Running back Van is the man for Edmonton
Travon Van didn’t want it to happen this way, but he knows what his role is as the Edmonton Eskimos starting running back.
With John White’s season-ending torn ACL, Van is now The Man for the Eskies, taking over as the starter in Week 2 when he had 17 carries for 50 yards and a touchdown in a 23-19 win over Montreal.
“I was sad for John. I was rooting for him to go get the rushing title, he’s a great back,” said Van on Thursday. “But when your number’s called, you have to be ready to step up and make a play.”
It was against the Alouettes in Week 2 a year ago when Van, who became the Ottawa Redblacks’ lead back after William Powell’s season-ending ruptured Achilles, was injured (knee). Before getting hurt, Van had 12 carries for 86 yards and was looking like he’d be a breakout player. He wound up with 81 carries for 422 yards.
“What he brings is explosiveness,” said Eskimos GM Brock Sunderland, the former Redblacks assistant GM. “He can line up at wide receiver, he’s a good blocker. Game 2 last year, I think that’s just scratching the surface. On top of that, he’s a really good person, he’s an extremely hard worker and he’s really smart. We think the sky’s the limit with him.”
It’s not like Van is going to catch anybody off guard with what he can do while he’s clutching a football.
“I talk to other people in the league, they’re always aware of him — they know the speed, the elusiveness and the downhill running style,” said Sunderland. “Maybe with fans and that type of stuff, he flies under the radar, but I think everybody in the industry is pretty aware what his skill set is.”
Van is looking forward to facing several of his former teammates, with the Redblacks facing the Eskimos (10 p.m. EST Friday).
“There will be some emotions flying high because it is my old team, but I have to focus on the task at hand — that’s going out there, executing and getting the win,” he said.