BOONE, N.C. — The Sun Belt Conference's two-time rushing champion returns, and the matter of backfield depth remains a work in progress for Appalachian State.
Spring practice concluded recently, and rising senior
Jalin Moore comes back as one of six active FBS players with consecutive seasons of 1,000 rushing yards.
Four freshmen who played games in 2017 — redshirt freshman
Marcus Williams Jr., true freshman
Daetrich Harrington, true freshman
De'Vonta Smith and walk-on
DeMarcus Harper — are also still with the Mountaineers, but the injury bug's role in spring workouts meant that wide receiver
Darrynton Evans and cornerback
D'Andre Hicks switched over to running back.
"Depth is huge," running backs coach
Stu Holt said. "I don't think we've gotten through a season recently without playing four (running backs) significant time."
Moore will enter his season year with 3,170 career rushing yards, including league-leading totals of 1,402 yards as a sophomore and 1,037 yards in what was effectively 10 game's worth of playing time as an injury-riddled junior. He's the only active FBS back who's rushed for at least 235 yards in four career games.
Moore's production as a pass catcher increased dramatically last year, when he had 12 catches for 163 yards after totaling five catches for 32 yards in his first two seasons.
"One thing I like about our program, when it's your time to be a senior, leadership is really expected, and the seniors have really come through in that aspect since I've been here," Holt said. "Him growing as a leader is something I look forward to. I've seen him progress each year, and he's become more and more of a leader as his role has progressed. That's been fun to watch, and I anticipate he's going to finish strong."
If injuries create a revolving door at running back, it'd be similar to 2017, when senior
Terrence Upshaw suffered a season-ending injury in the sixth game, and 2016, when an injury to
Marcus Cox contributed to a heavier workload for Moore.
With Moore and Upshaw sidelined frequently last year, Williams had games of 125 rushing yards and 130 rushing yards in his three starts. He ranked third on the team with 500 rushing yards.
Smith made his App State debut against Savannah State in the second game. Harrington appeared on the field for the first time a week later and recorded his first carry in App State's seventh game. He finished the season with 296 rushing yards, including 118 in the home finale against Louisiana, and Harper had carries in three games.
The possible inclusion of Evans and Hicks brings two more skilled athletes into the mix.
Evans excelled at kick returner as a true freshman in 2016, returning one 94 yards for a touchdown in App State's bowl victory, but he also filled in as the backup running back with Cox injured and rushed for 217 yards on 48 carries.
Evans entered the 2017 season with the potential to be a starting slot receiver, but injuries led to him sitting out the year.
"He's looked great and was really good two years ago in the backfield," Holt said.
Hicks enrolled early last year as a cornerback who had played quarterback, running back and receiver during his prep career in Florida. He rushed for 507 yards and threw for 1,219 as a quarterback during his senior year of high school.
"We were a little banged up this spring, and whoever practiced has done pretty well," Holt said. "Hicks has done well and picked it up really quickly. It's been tough as far as injuries, but we still feel like we'll bounce back from it, it'll just take a little time."
