Sharing the load

• By JASON RUSSELL
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Mar 7, 2008 - UPDATED: 7:32 a.m.

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One likes to get the tough yards, one likes using his speed on the outside and one doesn’t mind doing both.

But for the three running backs set to dominate the LSU backfield in the upcoming season, the goals are the same — work hard and win.

For Keiland Williams, Charles Scott and Richard Murphy, each of whom got significant playing time during LSU’s championship run last season, taking over for standout Jacob Hester will probably be more of a running-back-by-committee approach.

“It’s a new year and it’s a different ballclub, we have different players and they bring different things to the table,” said Williams, who rushed for 478 yards and six touchdowns last season.

“So we’re not thinking ‘Oh everybody’s going to get X amount of carries.’

“We’re all competing for that starting job, so we’re going to go out and do our best to make sure that happens.”

Murphy, who had 230 yards and two touchdowns in 2007, echoed those sentiments.

“Jacob Hester leaving, that’s a big thing for our offense,” Murphy said. “To make up for him, it’s going to take all three of us.

“Coming off the good season, we know we want to get back there. We know how good it felt to get there so we’re going to work even harder.”

Getting the tough yards on third and fourth down was something that was synonymous with Hester in 2007. Scott said he hopes to be the guy that takes over that load in 2008.

“I wouldn’t mind being that guy,” said Scott, who finished with 324 yards and five touchdowns last season. “I would rather be inside the tackles. Maybe I’ll be that guy, maybe Keiland will, who knows.

“However it unfolds in practice, we’re all taking reps there. (Les Miles) is giving us all a shot, so whoever does the best will get the job.”

Not that the other two backs want to concede the tough-guy role to Scott.