MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — Leddie Brown exploded onto the scene at running back last year for WVU, rushing for over 1,000 yards in 10 games, but the Mountaineers coaching staff made it clear it didn’t want Brown to be as premier as he was in 2020.
When Brown checked out of the game, the running game took a big dip — he was responsible for 199 of the 280 carries by running backs, with Alec Sinkfield coming in second with 78 attempts.
Sinkfield is now at Boston College after transferring out this offseason, leaving Tony Mathis Jr. and A’Varius Sparrow as the only two returning backups who got carries last season. Total, they had 21 carries for 65 yards.
Brown’s heavy workload, just south of 20 carries per game, played a factor in a late-season injury. The Mountaineers are searching for more than just a backup — they want someone who will come in for Brown and not have any dip in production.
A meeting between running backs coach Chad Scott and Mathis in January may have helped find the key to getting just that.
Dedicating himself to getting better during the winter, Mathis, a redshirt sophomore, carried that momentum into spring practice where he excelled. Now, three weeks into fall camp, head coach Neal Brown said Mathis is the clear-cut second option behind Brown.
Like Brown, Mathis is more of a bruising back who can make plays between the tackles.
“He’s doing everything well right now to be honest with you,” Scott said. “He’s always had the ability, a great high school player. He’s running the ball at an elite level and he has tremendous strength. He had to find a way to take his strength from the weight room to the football field and break tackles. He’s doing a really good job right now. He’s been consistent every day.”
Sparrow is in his second year with the program and is working his way toward earning reps, though Scott said he continues to be a work in progress as the change-of-pace back.
“He’s got to continue to come on,” Sparrow said. “He’s been in the program for a year. We’d like to see him be a little further than where he is right now. He has the capability to do it, he’s just got to go out and do it.”
True freshman Justin Johnson has turned heads in his brief time in a WVU uniform. Neal Brown said several times Johnson will be one of the few true freshman to see the field this season — the 5’11, 196-pound St. Louis native was a 4-star prospect according to Rivals.com
“I tell you what, it’s been pleasing to see that kid,” Scott said. “First of all, pass protection is the toughest responsibility for a young running back. The recognition of it and then the actual, physical picking it up and picking up bigger guys that you ain’t never picked up in your life but he’s done a phenomenal job at both of them. Phenomenal balance, great vision, and since I’ve been with coach Brown, he’s probably had the best summer of any freshman that we’ve been around. Weight room, academic, and to see him carry that over into fall camp, it’s been really pleasing. He’s picked up on the offense really well.”
Johnson wasn’t the only running back to sign in the class of 2021 — Jaylen Anderson was another 4-star prospect, but due to NCAA Clearinghouse issues, he has yet to arrive at fall camp and his status is up in the air.
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