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Heel Tough Blog: 2025 Position Previews- RB

Updated: Jul 28

Bob Donnan- Imagn Images
Bob Donnan- Imagn Images

It’s that time of year again, folks. With the season fast approaching, it is time to give you a preview of what this roster is going to look like this upcoming season under new coach Bill Belichick. Today, we’ll take a look at the running back unit this season, which looks destined to take a step back without Omarion Hampton, but still has a chance to be a successful unit with the talent that is in the room.


Redshirt freshman Davion Gause will be taking over the bulk of the carries here after showing some nice promise in 2024. In just 164 snaps, Gause ran for 326 yards and four touchdowns on 67 carries and caught four passes for 45 yards, including rushing for 105 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries in place of Omarion Hampton against Charlotte. He runs with the physicality and athleticism that makes him difficult to bring down, meaning much like Hampton, he’ll be an issue for opposing defenses after first contact this season. He also shows tremendous patience and cutting ability that can lead to big gains when you factor in the burst that he has when he hits the hole.


The battle for reps behind him will be interesting to watch. Senior Caleb Hood will likely get the first shot at those reps, but the big question is whether he will finally be able to stay healthy. When he has been on the field, he has been effective, rushing for 471 yards and two touchdowns on 98 carries and catching 18 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown in 26 games. For him, it is all about staying healthy.


If he can’t stay healthy it’ll turn to a group of true freshmen and transfers. One of those true freshmen is Demon June Jr., who was with the team in the spring and is hoping to make an impact in his first season on campus. June finished his high school career with 5,042 yards and 88 touchdowns on the ground and 263 yards and five touchdowns as a receiver. Like Gause, there is a lot of physicality to his game and he has that North-South mindset that will allow him to thrive at the college. He shined at times in the spring and if he can build off of that in fall camp, he might have a shot to see some meaningful playing time this season.


Charleston French, a former JUCO transfer, could also be a factor in the backfield this season. Last year, in limited garbage time snaps, French carried the ball ten times for 84 yards and a touchdown. He’s got a little more twitch to him than some of the other guys in the room that are expected to play big roles this season, so it would make sense if he is the change of pace option this staff utilizes this season if Hood is sidelined.


Michigan transfer Benjamin Hall will join the team in the fall and will be hoping to prove that he can be an effective piece in the backfield. Hall received limited reps with the Wolverines over the past two seasons and turned it into 141 yards on 44 carries, an average of just 3.2 yards per carry. He’ll need to be much more effective in the carries that he receives in camp if he is hoping to have any sort of impact this season.


The deeper depth at this position provides us with four true freshmen who will likely redshirt this season. Jaylen McGill is the most talented of the group, but is also the youngest after reclassifying from the 2026 class. Meanwhile, Jaylon Nichols and JoJo Troupe will join the team after signing with them back in December and Henry Martello will walk on.


Projected Depth Chart:

#21 Davion Gause, So.

# 4 Caleb Hood, Sr.

#12 Demon June Jr., Fr.

#23 Charleston French, So.

#28 Benjamin Hall, So.

#27 Jaylen McGill, Fr.

#20 Jaylon Nichols, Fr.

#26 JoJo Troupe, Fr.

#33 Henry Martello, Fr.

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