Race for No. 2 RB still going for Cyclones

AMES – The race to be Iowa State's No. 2 running back became a smidge clearer after Saturday's spring game, but it's far from over.

Redshirt freshman James White had a nice afternoon inside a sun-soaked Jack Trice Stadium, running for two scores and 94 yards against both the first- and second-team defenses. Classmate Jeff Woody rushed for 70 yards on 14 carries and displayed the bruising style that Coach Paul Rhoads has taken a liking to.

Did either of them gain the upper hand in backing up starter Alexander Robinson?

“I don't know. I haven't put (offensive coaches) Ken Pope or Tom Herman on the spot,” Rhoads said. “It's something we'll define next week as we finish off the spring. I will say that I think Jeff Woody is closest to the top of the heap of those three.”

A third contender is sophomore Beau Blankenship, who did not play after spraining his knee Thursday in practice.

Rhoads is upbeat about what he's got at the position, and he didn't even mention junior Bo Williams or incoming freshman Shontrelle Johnson, both of whom could factor into the race.

“We have four backs that all bring something different to the table and something effective to the table,” Rhoads said.

White showed some elusiveness and ability to make tacklers miss.

He went untouched through the middle of the line and sprinted 50 yards for his second touchdown of the day.

“Woody had a good day. I had a good day,” said White, who at 5-8, 182 pound is built much like Robinson. “I'm just trying to come out there every day in practice and work hard.”

Woody, walk-on from Southeast Polk, enjoys running through people more than around them.

“He's going to run hard and what he gets he's going to get,” Rhoads said.

Robinson didn't see much action, carrying just seven times for 15 yards. Coaches were playing it safe with their star runner.

“I put him in probably one more series than I planned because I wanted to see the first offense get something generated,” Rhoads said. “But when you see guys start getting legs and knees getting tangled… I don't want to be labeled stupid as a head football coach so I put him on the sidelines.”

The offenses combined for 735 yards. Quarterbacks Austen Arnaud and Jerome Tiller spread the ball around to receivers and tight ends.

Arnaud didn't play in the second half.

“We can definitely play better,” he said. “We have a lot of guys out there who can make plays, and that's what this offense needs.”

Rhoads feels better about this group than he did last spring, which should be no surprise.

Players have improved themselves in all areas.

“We are smarter as a football team. By smarter I mean our overall understanding,” Rhoads said. “We still make silly mistakes. We are faster. We are quicker. We change direction better. We are a more physical football team. We'll get after you.”