Spring Outlook: The Running Backs

AMES, Iowa - Spring football practice begins on March 8 and Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell will get his first chance to work with his players in preparation for the 2016 season. Campbell sat down with Cyclones.com to preview each position. Today we look at the running backs.

Synopsis
Matt Campbell is definitely excited about the centerpiece of this unit Mike Warren (6-0, 200, So.#, Lawton, Okla.), a player he recruited hard while he was the head coach at Toledo.

Warren burst onto the national scene as a redshirt freshman in 2015, leading all NCAA rookies in rushing with 1,339 yards, the fifth-best single-season total in school history. Warren, who was as a consensus freshman All-American and Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, had six 100-yard games in 2015, including a 245-yard effort vs. Texas Tech.

What's even more impressive about Warren's season stats is that he received only nine carries in the first two games. He averaged 131.7 rushing yards in conference games, the best average in the Big 12 vs. league competition.

Finding a capable backup for Warren will be a priority in the fall. The Cyclones will once again rely on Mitchell Harger (5-10, 200, Sr.#, Alburnett, Iowa) in the spring. Harger, who was one of ISU's stars in the 2015 spring game, had six rushes for 34 yards in 2015.

Sheldon Croney Jr. (5-11, 212, Fr.#, Bakersfield, Calif.), who redshirted last year while nursing a hand injury, is another player to keep an eye on in the spring.

The following Cyclones will also likely get reps this spring: Clifford Kwaw-Mensah (5-7, 183, So.#, Ames, Iowa), Brian Bonacci (5-11, 222, Sr.#, Southlake, Texas), Nick Leach (6-2, 200, So.#, Woodbury, Minn.) and Justin Webster (6-1, 229, Jr.#, Houston, Texas).

Campbell On The Running Backs
“We will be really thin at running back this spring. But that's not an excuse from our standpoint. Mike Warren has to get better. Obviously, he had a great year last year. He has a ton of ability but there's still room for improvement. With Mike, it will be about getting bigger, stronger and more physical. I think it's also the mentality of being the guy that everybody is going to be aiming to stop. I think there's a lot of areas that he can continue to grow. After that, we have Sheldon Croney Jr. Sheldon is getting healthy and I think he is going to be able to play football for us next year. It's just a matter of where will Sheldon play? Whether it's at tailback or potentially on the defensive side of the ball, a lot of that depends on his hand. I've really liked what I've seen on video of Mitchell Harger. I like what I've seen on film with how he fits into our offense. So, I don't think the cupboard is totally bare. It will be really interesting to see who comes out of that area. I know Clifford Kwaw-Mensah is a walk-on guy that has shown potential from Coach Lou (Ayeni). They're some guys that can carry the ball that haven't carried the ball.”

Players Mentioned

Brian Bonacci

Sheldon Croney Jr.

Mitchell Harger

Clifford Kwaw-Mensah

Nick Leach

Mike Warren

Justin Webster

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