Editor's note: This is the fifth in a series of 10 features that highlight a group or position of the 2010 Mercyhurst College football team. The sixth installment will resume on Monday.
Running Backs/Fullbacks
The Lakers have struggled to find consistency from a single player since the graduation of the team’s
all-time leading rusher Richard Stokes in 2008. The position’s duo of Ben Jennings and
Gerald Anderson provided a steady production last season, but with open competition at fullback this year and the graduation of Jennings, Anderson will be looked upon to shoulder the load in 2010.
A senior, Anderson finished second on the team in rushing (110-for-507 yds) and led the squad in scoring with five rushing and one receiving touchdown. He possesses good speed and breakaway ability but needs to be more consistent in short yardage situations. He played in all 11 contests for the Lakers, splitting time at tailback and posting a breakout year in the process, posting two 100-yard games, including a 17-for-108 yard performance with two touchdowns against Cheyney. He was one of two Mercyhurst backs to post a 100-yard performance against the Wolves, marking the first time since Nov. 8, 1997 that two Laker running backs finished with over 100 yards rushing. He was also one of two Lakers to have a rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game. He had a career effort against Gannon when he ran for 175 yards and two scores on 25 carries.
Behind Anderson is red-shirt sophomore
Andrew Bailey, a converted wide receiver who will use his speed and catching abilities to become a dual threat in the backfield. At wide receiver, Bailey played in 10 of 11 games, ranking second on the team in total yards with 799. He also was the leading kick returner for the Lakers, returning 30 kicks for 778 total yards. In 2009 he topped the 100-yard mark in two games on the season, against Clarion (Oct. 17) and West Chester (Nov. 7) while recording a season-high 197 yards and one touchdown on six returns with a season-best return of 93 yards against Clarion.
At fullback, red-shirt sophomore
Blake Morrison is the preseason favorite after making the move from defensive back. Red-shirt sophomore
Leon Gallop follows on the depth chart. Only Gallop has game experience, appearing in five games last season where he caught two passes for 24 yards and a touchdown.