Crowded Backfield
July 26, 2007 10:02 AM | General
July 26, 2007
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University junior Ed Collington knows what he’s up against for playing time this fall in the Mountaineers' crowded backfield. He’s essentially the forgotten man among a group of players that includes a Heisman trophy candidate and one of the top high school running backs in the country.
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| Ed Collington runs to daylight against Georgia Tech in the 2007 Toyota Gator Bowl in Jacksovnille, Fla.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks |
Collington says he’s looking forward to the challenge this fall.
“I love competition and that’s the reason why I came to West Virginia,” he said Wednesday afternoon. “We compete here and that’s part of the game.”
Even though Coach Rich Rodriguez has been reluctant to name his starters it’s pretty safe to assume that Steve Slaton is a lock as West Virginia’s top running back. Sophomore Eddie Davis came on strong last spring and impressed the coaching staff with his tough running and outstanding straight-ahead speed.
Fullback Owen Schmitt is becoming more of a hybrid player this year by also taking some snaps at tight end, but his greatest value to the team remains running the football and serving as a lead blocker on isos and sweeps.
And then there’s Noel Devine, who ran for 6,842 yards and 92 touchdowns against Florida high school defenses. Devine was a three-time first-team Class 5A all-stater and was the Fort Myers News-Press area player of the year in 2006 after running for 2,148 yards and 31 touchdowns.
“He’s real quick -- I work out with him sometimes. He’s a nice kid, too,” Collington said. “Hopefully we can get him into the mix this fall and blow these other people out of the water when the season comes.”
Collington has impressive credentials, too, running for more than 1,700 yards and scoring 22 touchdowns as a senior at Penn Hill High School. After sitting out a year to concentrate on academics in 2005, a nagging ankle injury kept Collington off the field for most of 2006.
“It took a while to heal,” Collington said. “I was trying to practice on it and run on it instead of trying to rest it. But I’m 100 percent right now so I’m ready to go.”
Collington did get some important PT in last year’s Gator Bowl victory over Georgia Tech when Slaton’s deep thigh bruise eventually forced him to the sidelines. Collington finished the game with 26 yards on six carries, including a long run of 14 yards. It wasn’t much, but it certainly was therapeutic.
“It gave me confidence within myself … knowing I can be out there playing with those guys and actually be able to do something positive to help the team and help them win,” Collington said. “I plan on carrying that over into this season as well.”
What Collington offers is a little different than West Virginia’s other runners that might be a step quicker and a little shiftier. Collington is bigger -- 6 feet and 205 pounds -- and is probably a little more equipped to run through the rose bushes.
“We’ve got a lot of short, shifty guys and I’m probably pretty much more of a power runner,” Collington said. “But I think I can do it all. I can maneuver as well and I’ll be happy to get out there this fall.”
Collington believes he is also a capable pass receiver – a trait that is becoming increasingly valuable in Rodriguez’s always-evolving offense.
“I’m confident catching the ball out of the backfield. I did it all during high school and since I’ve been here,” Collington said. “I have good hands so I don’t think that’s a problem for me.”
Three years in the Mountaineer system has helped the junior get a fuller understanding of the offense. Collington says quarterback Patrick White and Slaton have helped fill in the remaining pieces.
“I’ve been watching film during the off-season, going over plays with Pat White and Steve,” Collington said. “I think that is one of my strong points this year.
“There are still a lot of things I need to learn and things I need to go over but I feel pretty comfortable where I’m at right now,” Collington said. “Hopefully I can get stronger at what I know.”
Collington says it’s not a problem playing alongside one of college football’s top runners in Slaton.
“We work together and we play together; we’re a team -- just hold the rope and cheer each other on,” said Collington, adding, “I’m willing to battle. I came here to play.”
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