With one of the most prolific offenses in the Football Championship Subdivision, the South Dakota State football team features depth and versatility at the running back position.
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Editor’s note: Throughout Spring Football, GoJacks.com will take an in-depth look at various position groups. The seventh installment of the Spring Report focuses on the Jackrabbit running backs.
With one of the most prolific offenses in the Football Championship Subdivision, the South Dakota State football team features depth and versatility at the running back position.
Pacing the Jackrabbit rushing attack is senior Brady Mengarelli, who has led the team's ground game each of the past two seasons. Mengarelli tallied more than 1,600 all-purpose yards last season en route to second-team all-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors, gaining 754 yards on the ground, 333 through the air on 34 receptions and 556 on 26 kickoff returns. He also led the squad with 742 rushing yards in 2015.
SDSU's second-leading rusher from a year ago, Isaac Wallace, also returns. Possessing big-play ability, Wallace posted 519 yards and a team-best 6.3 yards per carry in 2016. He scored on an 87-yard touchdown run in the season opener against TCU and also went over the 100-yard mark in the Jackrabbits' home victory over in-state rival South Dakota.
Should the Jackrabbits opt for more of a power running game or between-the-tackles approach, sophomore Mikey Daniel and redshirt freshman Tolu Ogunrinde are among the candidates to carry the ball. Daniel was beginning to work his way into the rotation last season before being injured, finishing the year with 81 yards and a touchdown.
The Jackrabbits have utilized a fullback in recent seasons and return second-team all-MVFC honoree Kane Louscher. Although he did not register a carry, Louscher was used in the passing game and caught three passes for 32 yards. Senior Thomas Hopp, a converted linebacker, along with sophomores Turner Blasius and Luke Sellers also will vie for playing time at fullback.
Other running backs going through spring drills with the Jackrabbits this spring are junior Jeremy Christner, who gained more than 2,000 yards in two seasons at Dakota State before transferring to SDSU, and two other redshirt freshmen, Blair Mulholland and C.J. Roths. Mulholland has switched to running back after spending his first season at SDSU at linebacker.
Next installment: Cornerbacks
