The most intriguing running back on the UMass roster may be the one who hasn’t played yet.
That’s saying something after what Elijah Faulkner and Curtis Kimmons IV have shown through the Minutemen’s first two games.
But the UMass staff has quietly been extremely high on Jordan Washington, who could make his season debut Saturday against Stonehill.
“We should be raring to go on Jordan,” UMass head coach Joe Harasymiak said Monday. “He should be cleared, minus a setback this week. So I’m really excited about him.”
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound junior generated plenty of excitement within the program after transferring from Murray State, even as an injury kept him sidelined during the spring and ultimately through the first two games of the season.
Washington spent two seasons at Murray State, rushing for 340 yards and three touchdowns on 86 carries last season while catching 22 passes for another 206 yards and a touchdown.
Now, UMass is eager to see what Washington can do in offensive coordinator Max Warner’s offense.
“It’ll be interesting how Max and the staff uses him,” Harasymiak said. “Anytime you get a great player back, that we believe can be great, he’s got to do it, but should be exciting.”
When Harasymiak says UMass believes Washington has the potential to be great, he’s not exaggerating. That production at Murray State provides barely a hint of what UMass believes it could be adding to its offense.
“I think Jordan has both the physicality of a bigger back and he’s got speed,” Harasymiak said. “So the different ways, hopefully, we can use him and create some mismatches there.”
The enticing part for UMass is that Washington isn’t returning to a backfield desperate for help.
Faulkner and Kimmons have already combined for 223 rushing yards on 44 carries, an average of 5.1 yards per carry, during UMass’ 2-0 start. Faulkner has carried 30 times for 134 yards while adding two receptions for 23 yards, with both catches going for touchdowns. Kimmons has 89 yards and a touchdown on just 14 carries.
The two have also shown how differently they can affect a game.
Kimmons provided a spark in the season-opening 37-21 win at Rutgers, rushing for 78 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries while Faulkner had the two touchdowns. A week later, Faulkner averaged 6.5 yards per carry with 72 yards on 11 attempts in the 37-10 win over Sacred Heart.
“Touches-wise, it’s really obviously been Curtis and Elijah, and rightfully so,” Harasymiak said. “I mean, Elijah’s a special player and Curtis then comes in and gives you that hard-nose and downhill style, and he’s great at breaking tackles.”
It’ll be interesting to see exactly what the rotation looks like given the performances of Faulkner and Kimmons against the potential of Washington. And Washington isn’t the only back UMass expects to have available.
Justin Williams-Thomas emerged as the lead back during the spring while Washington was sidelined before an injury of his own limited him coming into the season.
The 6-foot, 220-pound senior arrived at UMass after previous stops at Tennessee, Cal and Marshall. He rushed for 197 yards and two touchdowns on 35 carries for Marshall last season, averaging 5.6 yards per attempt, while adding three receptions for 41 yards and another score.
UMass expects Williams-Thomas to be back in the mix as well.
That leaves Warner with an unusual number of options at a position where Faulkner and Kimmons have already demonstrated they deserve touches. The challenge will be finding enough opportunities for everybody.
“It’s a great problem to have,” Harasymiak said.
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