2004 Cardinal Football Preview - Running Backs
August 11, 2004 | Football
Aug. 11, 2004
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - This group will definitely be one of the strengths of the 2004 squad and should be one of the positions of interest as the summer season unfolds. The Cardinals return their top three rushers who helped set the school mark for the most rushing yards in a season (2,966). After finishing near the bottom in the nation in rushing in 2002, the Cardinals placed 10th in the country with an average of 228.2 yards a game. The trio of senior Lionel Gates, junior Eric Shelton and sophomore Michael Bush combined to run for 2,110 yards and 27 touchdowns. Gates, a big, powerful runner with breakaway speed, headlines a talented group of backs. Gates led the Cardinals in rushing with 817 yards and 11 touchdowns, and averaged 5.8 yards a carry. In a possible preview of things to come, Gates capped the 2003 season with an 88-yard touchdown run and 128 yards in the bowl loss to Miami, and also rushed for a career-best 140 yards and four touchdowns in a 66-45 win over Houston. Shelton, in his first season with the Cardinals after transferring from Florida State, was the power back for the Cardinals. Despite missing three games with a neck injury, the 6-3, 248-pounder still managed 790 yards and 10 scores. The native of Lexington, Ky., recorded four 100-yard games, including a 151-yard performance in the season opener at Kentucky. The wild card in the backfield is Bush, who lined up at quarterback, wide receiver and running back last season. Used mainly as a running back late in the season, the versatile Bush, who missed the entire spring with an injury, managed to run for 503 yards, six touchdowns and averaged 6.2 yards a tote. Out of the backfield, the former Mr. Kentucky Football caught 17 passes for 240 yards and a touchdown. With a mixture of power and outstanding speed, Bush is one of the top athletes on the team. He showcased some of that ability last season, running for 137 yards against Houston and 125 versus Cincinnati, including an 81-yard burst for a score against the Bearcats. Sophomore Kolby Smith is another talented player who Petrino must find time for in a crowded backfield. Playing at the fullback position last season, Smith ran for 131 yards and a touchdown and averaged 7.3 yards a carry. He had surgery in the off-season and missed spring drills. Smith is healthy and could be a factor at the tailback position. Red-shirt freshman Reggie Bradshaw didn't see game action last season, but is a hard-runner with sprinter's speed. He had an outstanding spring and showed the coaching staff that he has the skills to fit in well with the Cardinal offense. D.J. Kamer and Smith split time at fullback last season, but Kamer has graduated and Smith will likely play more running back. Senior Adam McCauley was moved to fullback last season and received many reps in the spring. Freshman Drew Steinmetz from Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Fla, is a talented player who will get a chance to play right away.
