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Mississippi State’s Running Back Problem

By Josh Barnhill

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Sep 3, 2016; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs running back Brandon Holloway (10) runs the ball during the second quarter of the game against the South Alabama Jaguars at Davis Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2016; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs running back Brandon Holloway (10) runs the ball during the second quarter of the game against the South Alabama Jaguars at Davis Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /

Right now, Brandon Holloway is the team’s leading rusher from the running back position with 111 yards on 31 carries (3.6 YPC). Three games in – the leader at tailback has 111 yards.

Now, you’d expect a 5′-8″ 165 pound tailback who hasn’t broken one for a long run to be at 111 yards through three games. The trouble is, Dan Mullen is using Holloway as his feature back.

Here’s an example of a Holloway run…

How about another….

More times than not, he runs up the middle. About one third of the time he’ll run to the outside and in those cases he will pick up 5-8 yards. But his overall average is horrible because he’s lucky to get two yards running between the tackles.

Coach Mullen believes his starting tailback should run all the plays a starting tailback runs in his offense. And for some reason, he believes a 165 pound back should be the starter.

Not only is it a head-scratcher that he wants to start a 165 pound RB in the SEC, but he believes Holloway should run all the plays every other RB on the team should run. He’s making no consideration for his skill set.

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