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Learning: Welton is picking up ASU system

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By Tommy Bowman

JOURNAL REPORTER

Published: September 17, 2008

Robert Welton, who didn't get many carries as a high-school running back and played in just one game for Appalachian State last season after being redshirted in 2006, seems to be making up for lost time.

Welton, a 5-11, 215-pound sophomore from Gray, Ga., who is noted for his physical power, has four touchdowns in the Mountaineers' two games this season.

"That's crazy," Welton said. "I didn't have but six my senior year in high school. It's foreign territory to me."

Welton had a breakthrough performance in a 56-7 victory over Jacksonville in the Mountaineers' last game, rushing for 161 yards on 10 carries.

He impressed coaches last spring and now is firmly in the mix with starter Devon Moore for playing time.

"He had a horrible high-school background," Coach Jerry Moore said of Welton's low profile the past two years. "I think his team won one game. So in the beginning, he wasn't very self disciplined.

"He didn't know what it was like to work hard. I think he's over the work-hard part, but he's just got to improve as a blocker and improve knowing what to do."

Welton said that his high-school program wasn't totally bad.

"We were good my junior year, now," Welton said. "But my senior year, I weighed 208 and my offensive line was something like 210."

Welton scored three touchdowns against Jacksonville, including two on runs of 44 and 72 yards. He scored the lone touchdown in a season-opening loss to LSU on a 44-yard pass from Armanti Edwards.

"Robert is a very gifted running back," Moore said. "He can do a lot of things that fans will ooh and aah about, but he'll turn right around and miss a blitz. That's when the coaches are not oohing and aahing, and Armanti's not. He's got to become a complete player, but he's a very gifted, very talented football player."

■ Tommy Bowman can be reached at 727-7320 or at tbowman@wsjournal.com.

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Learning: Welton is picking up ASU system

By Tommy Bowman

JOURNAL REPORTER