With the beginning of spring football practice just a few weeks away, ODUSports.com will preview each position before the first day of practice. Today's preview we take a look at the running backs.
Running Back
Ray Lawry burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2014, rushing for 947 yards and 16 touchdowns en route to earning Conference USA Freshman of the Year honors. Lawry had five 100-yard rushing games, including a career-high 213 in the season finale win at Florida Atlantic. Lawry set single-season school records in rushing yards and yards per carry, at 7.1 per rush.
The Returners
Lawry will enter his first spring practice as the clear No. 1 back after his first year on the field. With the departure of Taylor Heinicke, Lawry will look for an increased role in 2015.
Fellow sophomore Vincent Lowe will move to running back after spending the majority of 2014 as a wide receiver. Lowe caught 14 passes for 69 yards and had eight rushing attempts for 36 yards. Lowe has the speed to be a breakaway back for the Monarchs.
Walk-on sophomore Brandon Simmons played in seven games last season, seeing action on special teams. He has had a great off-season so far and the coaching staff is high on his development.
The Newcomers
Freshman Jeremy Cox joins the Monarchs from Fork Union Military Academy. Cox was a three-star recruit coming out of South View High School in North Carolina where he rushed for 1,300 yards as a senior.
By The Numbers
947: Rushing yards for Ray Lawry in 2014, setting the ODU single-season record.
36: Number of rushing yards by Vincent Lowe, the only other running back besides Lawry with a collegiate carry.
637: Number of rushing yards Lawry needs to pass Colby Goodwyn as the school’s all-time leading rusher.
4: Rushing touchdowns scored by Lawry at WKU, tying the single-game record with Thomas DeMarco.