In a previous article I predicted freshman running back Xavier Finney would be the starting running back by the end of the season. Finney proved me wrong – he was the starting runningback in the first game of the season.
It was only a matter of time before head coach Mike Kramer realized that Finney was bigger and faster than the McSurdy-Prier combo. Not even I thought that Finney would get the opportunity to start in week one against Air Force. But injures to Aaron Prier and Daniel McSurdy paved the way for Finney to step up in week one against a Division I opponent.
Against Air Force, Finney carried the ball 18 times for 48 yards and caught five passes for 35 yards. He also found the end zone for the first time in his collegiate career on a two-yard run.
“Xavier was able to step in as starter and play as a starter and played outstanding,” said Kramer after the Air Force game.
“Xavier Finney is an excellent player,” said Kramer. “He’s a true freshman, like a lot of guys in this recruiting class; he’s a barometer of where we are headed. Fortunately for us he has years to go in his career.”
Finney is a freshman running back from Oceanside, Calif., from El Camino High school. At El Camino he rushed for 2,857 yards and scored 31 touchdowns in three years.
Finney came to this program with very high expectations.
“He is a very rare three-year starter at tailback at one of the nation’s most prestigious high school programs in one of the most prestigious areas,” said Kramer. “He is a proven performer and he will be expected to compete for playing time, if not starting time, in 2012. We liked his size because we wanted a bigger tailback than we have had in previous seasons.”
Against Black Hills State on Saturday, Idaho StateUniversity showed once again they could be efficient at running the ball. ISU had 128 rushing yards. The Bengals didn’t break the 100-yard mark all season last year. Finney contributed to a formidable running attack with 16 carries for 49 yards and two touchdowns.
In the Bengals’ two games this year we’ve seen the backfield split between either Finney and McSurdy or Finney and Prier. While Kramer is hesitant to name an official starter, Finney has emerged as the best running back among the three.
If ISU can continue to have a consistent running attack then defenses are going to be in a world of hurt. ISU already has one of the most dangerous passing attacks in the nation. Last year we saw teams line up in a “quarter” or 3-3-5 defensive set. Since ISU couldn’t run the ball, the obvious weaknesses of the 3-3-5 couldn’t be exposed. This year teams that drop back and dare the Bengals to run the ball are going to regret it.
Defenses are going to have to respect the trio of Finney, McSurdy and Prier and that means good things for ISU’s passing game. Kramer still wants to be a pass-heavy offense and for good reason.
Kevin Yost is one of the best quarterbacks in the Big Sky and when Rodrick Rumble returns from injury the Bengals will have the best quarterback-wide receiver combo in the conference. It makes sense to play to his team’s strength and the Bengals’ passing game is still the best option. Their running game will only help the passing game.
Yost looked great against Air Force and Black Hills State. Against the Black Hills State Yellow Jackets he methodically passed for 424 passing yard in a 38-5 victory.
Since ISU runs a spread offense that is even more pass-heavy than the typical spread offense, running backs don’t have that many opportunities to run the ball. So when the opportunity arises they need to take advantage and Finney has taken advantage of those limited opportunities. Finney is leading the team in touchdowns with three touchdowns on 34 carries. That means almost 25 percent of Finney’s carries are ending up in the end zone.