Forget the committee, it’s Jordan Scarlett and everyone else at running back for Gators
By Andrew Olson
Published:
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Throughout fall camp we heard that the Gators have five capable running backs. On Saturday night, one back truly established himself as ahead of the others. Call Florida’s running back situation a committee or a three-headed monster or whatever you please, but know one thing: Jordan Scarlett is this team’s top ball-carrier.
A stat line of 13 carries for 70 yards against UMass won’t lead to any national discussion about Scarlett, but consider what Florida’s other four running backs did:
- Mark Thompson: 6 carries, 22 yards
- Jordan Cronkrite: 3 carries, 5 yards
- Lamical Perine: 1 carry, -1 yard
- Mark Herndon: no carries
Scarlett claimed the starting spot while Cronkrite was sidelined for a few practices with an injury. Cronkrite gives the backfield some versatility with his pass-catching ability, and he’s reliable when it comes to ball security, but I don’t see him taking the job back from a healthy Scarlett.
When I wrote about Florida’s running backs in the offseason, I looked at Scarlett as a breakaway threat, citing last season’s highlight run against Georgia when discussing what he adds to the offense. His longest run against UMass was only 11 yards, but I was impressed by something else. What I saw Saturday night was a physical back who can be surrounded by opposing jerseys and keep moving forward.
The Gators need that kind of runner. They need him whether it’s 1st-and-10 or 3rd-and-short.
Perine will likely get other chances, but the freshman’s night was doomed when he fumbled on his first career carry. While Herndon, a game captain, is a coaches’ favorite, his lack of touches suggests that it was truly a four-person committee we were hearing about in camp. Maybe he can be the football equivalent of an innings eater and get some work when a game is out of reach.
Which brings us back to Scarlett, Thompson and Cronkrite, or the three-headed monster as LT David Sharpe likes to say. In theory they split carries and no back will be tired in the fourth quarter. It makes for a great plan.
Funny thing – plans have a way of not working out:
ESPN broadcast says Mac told them they'll see Austin Appleby in the first half, maybe a third QB as well.
— Alligator Army (@AlligatorArmy) September 4, 2016
It would be ideal for the Gators to give the opposing defense different looks and keep all their backs fresh. But games rarely present ideal scenarios. Instead of rotating quarterbacks, McElwain stuck with his top player at the position. When the Gators need to convert that critical third-and-short, they need to have a top guy and forget the rotation.
In the backfield, that top guy is Jordan Scarlett.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
