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With Clyde Edwards-Helaire questionable, Lincoln Riley discusses LSU’s other RBs
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
One of the ways Oklahoma’s defense will be tested during Saturday’s Peach Bowl is how it handles the run.
But with Clyde Edwards-Helaire questionable according to LSU coach Ed Orgeron, the Tigers may need to lean on their backups, namely Tyrion Davis-Price and John Emery Jr., to carry the ball more frequently. The duo has a total of 96 carries, 452 yards and 9 touchdowns between them, so despite being true freshmen, they’re not fully inexperienced.
“To give them credit, it doesn’t look like a huge drop-off when the other ones are around,” Sooners coach Lincoln Riley said in his media availability before the 1st of 2 national semifinals to determine who will play in Jan. 13’s national championship in New Orleans. “At this point of the year, you’re going to have guys get banged up. You’re going to have things happen. And a lot of times, the four teams that are here are here because, yeah, your first 11 are pretty good.”
The Sooners have enjoyed some success stopping the run, allowing an average of 132.8 yards on the ground thus far this season. That includes their best performance of the year, holding Baylor to just 35 yards on 29 carries in Dec. 7’s Big 12 championship game.
“[W]hen a great player’s out for whatever reason, you’re able to plug the leak and kind of keep on churning,” Riley said. “LSU’s been able to do that at running back from what we’ve been able to see, and we’ve been able to do that at certainly multiple positions this year too.”
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
