Replacing Dixon; Previewing Tech's Running Backs

It was hard to get experience playing behind Kenneth Dixon the last couple of years at Louisiana Tech. For both Boston Scott and Jarred Craft, they took full advantage of the opportunities they were presented. Heading into 2016, the ball is now in their hands and it’s up to them who gets the most touches. In Louisiana Tech’s offense, it’s safe to assume both will get their fair share of chances.

Craft, a junior from Haughton, has been Dixon’s primary backup the past two seasons. The 215 pounder rushed for 294 yards and 4 touchdowns as a true freshman and backed that up with 230 yards and 1 TD as a sophomore. To his credit, he upped his YPC to 4.0 from just 3.5 as a freshman.

Craft caught 9 passes for 60 yards in 2015 as well, including a touchdown. His ability to catch the ball out of the backfield is a must in Skip Holtz’s offense, but Craft is not unique in this ability.

In the 2016 Spring Game, Craft caught 1 pass for 26 yards. Boston Scott, with one career reception to his name, caught 8 passes for 84 yards in the spring game. Scott, pretty much an unknown outside of the die-hard Bulldog fans, burst onto the scene in Tech’s bowl victory over Arkansas State.

Boston Scott had 275 yards rushing in 2015, and 105 of those yards were in the bowl game (on just 4 carries.) Scott also had 10 carries for 55 yards against Mississippi State. The 5-6 195-pound redshirt junior has been catching attention in practice the last couple of years, but that Mississippi State game was really his first chance to do it on the field.

Nobody is replacing Kenneth Dixon, but both Craft and Scott have some characteristics needed for success. Craft has more size at 6-0 and has been threw a couple of offseason conditioning and weight lifting cycles. Always a steady back, if Craft can show a little more speed and explosion, he can be in for a big year. Scott, on the other hand, is a low to the ground, "keep-those-legs-moving", kind of back. He can make people miss, but he can also move the pile a little bit.

Jaqwis Dancy, a 5-11, 190-pound sophomore, got most of his experience as a kick returner last season. He was having a great spring before missing the spring game with possible concussion symptoms. Dancy isn’t as big of a load as Craft or Scott, but he is one of the fastest players on the team. Look for Dancy to have an expanded role in the offense this fall.

Three heads may be better than one in most cases, but for LA Tech it may be too many. Craft and Dancy could both line up some in the slot to get more speed on the field. Whatever playing time they get, it’s likely to be more than they got in 2015. All of these guys are sure to be chomping at the bit to get on the field after seeing all of Dixon’s successes in 2014 and 2015. The three of them may not be able to match Dixon’s production, but they should give Holtz more than enough to succeed.

Israel Tucker, fresh of leading Archbishop Rummel to an appearance in the State Championship game, will also get a look in fall camp. The 5-9, 189-pounder had nearly 1,000 yards rushing and 500 yards receiving as a high school senior.

The Bulldogs have a veteran offensive line to run behind and they are breaking in a new quarterback, so these red and blue backs will likely be called on early and often this season. They may be black and blue by the time the season comes to an end, but that will probably be just fine with them. All they want is a chance and this is their time.