The George-Anne will be previewing each position group leading up to the start of Georgia Southern football season, Aug. 31. Next in the series of previews is the position of the running back.

Departed: Wesley Fields, Monteo Garrett, Merrick Haston Jr., Eric Montgomery, Grant Walker

Returning starters: Wesley Kenney III, junior; Logan Wright, redshirt-sophomore

Other returning players: Andrew Cunningham, redshirt-freshman; Jared Daniels, redshirt-sophomore; Matt LaRoche, redshirt-sophomore

New players: AJ Brown, freshman; Myles Freeman, freshman; Gerald Green, freshman; J. D. King, junior

Outlook: The position of the running back is stacked with talent this season for the Eagles. The football program definitely took a hit, losing both strong starters in Garrett and Fields as they graduated after last season- but they have more than enough potential to make up for it.

A returning player to be excited about is Kennedy. The junior has made quite a presence on the field for himself as he played in all 13 games last season as well as playing in 10 games his freshman season. He was named to All-Sun Belt Conference Honorable mention as well as All-Sun Belt Second Team by Southern Pigskin and Pro Football Focus in the 2018 season after leading the Eagles with 15 receptions going for 182 yards on the season. The junior is listed as both running back and slot back on the roster as he played in both positions last season. 

Another returner to keep an eye on is Wright who also played in all 13 games last season- starting three. In his first season of eligibility in 2018, the redshirt-sophomore notched 308 yards on 54 carries, and scored three touchdowns in the. 

As far as new players go, the Eagles have been able to add a huge asset to the team as transfer J. D. King’s appeal for eligibility the season went through. The Oklahoma State transfer was originally supposed to sit out this 2019 season per NCAA rules, but after appeal the junior was ruled eligible to play immediately. King was OSU’s second-leading rusher his freshman season with 469 yards on 99 carries. His sophomore year King scored two touchdowns and logged six catches for 92 yards. King transferred to GS in January and went through spring practice as well as being a full participant in fall camp.

Projected two deep: 

Wesley Kennedy III (5-foot-10, 180 pounds)

J. D. King (5-foot-11, 220 pounds)

Kaitlin Sells, The George-Anne Managing Sports Editor, gasports@georgiasouthern.edu