Parmele Leads Deep Field at Running Back Position
8/16/2006 12:00:00 PM | Football
Aug. 16, 2006
Toledo, OH - Trinity Dawson may be gone but losing a 1,000-yard rusher and first-team All-MAC running back may not be such a big issue, after all. The real problem at running back could be finding enough footballs for a talented stable of players at a position that could go four-deep.
Experience has taught Head Coach Tom Amstutz, however, that you can't have too many good running backs.
"It's important in our system that we have a group of running backs that we can rotate so we always have a fresh back in there," said Amstutz.
So don't be surprised if Toledo goes with a running back-by-committee system, at least to start the season.
At the moment it looks as if that committee would be led by junior Jalen Parmele, who battled nagging injuries in 2005 but is in top shape now. Parmele ran for 294 yards and three TDs in 2005, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. As a true freshman he ran for 183 yards and three TDs. He is the fastest player on the team, clocking a 4.43 time in the 40.
"Jalen has been a good back for us for two seasons," said Amstutz. "His health is great and he's excited to compete for the top spot at running back."
Expected to be in the rotation are sophomore Richard Davis and redshirt freshman DaJuane Collins. Davis gained 256 yards on an impressive 7.1 yards per carry as a freshman. Collins ran for 1,841 yards and 19 TDs in his senior year at Deptford High School in Westville, NJ.
Junior Scooter McDougle redshirted in 2005 while he recovered from off-season knee surgery, but he was a devastating bulldozer in 2004, gaining 620 yards and scoring seven TDs in half a season's work. McDougle is also Toledo's most sure-handed receiver out of the backfield, picking up 28 receptions in 2004. But he saw only limited action in spring practice as he continued to work back into shape. Whether he is able to contribute to the team this season remains to be seen.
