Rejuvenated RB Stable Ready for 2016

After the Boston College football team's first of three preseason scrimmages last Saturday, head coach Steve Addazio told assembled media, "We've got a nice little stable of running backs right now."

It's not unfamiliar territory for a Boston College squad, which has a history of standout running backs – most recently Doak Walker Award winner and Heisman Trophy finalist Andre Williams.

The group at Addazio's disposal this year is a deep, versatile blend that is focused on a big season after a 2015 campaign that saw one of the nation's most prolific running back corps hobbled the entire season.

Three members of the 2014 unit that ranked 14th nationally and second in the ACC with 254.7 yards per game are now back, healthy and primed for the upcoming 2016 season.

That trio of Tyler Rouse, Myles Willis and Jon Hilliman played only three games together last year: Howard, Florida State and Northern Illinois. In the Eagles' other nine games, at least one of the backs – and in some cases two – were unavailable because of injury, a common and unfortunate theme on the offensive side of the ball last year.

However, with the Eagles' 2016 opener now just two weeks away, Rouse, Willis and Hilliman are primed and ready for a productive season.

The memories of last season have helped spark that desire.

"Once you've been to the deep water, you understand that feeling of what it's like to lose," Willis said. "Walking around campus, knowing that you don't have the same respect as you did the year before, once you go through that, you are going to do whatever it takes not to feel that again."

Willis was Athlon Sports preseason All-America and first-team All-ACC selection in 2015, but he saw his time limited to just nine games and 259 rushing yards because of injuries. In 2014, Willis had 1,316 all-purpose yards. In 2015, he totaled only 360.

Rouse, who was the only member of the returning backfield to appear in all 12 games, saw his all-purpose production rise from 258 yards in 2014 to 580 yards as he shouldered more of the load last year.

"There is such a thin line between winning and losing," he said. "Just to go through last year, and going through that struggle, reset everyone's mind in the offseason that we can't just get through it, we have to attack it."

Hilliman's season-ending injury in game four compounded the issue. Widely cited as a preseason All-ACC selection – including from ESPN, Phil Steele and Athlon Sports – Hilliman started the season slowly but in the Northern Illinois game on Sept. 26, he broke out for 119 rushing yards before departing in the fourth quarter with a foot injury that ended his year.

"Not playing and seeing everything and seeing what we needed to do and not being able to do anything hurt a lot," Hilliman said. "It taught me to really appreciate being out there, talking with the guys, playing, competing. Not being able to do that really gives you a different perspective and makes you appreciate this because you can lose it at any moment."

With 2015 behind the group, anticipation for 2016 is growing among the group.

"Spring ball was great and all, but this is the last go-round before the season starts," Rouse said. "There is high energy in camp.

"Being on that field is probably the best feeling there is. Getting to play in front of thousands and thousands of people, there is just no other feeling like it. I'm really excited to get back out there and playing again with all of my teammates who've worked so hard to improve," he said.

Hilliman added, "Seeing all the new additions to the team and how they gel and how other guys improve and are trying to find their niche on the team, as an older guy, that's what I'm excited for: getting to see the young guys and how different their demeanor is from last season.

"Last season they just expected to be in bowl games because that's where we were before. But now getting to see it from a different perspective lets us see what type of fire they have and what type of motivation they bring to the table. It's going to be fun and I can't wait," he said.

Addazio's options are deep at running back, and that's even before redshirt freshman Davon Jones or sophomore Richard Wilson are mentioned. All of them provide different looks to what stands to be a rejuvenated Eagles offense.

"We run a power running game, so you need that," Addazio said. "Jon Hilliman is a big back with speed and power. Davon has that power. Myles is a home run hitter and Rouse can do it all. When you want to run the ball, you need backs."

And despite a deep, strong, talented bunch, there is just one goal among the running backs: scoring for the Eagles.

"Coming into this year, we have a group of guys who want to play for each other and play for this university," Willis said. "This year, we don't care who is in the end zone because that means the Eagles are in the end zone."

They'll have their first chance to crack the end zone in just 16 days when BC heads across the Atlantic Ocean to not only open the 2016 season, but also the ACC conference slate, against Georgia Tech on Saturday, Sept. 3. Kickoff is set for 7:30 a.m. ET at Dublin's Aviva Stadium.

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Jon Hilliman

Davon Jones

Tyler Rouse

Myles Willis

Richard Wilson

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