By Ernie Gonzalez
The Mountain West Conference revolves around running the football.
Just last season, San Diego State’s Donnel Pumphrey set the all-time FBS career rushing record.
On top of that, three of the nation’s top-6 leading rushers last season played for Mountain West teams.
This coming season, SJSU is ready to sprinkle some of its own running game back into the Mountain West mix, something that disappeared after Tyler Ervin’s departure to the NFL.
One thing is certain: In order for the Spartan rush attack to be dominant, Coach Carter will need to find a way to balance his guys, whether that be down-by-down, yard-to-gain or defensive alignment.
When the fall arrives, a total of six players will be fighting for that number one slot, but you better believe Carter will use all six if need be come August.
Let’s starts with Malik Roberson, 5 foot 8, who led the team in rushing last season with 508 yards while injured. He has outstanding open-field speed, as he averaged 5.1 yards per carry, including a team-long 87 yard rushing touchdown Week 2 of 2016 versus Portland State. Roberson sat out the spring scrimmage because of an ankle sprain, but he’ll be back once fall camp starts.
Next up is Zamore Zigler, 5 foot 10, who rushed for a pedestrian 423 yards in his first season due to injury struggles last year. The high school track star did not participate in the spring game due to injury. He will be back and ready to battle for the starting running back slot for SJSU come late July.
Next is the guy who stole the show during the spring game: Jamar Williams. At 6’2, Williams rushed for 69 yards on 16 carries, scoring twice. Williams redshirted the 2016 year and is ready to be unleashed.
Senior FB Brandon Monroe opened up the spring game with the first touchdown for the Spartans, decorating his score celebration by “worm”-ing in the endzone. Monroe brings that senior flavor into the rushing unit, and although he’s fullback, Carter said he has no problem with him lining up five yards behind the quarterback.
Carter views Monroe as the captain of his core, and wouldn’t mind showcasing his versatility at the tailback position.
The Spartans have “two dynamic freshman” according to Carter in Tyler Nevens and Jerrell Alberty who will join the squad come fall camp,
The two are listed at 200 and 215 pound (both 6 feet tall) and would be a nice addition, considering last year’s tandem and Tyler Ervin’s reign were filled with small RBs.
Nevens, Los Altos High School all-time leading rusher, already has high hopes for the coming seasons. In 2015, Tyler Ervin set SJSU’s single-season rushing record with 1,601 yards. To Nevens, that means motivation.
“I definitely want to be the next Tyler Ervin, but soon, I want others saying they want to be the next Tyler Nevens,” he said in a phone interview in February.
Whether or not the Spartans will be able to stop the Mountain West’s heavy run attack this coming season wouldn’t matter as much if they can counter it with their own arsenal, and coach Carter could have just the right group of guys to make that happen.