Troy University Athletics
Troy Football Breakdown – Running Backs
8/23/2022 1:09:00 PM | Football
Loaded with young talent, the Troy running back room features a stable of players who bring a different aspect to the game, from power and finesse to athleticism and elusiveness.
Back leading the charge for the group is third-year sophomore Kimani Vidal, who has rushed for 1,271 yards and nine touchdowns in his career. Joining Vidal in the crowded backfield will be sophomore Jamontez Woods, senior DK Billingsley, redshirt freshman Damien Taylor and junior Charles Strong.
They Said It
Assistant Coach – Brock Hays
"I'm really excited about the room and seeing their growth since the spring. It's a deep room with a lot of talent, which is a good problem to have. We came out of camp healthy, so I'm excited about the season and where we're heading.
"It's very beneficial for us to have such a variety of players with different skill sets because we're going to be able to put guys in different roles. The guys have been packaged into certain personnel things we're doing, and we're excited about them moving forward as we hone in on those skills and highlight them throughout the offense."
Players to Watch
Kimani Vidal returns after starting 11 games in 2021 and averaging 63.7 yards per contest with five touchdowns. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry and had a breakout October where he averaged 120.7 yards per game, best in the Sun Belt and 14th nationally. Jamontez Woods led the Trojans averaging 5.0 yards per carry a season ago and with six touchdowns, he led the Sun Belt averaging a touchdown once every 7.8 carries.
"The thing about Kimani that makes him different is his leadership and his approach to practice," Hays said. "He handles everything like a pro would, beginning with the way he leads. He just does things the right way; it's good to have a guy in the room who can set the edge like that."
Fans can also expect to see senior DK Billingsley, junior Charles Strong and redshirt freshman Damien Taylor in the mix. Billingsley turned in a near 1,000-yard season in 2019 where he rushed for 901 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 75.1 yards per game, but was limited to just 36 carries for 126 yards combined the last two seasons.
Checking in a 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, Strong provides the Trojans with a power option in short-yardage situations, while Taylor's next carry will be his first at the collegiate level after playing special teams down the stretch last season. A finalist for the 7A Back of the Year in 2020 at Tuscaloosa County High School, Taylor rushed for 1,838 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior for the Wildcats.
Position Notes
• Troy returns 74.5 percent of its rushing yards from last season, with the bulk coming from Kimani Vidal and Jamontez Woods. The 2021 season marked the end of a long career for B.J. Smith, who ranks 12th all-time in Troy history with 2,203 career rushing yards.
• For the third straight season, Kimani Vidal has changed his jersey number. He began his career in No. 23 before moving into No. 0 for the 2021 season and finally No. 28 this season.
• Kimani Vidal has rushed for 100-plus yards in consecutive games in each of his first two seasons, including 142 yards on 22 carries at No. 24 Coastal Carolina in 2021.
Parting Shot
"When I think about the strength of the group it is the physical running style that they all possess, which is a big plus when you're talking about good backs who can run the ball, guys who play behind their pads and run through them," Hays said. "We always tell them the first four is for the program; everything else is for you. So having guys that understand that and can carry it out is a big bonus for us heading into the season."
Players Mentioned
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