The Vandals are set to unleash a three-headed monster out of the backfield on their opponents in 2024. Despite losing most of their rushing yards from last year, running backs like Elisha Cummings, Nate Thomas and Art Williams are ready to pick up where the Vandals left off. Last year, Anthony Woods had a fantastic season for Idaho with 1,155 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on 206 attempts.
That included a 211-yard, five-touchdown, performance against Eastern Washington. Woods is now with the Utes of Utah. His backup, Nick Romano, was a senior last year.
Romano had 109 rushing attempts and 540 rushing yards. With Woods and Romano both gone from the program, the Vandals lost 91% of their running back carries and 95% of their yards gained on the ground from the running back position. New running back coach Deontae Cooper believes that they have the players for the job.
“I think the running game from last year and what they (the coaches) did, they did a good job and they had a great back,” Cooper said. “I think these guys here are great in their own way, too. They’re gonna bring a different dimension to it.
” Cummings, the expected starter, played in 21 games in his first two seasons with Idaho. The Waco, Texas, native had 802 yards rushing during that time before missing all of 2023. The time away has made him hungry to get back onto the field.
“Cummings missed last year and he’s been chomping at the bit,” Cooper said. “(He is) an explosive, lateral, shifty guy.