Khadrice Rollins
krollins@ajc.com
Having too many options is one of the best problems a team can have. Kennesaw State has that problem in its backfield.
Whether at running back or behind center, the Owls (4-1) depth has been a key reason they are currently riding a program record four-game winning streak.
"Competition is the greatest motivator on the planet," coach Brian Bohannon said. "We can holler and yell as coaches, but when you got somebody right behind you trying to get your job, there is no better motivator than that."
The attitude Bohannon has about competition has spread throughout his team. But along with an eagerness to prove who is the best, players also understand everybody will be needed if the team is going to succeed.
"We got a bunch of selfless guys, and that's a great thing about our guys" quarterback Chandler Burks said. "All 11 out there, we're all concerned about winning, and that's our main goal. It's not about who touches the ball, who carries it, who's under center, or whoever out there. We all care about winning and that's our main goal on Saturdays."
Last week against Missouri S&T (3-3, 2-1 Great Lakes Valley), the roster depth showed what it was capable of. Without wide receiver Justin Sumpter who was out with a sprained ankle, KSU was still able to score 49 points thanks to contributions from eight different guys in the rushing game and a career day from wide receiver Xavier Harper.
Led by Burks, who had 118 yards and three touchdowns, the Owls ran for 369 yards in the 49-16 victory. Six of the seven other rushers on the day had at least 20 yards on the ground including running back Chaston Bennett who had 51 yards and two touchdowns on six carries.
"One slot back might have a big game one week, and then another slot back might have a big game the next week," Bennett said. "That's just how the offense is."
Although last week the depth shined through on gameday, players and coaches point to the impact it has on practices as a major key to success.
With the conference opener against Liberty (2-3) up next for the Owls, they have been able to get some energy from the guys lower on the depth chart to help push the starters even harder. Players said the work they saw from the scout team on Tuesday inspired them to give even more effort and kick their energy up another gear.
"(The scout team defense) was really flying around (Tuesday) trying to get to the ball, trying to strip the ball, trying to make plays," Bennett said. "And it just made the competition even more better. We were just out competing against each other the whole practice."
The depth at most positions just leads to better scout team performances and more competitive practice, but the depth at quarterback has forced Bohannon into a small predicament.
With opening day starter Trey White finally healthy enough to practice again, Bohannon has had to get reps for three different signal callers this week in hopes of having them all prepared to go come Saturday, although Burks will still be the starter.
"In my 20 years of coaching, I've never been a part of a situation where we got three guys that have won ball games for us, that have played for us, that are available to go in the game," Bohannon said. "That is probably the most awesome thing as a coach you can think of."
