Bad-luck Bulldogs quickly running out of backs

At the start of preseason practice, Citadel football coach Kevin Higgins was hoping for a running back to step up.

Now, he's hoping for a running back to take a step without getting hurt.

The Bulldogs lost their top two running backs to broken bones during practice Monday, continuing a remarkable run of bad fortune at the position for The Citadel.

With Rickey Anderson lost to a broken leg and freshman Van Dyke Jones to a broken bone in his hand on Monday, a pair of walk-on freshmen -- Remi Biakabutuka and Bucky Kennedy -- were running with the first team Tuesday morning.

"Every day, I've got to look at the depth chart to see who is lining up today," Higgins said with a grim smile.

Higgins said he was not sure how long Anderson will be out, but the redshirt sophomore already has two reconstructed knees. Jones had a cast on his left hand Tuesday and should be back in a week or two. The Bulldogs open the season Sept. 5 at No. 21 North Carolina.

"It's unfortunate for Rickey, because he really is a great kid and has been working hard," Higgins said.

With sophomore Terrell Dallas coming back from knee surgery and not expected to be available until after the North Carolina game, Higgins is suddenly looking at starting a walk-on freshman against the Tar Heels.

"Remi and Bucky are two guys we have to look at now," he said. "And Christian Graham also. Those three are going to get a lot of work right now, and we'll see which one of them can emerge."

Biakabutuka, 5-8 and 180 pounds, is the younger brother of former Michigan and NFL star Tim Biakabutuka. Remi played at his older brother's former prep school, Vanier College in

Canada, but had no scholarship offers. Kennedy is a 5-10, 193-pounder who played at Ridge View High School in Columbia. Graham is a 5-6, 165-pound redshirt freshman from Dorman High School who also runs track.

Another possibility is using redshirt freshman quarterback Miguel Starks, 6-2 and 219 pounds, at other positions in the Bulldogs' spread option offense. That is complicated by the fact that starting quarterback Bart Blanchard is sidelined with a sprained ankle.

"A guy like Miguel, we are going to have to get him some touches of the football, whether that's at quarterback or running and catching the football," Higgins said. "The good thing about a quarterback is that he knows the responsibilities of all the skill-position guys, so we hope we can get to the point where Miguel can be a quarterback and learn the running back position for certain plays, swing passes and tosses, and be able to use him doing that."

Higgins said he was not sure how Jones was hurt Monday. Anderson was tackled high and low during a red-zone drill Monday morning.

"He got himself in an awkward situation with his leg and went down," Higgins said.

Monday's double-whammy continued a run of bad luck that has seen seven running backs leave the program or get injured since last season.

Last year's leading rusher, Asheton Jordan, left school after an honor violation and is at South Carolina State. Backup Cody Wilson transferred to Division II California (Pa.). Fullback Ryan Williams left the team in midseason last year. John Shaw, a transfer from Northern Iowa, suffered a career-ending knee injury before ever suiting up for the Bulldogs. And then Dallas, Anderson and Jones suffered their injuries.

On top of that, All-America receiver Andre Roberts is still out with a sprained ankle, and defensive end Dewitt Jones was out Tuesday with an elbow problem. No wonder Higgins gave his squad a pep talk after practice Tuesday.

"I told them, we've got a decision to make," he said. "We can respond positively or negatively. If the team rallies around these young guys and encourages them and everybody steps up, then we'll come out of it the right way."

--Blanchard threw balls Monday and Tuesday. Higgins hopes he and Roberts will be back in time for Saturday's scrimmage.

The Citadel has had seven running backs leave the program or get injured since last season:

Name/Status

Asheton Jordan/Found guilty of honor violation; now at S.C. State

Ryan Williams/Left team in mid-season last year

Cody Wilson/Transferred to D-II California (Pa.)

Terrell Dallas/Tore ACL against Florida last year

John Shaw/Career-ending knee injury

Rickey Anderso/Broke his leg Monday

Van Dyke Jones/Broke a bone in his hand Monday