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SALT LAKE CITY — With John White IV sitting out, already having proven himself as the clear cut starter for the Utes after breaking numerous school rushing records last year, four running backs made their case for playing time Saturday at the Red-White game.
Before I dive into that, I do have to make a note that quarterbacks Chase Hansen and Travis Wilson ran the ball extremely effectively. Hansen rushed five times for a team high 36 yards, while Wilson had a nice 16 yard QB keeper down the left sideline, setting up the White team for one of its three scores.
Now, back to the running backs.
Kelvin York, a 5-11, 235-pound junior was the first running back to get a carry. York finished with eight carries for 23 yards. York was quick to hit the open gaps, and broke off a 14 yard carry on the White team's first series.
Former Bingham High star Harvey Langi was next up, and he didn't disappoint. He only got three carries as the Red team was more pass oriented, but Langi picked up 15 bruising yards, continuing to drive his legs and refusing to go down on the first hit. Langi has made vast improvements in his game - finding the open gap quicker and then using his 6-foot-1 228 pound frame to punish defenders.
Two other running backs also made their case for playing time - Lucky Radley and Jarrell Oliver.
Radley, a 5-foot-8 sophomore from Inglewood, Calif., has blazing speed and agility. He picked up 22 yards on just four carries (5.5 avg.), and was able to get around the edge on an eight yard run.
If points on the board is what you are looking for, then Jarrell Oliver is just the guy you need. Oliver found the end zone twice for the White team. The 5-foot-8 210 pound redshirt freshman from Sugar Land, Texas finished with 24 yard on 5 carries.
For now, anyway, it appears that the Utes have some depth at running back, something I'm sure the coaching staff must be pleased with after John White IV broke a school record for rushing attempts last season.
