UNI running backs will be under the microscope in season opener

CEDAR FALLS — Northern Iowa’s offensive breakout last season is largely attributed to the impressive numbers quarterback Theo Day amassed.

However, a tandem of running backs who each eclipsed 700 yards — and provided UNI the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s fourth best run game — also played a large part in the unit’s success.

Those running backs — Dom Williams and Vance McShane — have since graduated, making the position one of a few that will be under the microscope when the Panthers’ season kicks off at 1 p.m. Saturday at Iowa State.

Two returnees and a transfer — Harrison Bey-Buie, Josh Jenkins and Tye Edwards — are poised to assume the snaps left vacant at running back, a position that’s more difficult than any to evaluate in practice because of the lack of live tackling that takes place in football’s new era.

“I see what we had seen from Harrison last year — he’s a tough, power runner, that is very dedicated to the offense and his teammates.” UNI Coach Mark Farley said. “Tye is the one that we don’t know much about, but everything that we’ve done with him he’s been productive at.

“Again, you’re going to need two running backs. We’ve never had a great team that didn’t have two really good running backs.”

Bey-Buie — who transferred to UNI before last season from Eastern Illinois — played in four games in 2022, carrying 27 times for 115 yards and one touchdown.

The Bettendorf native had an illustrious prep career, capped by a senior season of 2,034 yards rushing, 9.2 yards per carry and 32 touchdowns.

Despite seeing limited action last season, the redshirt sophomore has received steady praise from Farley since his arrival on campus. At 5-foot-10 and 221 pounds, he offers a much more physical style of running than Williams or McShane.

UTSA transfer Tye Edwards — listed as an “or” starter on UNI’s Week 1 depth chart — also offers size at the position at 6-4 and 230.

Edwards saw limited action for the Roadrunners in 2022, but was a standout at Hutchinson Community College in the spring and fall seasons of 2021, totaling 1,174 yards on 186 carries with 12 touchdowns. He was named MVP of the NJCAA 2021 spring championship game after running for 139 yards and two touchdowns.

“How he responds in the heat of the battle (is) what none of us know right now,” Farley said. “We’re trying to find out and gauge how it works because if he can stay within his game, there’s a reason we have him listed as an either/or starter for us because we think he has that kind of talent.”

Farley also has made it clear Jenkins — a standout at Des Moines Lincoln who led Class 5A in 2021 in yards per carry and touchdowns — will get opportunities.

“(We) still have Josh Jenkins that’s capable of going out and doing some things, too,” Farley said.

As dissimilar as the makeup of UNI’s backfield looks this season compared to last, a component that proved successful and is poised to be amplified in 2023 is Day’s influence at the line of scrimmage.

“We’re built on audibles and checks in our run game. We already did that last year, but now we’re going to progress it and give (Day) a little more freedom to kind of call the game a little bit at the line of scrimmage,” offensive coordinator Bodie Reeder said.