ORONO, Maine -- Despite the announcement by the Colonial Athletic Association and UMaine on the postponement of the fall football season, GoBlackBears.com will roll on with our position previews of the football roster by assessing the team through position groups. Next up: running backs.

POSITION OUTLOOK:
Nine times out of 10 when you ask a football coach what their keys to victory are, they're going to say "we have to set the tone on offense by running the football". The Black Bears are no different. Despite several weapons outside, running backs coach Makana Garrigan, run game coordinator Pat Denecke and head coach Nick Charlton are focused on scheming an offensive run plan for the Black Bears which sets the tone for the offense. There's room for growth and several battles along the depth chart as Maine lost 253 carries and 1,137 net rush yards to graduation with 2019 lead backs Joe Fitzpatrick and Emmanuel Reed graduating. Coach Garrigan is excited about what he sees in the running back pipeline, beginning with second-year transfer Jordan Rowell and redshirt freshman Curtis Murray.

"After the 2019 season, we graduated two solid running backs in Joe Fitzpatrick and Emmanuel Reed," Garrigan said. "Both smart players with a ton of college football experience. Moving forward, one of the most exciting things is going to be finding out which running backs will rise on the depth and prove themselves this fall."

THEME:
Garrigan didn't hesitate when asked to describe the theme and phrase used to describe his position group. "The Stable," Garrigan explained. "This name was chosen by the seniors prior to the 2019 season. Horses are a combination of both speed and agility." Over the years, Maine has commonly featured a 'smash and dash' running attack. "From the moment the horse is let out of the gate, all it knows is to go," Garrigan further explained. "It gives nothing but effort from start to finish."

The second year assistant coach also described the focus of his room on the exterior distractions currently having an impact on everyday life; a focus keying in on a few specific words 'Faith, Family, Health, Academics, Football. "During this time, it is extremely important to simplify our lives. With the constant news, changes, and stresses, throughout the past couple of months, it can be difficult to have consistency. We use these words to help simplify and prioritize our lives right now."

KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL SEASON FOR THE RUNNING BACKS:

• Flexibility - Specific to these unprecedented time, this has become a common goal across the entire Black Bear family. The focus on understanding that there is no certainty with the fluidity of the current way of the world. "It is important for us to understand that there are many unknowns as well as factors that are out of our control at the moment," Garrigan said. "With our daily lives and how we operate academically, socially, and athletically being 'abnormal', we must be able to accept change and move forward.
• Focus - Playing off the previous message, it'll be key for the Black Bears to remain locked in on the task at hand despite all of the outside noise and uncertainties surrounding them. "As a group and individually, we are using this time as an opportunity to set personal goals. If we are able to train our minds and focus now, by the time resume competition we will have the tools and confidence we need when facing adversity during games."

DEPTH BREAKDOWN:
As mentioned above, with the loss of their top two backs from a year ago along with rushing weapon Earnest Edwards, the Black Bears will call upon new talent to lead the way in 2020-21.

• Jordan Rowell (6-1, 215 lbs, redshirt junior) - After spending the first two years of his collegiate career at Northern Illinois, Rowell transferred to the University of Maine in 2019. However, after suffering a knee injury in summer camp, Rowell was limited to just five games where he appeared mostly on special teams during the 2019 campaign. Now healthy, Garrigan is excited about Rowell's potential in the offensive backfield. "With time to heal and regain strength, we are excited to see what Jordan can do moving forward. Jordan is a bigger back that moves well for his size. Once in the open field, he also has the ability to gain speed and separate from defenders."
• Curtis Murray (5-10, 200 lbs, redshirt freshman) - Black Bear fans saw glimpses of Murray as a true freshman as he earned a spot on the travel squad, appearing in three games during 2019. Now, with a year of learning Maine's system under his belt, Garrigan in the Black Bear staff is excited to see what Murray can do in his second year. "Although he is only a (redshirt) freshman, Curtis has shown the maturity of an upperclassman. He brings a tremendous work ethic both on and off the field. During the offseason, Curtis has committed to changing his body as well as becoming a student of the game."
• Elijah Barnwell (5-11, 210 lbs, redshirt junior - Another transfer in the running back room, Barnwell joins the Black Bears after rushing 10 times for 81 yards in 12 games at Rutgers. A three-star recruit, Barnwell rushed for 5,728 yards and 75 touchdowns during his high school career. "Elijah provides a game time experience that we lack at the running back position," Garrigan said. "Having been here for a spring and through winter workouts, Elijah has done a great job adjusting to the Black Bear culture and we are excited for his future in Orono.

Garrigan is also excited about the potential depth in his room, starting with the veteran leadership of fifth-year back Elijah Brooks. "Elijah is the most veteran running back in the running backs room. He has contributed in games at running back as well as special teams." Garrigan also mentioned names Gordon Beckwith (redshirt freshman) and Carter Tolmasolf (redshirt freshman) along with newcomers Tavion Banks and Freddie Brock as names that will compete for playing time.

"If there is one word to describe this fall, it is opportunity," Garrigan commented. "Whether you are a returner or a new member of 'The Stable', it is constant competition because every day truly is a tryout."

-UMaine-