EWU expects spirited duel at running back

This is the second in an eight-part series on spring football at Eastern Washington. Today: the running backs. Eastern Washington running backs Jabari Wilson and Jalen Moore got a fleeting taste of success last year. Now they want more. No surprise there, considering they’re the Eagles’ top returning backs. “We’re the guys now,” Wilson said last week as spring practice opened at Roos Field – without the departed Quincy Forte and Mario Brown, the leading rushers last year. Wilson and Moore are ready for the challenge. After all, they’ve confronted a few already. Going into their redshirt junior years, Wilson and Moore have seen the highest peaks and the lowest valleys – sometimes in the same week. It’s easy to forget that Wilson, a 5-foot-11, 200-pounder from Carson, California, was the starting back for the Eagles’ epic win at Oregon State in 2013. A week later, he was sidelined by a pulled hamstring. Last year, injuries limited him to 12 carries in the first 12 games. Then, in the regular-season finale at Portland State, he ran for a career-high 132 yards and three touchdowns to help the Eagles clinch the Big Sky Conference regular-season title. “That was past due,” said Wilson, who ended up with 237 yards and five scores on 51 carries last season. “It was a killer being injured, but I was able to go out there and help us get a victory.” Moore’s story is similar. With backup quarterback Jordan West in his first start following an injury to Vernon Adams Jr., Moore took the pressure off West by rushing 22 times for 133 yard and two touchdowns in a 42-30 win at Southern Utah. A week later against Northern Colorado, he had 25 carries for 97 yards. Then he caught the flu and got just 10 more carries the rest of the season. Moore managed to finish with 81 carries for 381 yards and five scores. “My big thing now is to stay healthy,” said the 5-11, 195-pound Moore. “I get a rhythm going and then something happens. God forbid nothing happens again.” The bottom line: Expect a healthy rivalry at running back this year – provided the players can stay healthy. “I have to stop being the victim and start being the aggressor,” Wilson said. Also in spring camp is redshirt senior Jordan Talley, who started his Eastern career at running back before spending two seasons at linebacker. Now he’s back. “I grew up carrying the ball,” said the 5-10, 200-pound Talley. “So I’m glad to be back on this side of the ball and bring some productivity. For all the backs, productivity in the passing game figures to be a priority. Last year, Forte and Brown combined for 22 catches for 169 yards. The rest of the backs had just five, for 43 yards. Redshirt freshman Ashanti Kindle (5-11, 200) also is in spring camp, along with newcomers Samuel Mintah and Colin Cosette. The Eagles signed high schoolers Sam McPherson (5-10, 190 from Bothell, Washington) and Malcolm Williams Jr. (5-10, 175, Fresno, California). Next: Part three, the wide receivers