East Carolina has settled on Brandon Jackson as its starting running back for Saturday's season-opener game against Appalachian State, but it might be the depth behind him that has Coach Skip Holtz feeling so good about his backfield.
Jackson, a transfer from Kentucky, maintained his hold on the top spot through preseason drills after a strong spring. Dominique Lindsay also is expected to start in two-back sets after fighting back from a knee injury, and he and Jackson lead a group that includes two talented backs who have had injury or off-field issues and a junior-college transfer who has played well enough in the preseason to make the two-deep depth chart.
Barring the unluckiest run of injuries, backfield depth shouldn't be a problem for the Pirates.
"Every day they go out and compete for their job," Holtz said. "There is no, ‘I've made it.' You don't make it. You keep competing every day and as soon as you stop or stand still, someone's going past you."
Jackson entered preseason camp as the No. 1 back after a spring in which he ran hard from the start. A 5-10, 200-pound sophomore, he injured his right thumb in a recent team scrimmage, but Holtz said he expects Jackson to be ready to play.
Lindsay, a 5-10, 200-pound senior, missed last season after he was injured in preseason drills, but Holtz said that he has come back bigger, stronger and faster.
The Pirates are hoping that Jackson and Lindsay can help the team do better most notably in short-yardage situations. Yet that burden might fall as much on the backs behind them, from JuCo transfer Giavanni Ruffin to Jonathan Williams -- who seemed to have taken the lead role last year before being suspended for various legal issues.
The depth chart doesn't mention junior Norman Whitley, another talented back who ran for nearly 700 yards and four touchdowns last year. Holtz said that Whitley fell behind early in camp as he recovered from a hip injury, but that he has the experience to figure into the rotation.
Ruffin, who transferred from College of the Sequoias in California, is the backup to Lindsay.
Williams ran for 380 yards and five touchdowns in seven games last season. When Holtz reinstated him before preseason workouts, he told Williams that he would have to work his way up from the bottom of the depth chart. He will be Jackson's backup against ASU.
"He's out there every day and working hard," Holtz said. "He wants to get on the field, but he also sees the guys in front of him. Giavanni Ruffin is a junior-college player and wants to play. Brandon Jackson sat for a year after transferring and wants to play. Dominique Lindsay sat out because of a knee, and he's probably the most excited. They take advantage of every day out on that field."
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