Damerea Crockett and Missouri’s running game are poised for a break-out season in 2017. In 2016, the Tigers’ running backs performed well, save from injuries and a suspension.
Running backs are a staple in any offense, or at least they should be. For Missouri, running backs Damerea Crockett and Ish Witter contributed to offensive success in 2016.
In 2016, Crockett carried the ball 153 times and collected 1,062 yards and 10 touchdowns for Missouri’s efforts on offense.
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Witter complemented Crockett with 162 carries for 750 yards and six touchdowns.
But for Crockett’s off-field woes and Witter’s nagging shoulder issues which limited his availability at times, Missouri would have turned in a more impressive performance on the ground.
It looks like 2017 will be the year that we are able to see, at the very least, a repeat performance of Crockett’s 2016 campaign.
I’m torn on Witter, though. Splitting the workload with Crockett in 2016, it doesn’t seem likely that he will surpass 1,000 yards rushing. At the very least, we can expect him to match his 2016 numbers.
Looking at Missouri’s future at running back, there seems to be a couple of exciting prospects on the roster, already.
Nate Strong returns for his junior year, and provides a change of pace option in the rotation. In 2016, Strong contributed 137 yards on 32 carries, and two touchdowns.
Newcomers Dawson Downing and Jerney Jones are exciting additions to the Missouri backfield.
In two seasons at Miege, Dawson collected 3,859 yards rushing and 73 touchdowns. Meanwhile, Jones amassed similarly impressive numbers, with 1,409 yards and 14 touchdowns in his junior year, and then eclipsed that performance with 1,900 yards and 32 touchdowns as a senior.
Check out some of Downing’s highlights from 2016, and you’ll understand how he was able to gain so many stats in a short timespan.
Jones was no slouch, either. From his highlights, you can see that he fought for every yard he gained. Both he and Downing have the potential to inherit the backfield, in time.
With two proven pieces in Crockett and Witter ready to lead the charge for the Tigers, it will be fun to see how the coaching staff incorporates the new backs into the offensive game plan.