The stable of talented running backs Ball State started the season with is beginning to look a little bare.
It's possible only two of the four running backs that have received significant carries in the first seven games will be healthy enough to play Saturday at Toledo. Junior Cory Sykes has missed three of the past five games due to knee tendinitis. Sophomore Eric Williams injured his ankle Saturday in Ball State's loss to Eastern Michigan.
The injuries leave only senior MiQuale Lewis and freshman David Brown standing in the Cardinals' backfield.
Lewis isn't feeling lonely, yet.
"We have a lot of running backs still," Lewis said. "We're all capable of doing the same job."
Coach Stan Parrish said Monday it was doubtful Sykes would play against the Rockets. The junior didn't practice with the team Tuesday, rehabbing his injury instead.
Williams had minimal participation in Tuesday's practice, but he was dressed and on the field with the team. He is Ball State's leading rusher with 425 yards and three touchdowns.
His injury also affects the Cardinals' kickoff return team. Williams returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown against Eastern Michigan, Ball State's first kickoff return for a touchdown since 2007.
"That return was a thing of beauty," Parrish said. "I can name six guys that did exactly what they're supposed to do. Eric just ran away from it all."
Parrish expressed hope that Williams would get to a point where he could play through minor injuries.
"He's a very talented player and he's only going to get better," he said. "Now he's got to learn to work through little nicks and things like that."
After many questions earlier in the fall about how to distribute carries to all four running backs, Parrish is now fielding questions about a possible lack of depth at the position. He has always called having so many qualified running backs a good problem to have, but he may be happier now about having a large group than ever before.
"Everybody said, ‘You have too many backs,'" Parrish said. "You know what, you can never have too many backs — ever ever."
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