A year ago the BYU football team was expected to have the best rushing attack of the Edwards Era.
In reality, it was one of the worst.After Jamal Willis and Kalin Hall combined for 1,746 yards rushing in 1992, Quarterback U. was threatening to be taken over by the ground attack in '93. But Willis and Hall, thanks in large part to nagging injuries, didn't live up to preseason billing and the Cougar running game was near non-existent at times. For the season BYU averaged just 2.9 yards per rushing attempt. The Cougars were dead last in the WAC in rushing per game.
Regaining the semblance of a running attack is a priority for LaVell Edwards and company this fall.
"We have to establish a running attack," Edwards said. "I thought we'd do a lot better job last year, but due to injury and whatever else it never materialized. It's something we're working hard on this fall. We should have a much improved running attack."
Hall, who led all Cougar rushers with 567 yards last year, has graduated as has backup halfback Steve Christensen.
Still, BYU has the personnel in the backfield to put together a solid running game with Willis leading the way. The 6-3 Las Vegas native with a slashing style and breakaway ability became the first Cougar in 20 years to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season two years ago. Last season he settled for 404 yards on the ground.
"People are going to see the Jamal they saw as a sophomore and more," says Willis, now a senior. "It's was hard last year because you can't play your best you're limping most of the time, but I'm 100-percent now. People haven't seen all that I can do - this year I'm going to show them."
The starting fullback will be junior Hema Heimuli, if he can stay healthy. Heimuli showed flashes of brilliance last season, but a knee injury and a broken index finger slowed him. Backups fullbacks include junior T.D. Biegel and senior Chad Knowles.
Mark Atuaia, who was the third leading rusher on the 1991 team with 361 yards, is back for his sophomore year after serving a mission and is expected to contribute immediately. Tefua Bloomfield, a redshirt freshman out of Hunter High, was impressive during spring practices as was another freshman, Kalani Fifita. Tony Hicks, a redshirt freshman out of Alabama, was playing well during the spring before he was seriously injured his knee and suffered a broken leg.
Overall, the Cougar running backs have the potential to be among the WAC's best, but the same was true last season and they didn't get the job done. Assuming BYU's rushing attack improves from what it did last season, the grade here is a solid B.