Over the past four seasons, either Kevin Parks or Taquan Mizzell carried the football 875 times for the Virginia football team. That produced a 1,000-yard rusher when Parks eclipsed that mark in 2013 and nearly that many yards again when Mizzell landed at 940 in 2016.
Along the way, the Cavaliers sprinkled in touches for Khalek Shepherd, Albert Reid, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Darius Jennings among others. Still, through two coaching staffs and 48 games, Parks and Mizzell shouldered the load in the orange and blue.
That’s about to change. Mizzell joined Parks in the former Hoo category at the end of last season so in coach Bronco Mendenhall’s second season at the helm, a new face – or faces – will emerge in the running game. A pair of experienced backs appears to be leading the way, while a pair of early enrollees and a safety switching positions get into the mix this spring as well.
The chance to be a leader at the running back position with increased responsibility in the offense is a welcome sight to Jordan Ellis and Daniel Hamm. Ellis, a junior, and Hamm, a redshirt senior, have embraced the challenge this offseason.
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