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CAMP SPOTLIGHT: Running Backs
8/2/2019 10:45:00 AM | Football
Heading into camp in 2018, there were a number of question marks surrounding the running back position. Fast forward to 2019 and those questions have been answered, thanks to the emergence of a pair of standout young backs who put their stamp on the program in only their first seasons.
Jaret Patterson burst on to the scene as a true freshman in 2018. Though not breaking into the starting lineup until the ninth game of the season, the Maryland native still rushed for 1,013 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was named the Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year, becoming just the second player in school history to earn the distinction. He became the first freshman running back in program history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. In addition, his 14 rushing touchdowns were two shy of the single-season school record. Now a sophomore, and likely the starting running back when the season starts, Patterson will look to build on those impressive numbers in 2019.
Fellow back Kevin Marks wasn't far behind Patterson's numbers. As a redshirt-freshman, Marks rushed for 845 yards and 13 touchdowns on only three less carries. He scored a rushing touchdown in 10 different games in 2018. Marks rushed for a season-high 167 yards on only 18 carries at Central Michigan and had a 138-yard, two touchdown performance in UB's win at Temple.
Theo Anderson will also factor in at the running back position. The junior from Florida has rushed for 488 yards and three touchdowns over his career. He has a 100-yard game under his belt, rushing for 133 yards and a touchdown against Bowling Green in 2017.
Dylan McDuffie redshirted as a freshman last season and will add depth at running back as well. Taking advantage of the new redshirt rule, McDuffie appeared in four games in 2018, carrying the ball 14 times for 70 yards. His best performance came at Bowling Green when he rushed for 54 yards on eight carries.
One newcomer to the backfield is Ron Cook, Jr. - a freshman from Maryland. Cook had 1,491 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns his senior season at St. John's College High School.
Tajay Ahmed, a local product from Starpoint High School, rounds out the running back room.
The 2019 season kicks off on August 29 against Robert Morris at UB Stadium. For tickets contact the UB ticket office at 1-877-UB-THERE or click here.
Jaret Patterson burst on to the scene as a true freshman in 2018. Though not breaking into the starting lineup until the ninth game of the season, the Maryland native still rushed for 1,013 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was named the Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year, becoming just the second player in school history to earn the distinction. He became the first freshman running back in program history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. In addition, his 14 rushing touchdowns were two shy of the single-season school record. Now a sophomore, and likely the starting running back when the season starts, Patterson will look to build on those impressive numbers in 2019.
Fellow back Kevin Marks wasn't far behind Patterson's numbers. As a redshirt-freshman, Marks rushed for 845 yards and 13 touchdowns on only three less carries. He scored a rushing touchdown in 10 different games in 2018. Marks rushed for a season-high 167 yards on only 18 carries at Central Michigan and had a 138-yard, two touchdown performance in UB's win at Temple.
Theo Anderson will also factor in at the running back position. The junior from Florida has rushed for 488 yards and three touchdowns over his career. He has a 100-yard game under his belt, rushing for 133 yards and a touchdown against Bowling Green in 2017.
Dylan McDuffie redshirted as a freshman last season and will add depth at running back as well. Taking advantage of the new redshirt rule, McDuffie appeared in four games in 2018, carrying the ball 14 times for 70 yards. His best performance came at Bowling Green when he rushed for 54 yards on eight carries.
One newcomer to the backfield is Ron Cook, Jr. - a freshman from Maryland. Cook had 1,491 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns his senior season at St. John's College High School.
Tajay Ahmed, a local product from Starpoint High School, rounds out the running back room.
The 2019 season kicks off on August 29 against Robert Morris at UB Stadium. For tickets contact the UB ticket office at 1-877-UB-THERE or click here.
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