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When Texas A&M running back Tra Carson finished the regular season with 69 yards rushing in a loss at LSU, he completed a rare feat in Aggieland, at least in recent past.
The senior topped the 1,000-yard mark for the 2015 season, the first Aggie running back to do so since Cyrus Gray in 2011. QB Johnny Manziel did it in 2012, but Carson is the first running back to reach 1,000 yards since Kevin Sumlin took the reins in 2012.
Though he did reach 1,000 yards for the season, Carson still has 31 yards left to go to make it to 2,000 yards for his career. He’ll try to make up that ground when the Aggies take on Louisville on Dec. 30 at the Franklin American Music City Bowl in Nashville.
It’s been rare that a Texas A&M running back has figured so prominently in Sumlin’s offense. It’s just not built that way. Moving the ball in large chunks through the air has been Sumlin’s formula for success. Given that, can Texas A&M produce another 1,000-yard rusher again next season without Carson in the backfield?
Statistically speaking, it doesn’t look good. Recently transferred QBs Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray were second and third respectively in carries for the 2015 season.
But there are a couple of potential stars on the horizon. Sophomore James White rushed for 189 yards and a touchdown on 50 carries this season and combined with his freshman year, he has a total of 342 yards and four touchdowns to his credit on 72 carries.
He appears to be the guy to step into that role unless freshman Kwami Etwi continues to dazzle. The 5-foot-9, 187-pounder played in five games this season, rushing for 142 yards on 18 carries (7.9-yard average per carry).
Those are two possibilities, but it remains to be seen if someone can pick up the torch and repeat Carson’s 1,000-yard season again next year. Carson is a special talent, no doubt.
His breakout game came in the 2014 AutoZone Liberty Bowl, where he earned Offensive MVP honors with a career-high 133 yards on 25 carries in the Aggies’ win over West Virginia. He followed that with a career-high 29 carries and 96 yards in the 2015 season-opening victory over No. 15 Arizona State.
“He’s a workhorse,” Sumlin said. “He’s 230 to 235 pounds, a big back, great blocker, trustworthy. He can do everything for us and he’s a leader.”
Prior to the 2014 bowl game, Carson’s career highs were just 14 carries for 76 yards against Rice in 2013. He had just five double-digit carries and no 100-yard games to that point in his career.
Carson was afforded his opportunity when Trey Williams opted for the NFL and six-game starter Brandon Williams shifted to defense.
A 2012 transfer from Oregon, Carson gained 254 yards in 10 games for the Ducks. The three-star running back out of high school, Carson broke LaMichael James’ school rushing record at Liberty-Eylau High School in Texarkana with 2,202 yards as a senior, then followed James to Oregon.
Carson’s subpar performance in the 2015 regular season finale broke a four-game streak in which he rushed for 100-plus yards. He will try to make it five-of-six when Texas A&M heads to its bowl game in Nashville
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
