As a former running back himself and a longtime running back coach, Kent State Head Football Coach Kenni Burns knows a little something about the position. Him and the rest of the Flashes feel like they have a way to control the clock, the game, and the tone of a game with an expected two headed monster at running back between transfer Ky Thomas and Gavin Garcia.
Thomas sat out last season transferring from Kansas. Beginning his career at Minnesota as a freshmen in 2021, Thomas rushed for 824 yards, six touchdowns, 91.6 yards per game which ranked sixth in the Big Ten and he was named MVP of the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. The Topeka, Kansas native then transferred to Kansas and played one season, before reuniting with Burns in Kent, after spending the 2021 season together. At 5-11, 200 pounds, Thomas runs hard and with physicality, can bounce off tacklers and help a still improving offensive line by not having them be perfect. If a play isn’t blocked perfectly, Thomas is big and strong enough to take a would be tackler with him for some yardage after contact.
“Yeah, I go back with Ky for a long time since he was a freshmen at Minnesota and me following him in classes and making sure he’s going to class and now to see him graduate and have a degree,” Burns said at his camp press conference on August 1. “You know last year he had to sit out with the two transfer rule but he is someone that just has put his head down and worked. He came into this team, not knowing a lot of these guys but knowing me and trusting me. He’s extremely, extremely talented and I think you’re going to be very impressed with what you see. He’s a guy that rushed for I believe 900 yards in the Big Ten as a true freshmen, that shows you about his ability right there.”
The Flashes also return Gavin Garcia. The 5-8, 187 pound Pennsylvania native led the Flashes last year with 544 yards in a season that was hampered by injuries. Garcia is another back that runs with power and keeps his legs moving after contact to churn out more yards.
Burns is hoping Thomas and Garcia will prove to be an effective combination in an effort to wear out league defenses.
“He’s got to get gelled with his offensive line (on Thomas) and you’re looking at the 1-2 punch of him and Gavin Garcia, which I think Gavin has had a phenomenal off season as well. But those two, they’re 1A and 1B and it gives us a lot of depth at that position which I am excited about.”
Kent State will look to improve on a running game that ran for just 2.9 yards per carry in 2023. For the Flashes to play complimentary football in 2024, a pounding running game can help in many ways. It can control the clock, keeping opposing offenses off the field. It can also help in keeping whoever the Flashes quarterback is upright and healthy through a long season. Far too many times last season Kent State failed on early downs, putting their offense in a third and long, allowing pass rushers to pin their ears back against a overmatched offensive line, and it was sack time for the defense.
This season, with an improved run game, Kent State can be in more third and manageable, and it can also open up their play action and RPO pass game for the dynamic skill that they do have.
Kent State, behind an old running back coach at the helm, will look to ride their 1-2 punch of Thomas and Garcia down the field this year, and ultimately up the MAC standings.