Editor's note: With the 2020 Nevada football season postponed until the spring semester, NevadaWolfPack.com is taking a look at the Wolf Pack program on a position-by-position basis this fall. This week's focus: Running backs.
The Nevada running backs unit battled injuries and an unforeseen transfer in 2019, yet still produced numbers on par with the previous season -- 115 yards on the ground with 3.4-yard per carry average and 15 touchdowns as a rushing offense. As the Wolf Pack sets its sights on the 2020 season that has been postponed to spring, there's renewed hope, depth and excitement in the running backs room of the Cashell Football Center.
Junior
Toa Taua burst on the scene as a true freshman, seizing the starting job during the 2018 season and earning Mountain West Freshman of the Year honors. He played in all 13 games in 2019, with 10 starts, but was banged up at times. So was now-graduated senior
Kelton Moore. That allowed the emergence of
Devonte Lee, who led the team with seven rushing touchdowns and led all running backs with a 4.6 yards-per-carry average.
Taua has recorded back-to-back 800-yard seasons for Nevada and needs just 321 to hit the 2,000-yard mark for his career. He's also shown versatility coming out of the backfield with 52 career receptions for 328 yards and a touchdown. That versatility saw him named to the watch list this summer for the Paul Hornung Award, given annually to the nation's most versatile player. He was also named to the watch list for the Doak Walker Award, given to the nation's top running back.
Lee, also a junior, provides a power run game to complement Taua's elusiveness and speed. But the Pack needs depth around Taua and Lee, and running backs coach
Vai Taua has found it with a handful of newcomers and returning squadmen.
True freshman
Avery Morrow impressed during the Wolf Pack's limited fall camp in August and has some breakaway speed on his 6-foot, 205-pound frame. Head coach
Jay Norvell noted that Morrow is ready to play as a true freshman and will likely be in the depth when the season begins early in 2021.
Nevada also returns a junior in juco product
Terrell Johnson, who redshirted last season.
