Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 11 No. 1 | August 2018

22 Inside Hokie Sports Season Preview 2 18 RUNNING BACKS PEOPLES , M C CLEASE headline running back contingent poised to make more BIG PLAYS this fall by Jimmy Robertson For the most part, Steven Peoples sleeps well at night and even during the occasional nap, but rest assured, a nightmare continues to recur at various times throughout the day. It centers on him and Josh Jackson and a fumble at the 1-yard line in a bowl game. “It still sticks in my mind,” Peoples said of the play that actually occurred early in last year’s Camping World Bowl against Oklahoma State. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while now. It happened. There isn’t anything you can do now but get better. Make sure it doesn’t happen again.” Peoples wants to put that play and much of the 2017 season behind him. Beloved by the coaches for his work ethic, quiet nature and toughness, he never truly got the chance to put his skills on full display, as he missed six games and most of another game (Duke) with an injury. A testament to his toughness, Peoples managed to return to the lineup for the Hokies’ regular-season finale at Virginia, and he set career highs in carries (22) and yards (71), providing a glimpse of his potential. He finished the season with 267 yards rushing and two touchdowns, and he also caught two touchdown passes. “It was pretty nice to come back and finish the season off after being out so long,” Peoples said. “It just feels good being out on that field. Every time I’m out on that field, I’m a different person.” Peoples and Deshawn McClease entered August practices battling for the top spot at the tailback position, with Jalen Holston, Coleman Fox, Terius Wheatley and freshman Caleb Steward not far behind. The Hokies return all of their tailbacks from a season ago, with the exception of TravonMcMillian, who actually startedmost of the games in 2017, but elected to transfer to Colorado during the offseason. Thanks to a monster Camping World Bowl performance, McClease actually led the Hokies in rushing, finishing with 530 yards—124 of which came in the bowl game. Still, he isn’t etched in as the starter or the top carrier, as Tech’s coaching staff basically goes with a running back- by-committee approach that a few fans question. “I don’t pay any attention to that,” Peoples said. “They’re [the coaches] going to put whoever they need in there in the best situation. At the end of the day, that’s the coach’s call, and that’s the way it’s going to be.” Peoples entered August fully healthy, and he looks great. Though already the biggest tailback on the roster, he actually bulked up in the offseason, getting himself to a chiseled 225 pounds. The weight gain was by design. He figures the added pounds will help him on third-and-short and goal-line situations, and also in pass protection when he squares off with blitzing linebackers. “I’ve gotten a lot stronger,” he added. “It’s been a good offseason. I wanted to gain five more pounds. I didn’t feel as comfortable playing at 220. I think 225 is a good weight for me. I think I’ve actually gained speed, too. I’ve been working on that a lot.” He and the coaches want him to put that speed on display. In fact, the coaches want all the backs to become playmakers—a missing element fromTech’s offense in 2017. A year ago, the Hokies had just three rushing plays of 30 yards or more. Only one of those came from a tailback. Peoples thinks that will change this season. He thinks the Hokies’ performance in the bowl game against Oklahoma State—518 total yards, including 248 on the ground—is a preview of things to come this fall. “I think this offense will have a lot more big plays than we did last year,” he said. “I think, as a running back group, we didn’t do as great last year. We’ve got a chip on our shoulder, and we’re ready to go this year.” QUICK FACTS ON TECH’S RB’S Returning starter: none Starter lost : Travon McMillian Projected new starter: Steven Peoples (eight career starts) or Deshawn McClease (one career start) Top reserves: Jalen Holston, Coleman Fox, Terius Wheatley, Caleb Steward, Cole Beck Newcomers: Wheatley, Steward, Beck Breakout candidate: McClease Notes: McClease was the only Tech tailback to rush for more than 100 yards in a game last season, amassing 124 yards rushing in the Hokies’ loss to Oklahoma State in the Camping World Bowl … McClease led the Hokies with 530 yards rushing in 2017 … No Tech tailback ranked in the top 20 in the ACC in rushing yards … As a team, the Hokies rushed for at least 150 yards in eight of 13 games last fall … Tech’s running backs combined to catch 19 passes in 2017. RUNNING BACKS August, 2018 (in numerical order) 13 Jalen Holston (5-11, 219, So.) 16 Coleman Fox (5-11, 195, r-Jr.) 24 Terius Wheatley (6-0, 197, r-Fr.) 30 Caleb Steward (5-11, 215, Fr.) 32 Steven Peoples (5-9, 222, Sr.) 33 Deshawn McClease (5-9, 197, r-Jr.) 43 Cole Beck (6-1, 194, Fr.) Steven Peoples