SEMO football preview: Running backs hope to present challenge with versatility

This story is part of the Southeast Missouri State football preview series. Click here to read the personal story of senior receiver Paul McRoberts, who has gone from almost quitting football to being an NFL prospect.

Second-team all-conference running back DeMichael Jackson and junior college transfer Tremane McCullough join up this season to create a two-headed monster for the opponents of the Southeast Missouri State football team.

"I think the more versatile guys that you have the better," Southeast running backs coach Matt Martin said. "That way you don't get pegged in a one-dimensional facet. Both those guys are good receivers out of the backfield and both of them run the ball hard, it's just that DeMichael seems to have a little bit better knack in between the tackles and Tremane does a little bit better sometimes when he's out on the edge, when he's one-on-one in space."

Jackson, who missed four games of his junior season after fracturing his hand against Kansas on Sept. 6, rushed for 734 yards and five touchdowns on 137 carries to lead the Redhawks run game.

"It was a little disappointing that he had to miss a few games last year for us.," Martin said. "He was off to a good start and at the end of the year he finished pretty strong."

Jackson enters the season as the team's starting running back with McCullough, a transfer from Arizona Western Community College, also expected to get plenty of carries.

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound McCullough ran for 404 yards and four touchdowns on 56 carries last season.

"DeMichael's a little bit more of a slasher, in between the tackles and things like that, but Tremane he's really special," Martin said. "When he gets the ball out on the edge he can make a lot of people miss and in a small space. He's got what I like to call 'Get it over with' speed."

That speed was demonstrated throughout the Redhawks' spring drills and fall camp.

Brendan Stewart returns for his sophomore year after having offseason shoulder surgery. He played in 11 games and rushed for 154 yards on 25 carries as a redshirt freshman.

Martin also expects sophomore William Young, who transferred from Highland Community College, to contribute to the run game as well as on special teams in some fashion.

Senior Lewis Washington has been moved to fullback. He played in every game last season, rushing for 64 yards and two scores on 14 carries.

Martin does not want his running backs to focus on yardage, touchdown goals or postseason accolades because he said those things will "take care of themselves" if they play up to the coaching staff's expectations.

"Just to make sure that we don't have any mental errors," Martin said of what he expects from his running backs. "We play as hard as we can at all times. We're a tough position, and the emphasis for my guys along with the entire team is ball security. I'm not going to be able to play a guy at the running back position if he can't hang onto the ball."