Written by: Teddy Feinberg/Sun-News Sports Editor
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The way things are shaping out at New Mexico State football camp, running back looks to be a position of strength heading into the 2008 season.
The Aggies can thank Seth Smith for bolstering the depth chart.
The College of the Sequoias transfer has been a solid contributor this spring, as he continues to try and learn the nuances of the NMSU's pass-happy offensive system.
"Seth's kind of the tweener out of all the running backs we have," NMSU head coach Hal Mumme said. "Brandon (Perez) is big and strong. Tonny (Glynn) is our fast guy out of the backfield. And Seth's a little bit of everything. He sees holes and creases real well. I like what he's brought to our team so far."
Mumme didn't even mention another running back Marquell Colston, who wide receiver A.J. Harris said is a good player coming out of Modesto Junior College in California.
Colston, who has yet to join the Aggies, will come to NMSU before their Sept. 4, Week 1 contest against Nicholls State.
"We have three running backs that are all great and should fit in well," Harris said. "They'll be helpful to the offense."
Smith came in highly touted out of the JUCO ranks. Last season, he rushed for 580 yards on 122 carries and 14 touchdowns. His efforts gave him a Top-10 ranking among junior college running backs on Rivals.com heading into the recruiting season.
Smith said that at the beginning of last year, Division I programs such as Florida State, North Carolina and Washington State courted his services but cooled off as the signing period wore on. NMSU, on the other hand, never wavered in their approach toward acquiring the 5-foot-8, 200 pound bruiser from Oakland, Calif.
"The Aggies showed a commitment to me," Smith said. "It seemed true, it seemed for real. Now, I'm here."
Smith's past pedigree has seen him in run-oriented offenses in the past and he said that one of his main priorities this spring has been learning pass protection schemes in an effort to protect quarterback Chase Holbrook when the opposition brings the blitz.
Smith said, at the end of the day, he's most concerned with NMSU putting points on the board and he will do whatever it takes to see things through.
"I think my job is to make sure we score, any means necessary," Smith said. "Whether it be blocking in the passing game or scoring on the run. I just want to see us get in the endzone."
Mumme said that Smith could also be a goalline threat for the Aggies.
"I could see him coming in during those situations," Mumme said. "He scored a few times from there during our scrimmage last weekend."
Smith will surely be asked to catch the ball out of the backfield as well. Last year, NMSU's running backs caught a combined 58 passes for 376 yards on a variety of screens, shovel passes and dumpoffs.
While 2007 contributors Justine Buries and Jeremiah Williams both departed in the offseason, Smith could be asked to pick up the load.
"I've had opportunities to catch balls in the past and I'm sure I'll be doing that here a lot," Smith said. "Things like screens and wheel routes, we run those. I should see the ball."
Him, as well as the other Aggie runners.
Teddy Feinberg can be reached at tfeinberg@lcsun-news.com
