Previewing Indiana Football's Running Back Room

When head coach Curt Cignetti took over the Indiana Football program, he intentionally favored productivity over anything else. That was clear as he and his staff rebuilt the running back room in Bloomington.

Indiana football's running back room features all transfers this fall. No running back was on the roster last season. That might not be a bad thing.

The two running backs that followed Cignetti from James Madison, Kaelon Black and Ty Son Lawton, were the Dukes' two leading rushers last season. Wake Forest transfer Justice Ellison was second in rushing for the Demon Deacons last year. North Carolina transfer Elijah Green was hampered by injuries last year but had over 500 rushing yards as a redshirt sophomore.

Which running back is going to take the most snaps this fall? The short answer is it will be a "by-committee" approach by offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan. During spring, all of the running backs performed well but no one has taken the job.

“I think that group definitely caught my eye,” Cignetti said after the spring game. “I just think our running back room is faster, more dynamic, good at pass pro, good at catching the ball out of the backfield, can break tackles. We have more speed and athleticism back there. All three of those guys just love football. They're football nuts. Tough guys. They're tough guys.”

Here's a look at the running back room: