The University of South Dakota (USD) football team is entering the new season with a confident running back unit, boasting a deep and talented group that could shoulder much of the offensive load early in the season.
The Coyotes' running back room is considered one of the best in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and the entire FCS, with experienced ball carriers returning from last season. Keyondray Jones-Logan, a junior, is back after missing last season due to injury, and Charles Pierre Jr., a 2024 third team All-American, returns for his senior season healthy.
Pierre, who led the Valley in rushing in 2024, has consistently produced some of the nation's top running backs over the past two seasons. He rushed for a conference-best 1,244 yards and 16 touchdowns during his breakout sophomore campaign. "If people are saying we're the best in the country, that just motivates us even more," Pierre said. "We never take a step backwards, and we are always fighting to be better each and every day."
The running back group is led by Pierre, Jones-Logan, and sophomores Carson Fletcher and Reid Watkins. Fletcher finished second on the team in rushing with 478 yards and a touchdown last season, while Watkins totaled 308 rushing yards and a score as the team's third-leading rusher. "We all complement each other very well, and we all bring something different to the table," Jones-Logan said.
Pierre believes this year's group can become even more valuable because of its versatility. The Coyotes frequently used two-running back formations during Wednesday's first practice, a trend coach Dante Warren expects to continue throughout the season. "I feel good going into games with five (running backs)," Warren said. "And 25% of the time we have got two or more backs on the field at a time."
The veteran running backs can provide more than production, according to Warren. They can help galvanize the offense, which is young all around. "We just need to continue to develop the leadership on this team," Warren said. "We've got unproven guys at the quarterback position and offensive line, and these guys are proven."
Pierre, a senior leader, believes the standard for the room goes well beyond statistics. "Running back has always been a reliable position for us, but it's good to be that group that our offense can lean on," he said. The Coyotes are expected to search for starters on offense, with a new quarterback settling into the starting role and several new faces expected to play significant snaps along the offensive line and at receiver.
The Coyotes officially opened fall camp on Wednesday, July 29, and the running back unit is expected to play a key role in the team's success. As Pierre said, "If everybody says we could be the best, let's prove we're the best."
Source: Yahoo Sports
