Each season since Dan Mullen took over at Florida, the role of the running back has evolved. And that trend looks to continue in 2021.
Last year, the Gators hardly utilized the run game at all. Mullen argues that from an efficiency standpoint, it was the best season yet, but with Kyle Trask and Kyle Pitts running the show, Florida didn’t need to rely on the running backs much.
Now, with Emory Jones taking over, the Gators will likely see and offensive shift toward the run. After taking a backseat in 2020, the running backs are ready to get more involved.
Looking ahead to the scheme next season, they believe it has potential to be even more exciting.
“If the running back has the ball or the quarterback has the ball, each one is liable to go the distance,” said redshirt sophomore Nay’Quan Wright. “You basically have to just pick your poison. If you’re going to contain the quarterback, then the running back’s going to take it. If you’re going to contain the running back, then the quarterback’s going to go the distance. It puts a lot of stress on the defense.”
This spring, Wright is already getting Baltimore Ravens with Lamar Jackson vibes from Florida’s offense.
“That’s really how the offense is going to look, basically how the Ravens looked when Lamar first came in,” he said. “They say he can’t pass, but he can pass. People say Emory can’t pass, and he’s going to show them he can pass. The read option is going to be there. Like I say, you’ve got to pick your poison.”
But even in a run-centered attack, only so many players can get on the field at one time.
With a loaded running back room that features Wright, Dameon Pierce, Malik Davis, Lorenzo Lingard and Demarkcus Bowman, many suspect someone to eventually hit the transfer portal. Or, at the very least, someone to make a position change.
Wright and Davis could be candidates in either of those scenarios. When they spoke to the media on Tuesday night, neither sounded thrilled about the idea of moving out to the slot, but both were adamant that they are willing to do what it takes to help Florida win.
“I’ve been playing running back my whole life, so I feel comfortable at playing running back,” Wright said. “But if my role is to go to the slot or whatever, that’s where I’m gonna go.”
With less than a week left in spring practice, there is still no clear-cut No. 1 or No. 2 guy back there. Bowman’s injury makes his role this season even more difficult to project. But there is no need to determine all of that six months out from the first game.
While Florida’s running backs are fighting for every snap and finding their place in a new offense, it is still a healthy competition.
“The more the merrier,” Pierce said.”The more people to learn from. It’s a bigger bond between everybody. With me being one of the older guys in the room, it changed my role a lot. I’m wanting to make sure those guys are prepared for everything and comfortable.”