VIDEO: Coaches In Cars Getting Coffee – Lenoard Weaver and the Running Backs
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the first part in an eight-part series chronicling Carson-Newman football's positions for the 2023 season. This feature breaks down the Eagle ball carriers with the assistance of running backs coach Leonard Weaver.
Last year, Carson-Newman was breaking in a largely new running back room. In 2023, Carson-Newman returns all but one carry by its running backs.
"The confidence is through the roof," Weaver said. "We know what these guys can do and it's been great to learn and grow. We can take our game to the next level. We got the basics out of the way, now its time to build on that base."
The Eagles bring back four backs who all rushed from between 200 and 500 yards last year. TJ King, Tyree Nelson and Tyler Curtis all tallied 100-yard rushing performances on the season. King led the tro with 496 yards, with Curtis and Nelson following suit with 436 and 411, respectively. Vonte Brackett was the fourth back on the plus side of 200 yards in 2022.
Nelson and King both earned All-SAC honors for their efforts.
Carson-Newman's fourth-leading rusher in 2022, Nelson was nicked up in the middle of the year, but still recovered to rush for 41.1 yards per game and 411 yards on 76 carries. He had a team-best 5.4 yards per rush. He also caught 12 passes for 75 yards.
"Tyree's ability to retain and learn is a lot stronger," Weaver said. "The biggest key for any back at any level is what information you can gain in the offseason as you get ready. This offseason has been great for him to revisit some film and see where he can get better. He's beginning to make those corrections based off that film."
Nelson led Carson-Newman in all-purpose yardage for the year. He finished the year with 893 yards when one factors in his 407 kick return yards. The freshman's top performance was an 89-yard day against Newberry (10/1). He caught a career-high four passes for 41 yards against Emory & Henry (10/29). He hit triple-digits in all-purpose yards in five games, topping out at 140 yards against the Wolves. He found the end zone three times on the season against Franklin Pierce (9/10), Newberry and Emory & Henry (10/29).
King was Carson-Newman's second-leading rusher in 2022, tallying 496 yards on 108 carries. He tallied four touchdowns and averaged 49.6 yards per game. The sophomore had one, 100-yard game on the season, when he rushed for 100 yards on 17 carries against Erskine. He tallied one of his four touchdowns on the year against the Flying Fleet. He also found the end zone against West Georgia (9/1), Limestone (9/17) and at Tusculum (10/8). King's long rush of 34 yards went for six against the Wolves. He had five games where he rushed for at least 50 yards and four carries that covered at least 20 yards.
"Every guy brings something to the table," Weaver said. "TC can run and catch the ball and has some versatility. Vonte is a prototypical big back who's good between the tackles. TJ is a workhorse who is gonna give you a constant five to seven yards a touch."
Curtis wrapped up the season as the Eagles' third-leading rusher. He was one of three offensive skill players to appear in all 11 games for the Eagles. He started in five of those contests. Curtis ran for 448 yards on 81 carries for a team-best 5.4 yards a tote. He found the end zone four times while averaging 39.6 yards per game. Curtis tallied 103 yards on the ground in the regular season finale at Catawba (Nov. 12). He did that on 11 touches and season-long 40 yard run. He found the end zone twice against the Indians and twice against No. 9 Newberry in the Eagles' upset win on Oct. 1. He ran for more than 50 yards in four games. Curtis also caught two passes for 15 yards.
A road-grader of a tailback for Carson-Newman, Brackett appeared in eight games with three starts. He finished the year fifth on the team in rushing with 211 yards on 44 carries. He had a long rush of 27 yards and averaed 4.7 yards a rush and 25.2 yards a game. His most productive day on the ground came against Limestone (Sept. 17) when he carried the ball 10 times for 61 yards. Both his longest rush of the season and his lone touchdown of the year came against the Saints.
Weaver also touted the talents of Jayden Sullins, who is eligible after a year off football.
"We'll find out quickly about Jayden," Weaver said. "He's a specimen and hungry. He's driven because of the time he spent away. He has a desire to be great."
Appeared in seven games as a reserve running back. Sullins carried the ball seven times for 29 yards. The bulk of his work came against Limestone when he carried the ball five times for 22 yards. Sullins was a prolific kick returner. He brought back 11 kicks for 309 yards with a long return of 53 yards against Mars Hill. He brought back four kicks for 118 yards against Lenoir-Rhyne.
Carson-Newman's position previews continue Friday with a glimpse of the receivers with help from Justin Zimmerman.
