us. He’s done a nice job so far.”
A graduate transfer who came to Miami after earning his bachelor’s degree at Mars Hill University, Williams is an imposing figure at 6-1, 280 lbs. He uses his size and strength to play physical and clear a path for Miami’s talented running backs.
“I take pride in my physicality,” Williams said. “Playing the fullback spot, you always have to be very physical. You have to know the game of leverage and angles and you have to be somewhat explosive.”
Physical and explosive are two attributes Williams certainly possesses. In off-season workouts, Williams squatted 570 lbs., and power cleaned 381 lbs. He also has some speed and hands, displayed by his three-yard touchdown reception against Florida A&M that scored Miami’s first points of the 2016 season.
But Williams is most proud of paving the way for Walton, Yearby, Edwards and the rest of the Hurricanes’ running backs. The senior’s face lights up with pride when talking about Miami’s backs and their strong opening game.
“We were excited about it on the sideline,” Williams said. “We were even trying to encourage Travis [Homer] to go in the game and get him a hundred yards, as well [laughter]. It’s something that we want to continuously do and most definitely try and do every week if possible. That will be a goal, but it’s exciting seeing those guys run up and down the field and to know that I am a part of it. I know it’s a team effort.”
The running backs certainly appreciate Williams, as well as a Miami offensive line that has combined for 90 career starts, for making sure they have room to run every time they touch the ball.
“Marquez is opening up everything for us,” Yearby said.
“It makes a huge difference,” Walton said. “You got the offensive line and then you add on one more blocker with the fullback in Marquez. He is a big deal, man. He is very special and I am happy he became a part of our organization.”
