Camp '09 - Experience And Youth Mark Running Back Position
8/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 27, 2009
FORT WORTH, Texas -- GoFrogs.com continues its preview of the 2009 TCU football team with a look at the running back position.
Despite the loss of standout Aaron Brown to the National Football League, TCU returns a full stable of running backs in 2009.
Ryan Christian (5-11, 188, Sr.), one of the more versatile Frogs, placed second on TCU with 30 receptions out of the backfield last season. He tied a career-high with six catches for 53 yards in the 17-16 Poinsettia Bowl victory over Boise State.
The Aledo, Texas, native was the Frogs' fourth-leading rusher with 386 yards and four touchdowns on a 4.2 per carry mark. He ran for a career-best 82 yards while adding four receptions in the 31-14 win versus Stanford.
Christian, who also contributes on kickoff returns, was third on the Frogs in all-purpose yards (841).
Joseph Turner (6-1, 225, Sr.), last year's leading rusher with 577 yards and 11 touchdowns, was limited in the spring as he recovered from injury.
Turner gives the Frogs a physical presence at tailback. His 17-yard touchdown run with 8:51 to play provided the go-ahead score in the Poinsettia Bowl. It was part of his season-high 83 yards that night.
Turner, who appears on the Doak Walker Award Watch List, is a proven commodity for TCU. As a sophomore in 2007, he had a 226-yard, four TD performance in a win at San Diego State.
Veteran Chris Smith (5-11, 231, Sr.) and Jai Cavness (5-8, 175, So.) add valuable depth.
Smith is a three-year letterman and a graduate student this fall. Cavness was impressive in several late-game performances a year ago. He topped the 50-yard mark twice as he placed seventh on TCU with 134 yards on the season, including a pair of scoring runs.
Preseason Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year Ed Wesley (5-9, 185, RFr.) had a very impressive spring practice and will compete for playing time. The local product from Irving was named TCU's 2008 Scout Team Offensive Most Valuable Player.
Luke Shivers (6-0, 220, So.) will handle the fullback duties in addition to working with the tight ends.
Shivers, a converted linebacker, had two carries last season with both resulting in 3-yard touchdown runs.
BY THE NUMBERS:
1 - TCU running backs (Ryan Christian) who have a sister (Hannah Christian, women's basketball) that's also a student-athlete at TCU
2 - Former TCU running backs (Aaron Brown, Detroit Lions; LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers) active in the National Football League
12 - Number of seasons co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach Jarrett Anderson has been at TCU
18 - Career rushing touchdowns by Joseph Turner
406 - LaDainian Tomlinson's single-game NCAA record for rushing yards set in 1999 against UTEP
