Spring Preview | Running Backs
UMass' running back depth chart changed on the eve of spring practice.
Quarterback isn’t the only position that’ll be worth paying attention to at UMass this spring.
The Minutemen lost last year’s leading rusher when Jalen John entered the Transfer Portal and ultimately landed at Coastal Carolina. That was to be expected, but the Minutemen also just lost their second-leading rusher in CJ Hester, who announced on Thursday that he will be entering the Transfer Portal.
Those losses will bolster the importance of returner Brandon Campbell and portal addition Rocko Griffin as well as everybody else down the depth chart.
Hester’s loss certainly has to sting a bit as he put some impressive things on tape last season, especially toward the end, but these types of moves shouldn’t be surprising when a new coaching staff comes in, especially in today’s world of college football.
Griffin and Campbell are an interesting duo as veterans with experience playing at the sport’s highest level, although their breakout seasons could still be ahead of them.
Griffin only played in four games last season so his numbers were rather pedestrian (17 carries, 44 yards). But the 5-foot-9, 200-pounder ran for 483 yards and six touchdowns on 91 carries in 2023 and ran for another 517 yards and four touchdowns on 145 carries as Vanderbilt’s lead back in the SEC back in 2021.
Sources have raved about Griffin’s attitude during UMass’ pursuit of him and ever since. It’s easy to imagine a former leading rusher on an SEC team looking to be guaranteed playing time or carries, etc. We’re told the only thing close to a guarantee Griffin wanted was that he would have an opportunity to contribute on special teams.
When we here at Minuteman Command talking about building a new culture through the players that are being added to the program, it’s guys like Griffin we’re talking about. He may only be in Amherst for one year, but the feeling among those on the inside is that his impact could be long-lasting.
Campbell was the third-leading rusher (among running backs) behind Johns and Hester last year. The 5-foot-10, 210-pounder managed 239 yards and three touchdowns on 64 carries in 2024. His impact likely would have been greater last season, but the former Houston running back didn’t arrive in Amherst until late-August, toward the end of training camp, as he had to compete his degree at Houston in order to become eligible as a graduate transfer.
“I don't know if you're ever able to catch up coming in that late,” one source said.
Because of that, Campbell is seen as a bit of an unknown with some untapped potential. Prior to playing at Houston, he was at USC. He saw limited duty with the Trojans, but being on that roster says plenty.
“I think a guy who is recruited by USC, he's got to have some talent,” one source laughed. “I wouldn't be surprised if he kind of shocks everybody.”
Guys like Jackson Paradis, Da’Marion Alberic and incoming freshman Elijah Faulkner each move up one rung on the depth chart with Hester’s departure, which is important considering we expected each to have a good shot at playing a role even before that.
At 6-0, 225, Paradis brings some good size and we could see him earning a role by being reliable in pass protection while the 5-foot-10, 180-pound Alberic probably brings a little more “juice” than anybody else in the room.
We’ve broken down Faulkner already, but we absolutely could see him being the future cornerstone of the position for the Minutemen and we may get a glimpse of that future in 2025.
Minuteman Command does receive a referral commission when you make a Homefield purchase through links on our site. But this comes at no additional cost to you and we wouldn’t be recommending Homefield unless we were fans of their products ourselves. Again use the promo code COMMAND15 to receiver 15% off your first purchase.
