Few backs against wall for A&M
Fisher finds rusher depth chart at just two
HOUSTON — Jacob Kibodi might have earned plenty of meaningful carries for Texas A&M in the Texas Bowl.
Instead, the running back is adjusting to his new role at the Unversity of the Incarnate Word — one more burly ballcarrier the Aggies (7-5) could’ve used against No. 25 Oklahoma State (8-4) on Friday at NRG Stadium.
A year ago, the Aggies were brimming with quality backs in coach Jimbo Fisher’s run-heavy system. Now they’re converting lanky quarterbacks to help fill out the depth chart. A&M is down to one scholarship running back in true freshman Isaiah Spiller following the absence of sophomore Cordarrian Richardson for the bowl game.
Richardson is not practicing and is not injured but will not play against the Cowboys. Fisher did not reveal why Richardson is a no-show this week, although he’s still a part of the team.
How did it get to this point for the abruptly back-shy Aggies? Multiple setbacks, both largely unavoidable (injuries) and often avoidable (transfers) are many for the Aggies at the key position.
Trayveon Williams, who set the program’s single-season rushing record last year with 1,760 yards, skipped his senior year and was a sixth-round selection of the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL draft.
Jashaun Corbin, Williams’ primary backup last season, entered the year as the clear starter, but his promising sophomore year was cut short in the second game because of a hamstring injury that required surgery.
The physically imposing Kibodi was given a chance to take over the role early in the season with a couple of starts against Lamar and Auburn. But he only squeezed out 112 yards on 28 carries over the span of four games against Lamar, Auburn, Arkansas and Alabama.
Kibodi faded from view as Spiller emerged as the weekly starter. The former Klein Collins
star leads the team in rushing with 869 yards, nearly four times as many as the Aggies’ next true running back. Last week, Kibodi landed at Incarnate Word.
“(He’ll) come in and make an impact immediately in the running game,” UIW coach Eric Morris said.
Even following Corbin’s season-ending injury, redshirt freshman Deneric Prince in September entered the NCAA transfer portal, cutting into the Aggies’ depth but not their carries. Prince had not recorded a rushing attempt this season when he exited the program after three games.
Going into the season the Aggies already were missing touted sophomore Vernon Jackson, whose career ended following a neck injury in spring practice. Jackson, who chose A&M over Alabama, rushed for 2,560 yards and 33 touchdowns as a high school senior at Boling in the fall of 2017.
Last January the Aggies dripped with quality running backs, even with Williams exiting the program. That’s why one of Fisher’s first signees, Charles Strong, opted to transfer to Troy. This week, the Aggies could use a sturdy back like Strong.
Last spring, the Chronicle offered a projected depth chart for the Aggies at running back — Corbin, Kibodi, Richardson, Prince and Jackson — and not a single one is practicing with the team this week in Houston (although Jackson is still onboard in serving as a student assistant).
It all falls on the broad shoulders of Spiller, son of former A&M tight end Fred Spiller.
“He’s been huge,” A&M quarterback Kellen Mond said. “To see where he’s come from after he didn’t enroll early and learning a whole new offense … I only look for him to get better next year — and in this bowl game.”
Corbin, too, surprisingly entered the transfer portal this month. Fisher said that status can change, however, in citing the return of tight end Glenn Beal from the portal and back to practice.
Fisher signed two running backs last week in the early signing period, but neither Devon Achane of Fort Bend Marshall or Deondre Jackson from Stone Mountain, Ga., can help the Aggies in the Texas Bowl.
The Aggies also are hoping to add at least one more running back in early February during the traditional signing period, perhaps unpredictable five-star prospect Zach Evans of Galena Park North Shore.
Fisher, who has relied heavily on the run game both at Florida State and now A&M, converted rangy quarterback Connor Blumrick to running back as the season wore on. Now the former Pearland standout is second on the depth chart behind Spiller, who’s earned double-digit carries in each of the last seven games after having only one such outing in the Aggies’ first five contests.
“He got thrown into a fire and had to learn on the run, which is very hard,” Fisher said of Spiller, who’s 6-1 and 220 pounds. “He has size and speed and can catch the ball.”
A versatile contributor like receiver Ainias Smith, too, could step in and help at running back as a downthe-line resort.
“We feel good about what we’ve got,” Fisher said Monday in not tipping his hand on who could fill in for Spiller and Blumrick should the situation arise.