Reliable run game vital to Leatherneck offensive balance, success this season

Western Illinois strives to produce a rushing game to balance its offense in 2023. (Photo by GoLeathernecks.com)

By Dan Verdun

If Western Illinois is to have success this season, the Leathernecks must find a viable offensive rushing attack.

WIU (0-11 last season) has fallen on hard times in recent years. The Leathernecks last posted a winning record in 2017.

Last fall, WIU ranked 115th out of 123 FCS teams in rushing offense. The Leathernecks averaged just 88.5 yards per game and 2.9 yards per carry.

In addition, Western’s leading rusher, senior Erin Collins, ran for 338 yards — 163 of which came in the season finale at Illinois State. That season total is the lowest in WIU’s Division I history, excluding the COVID-19 shortened spring schedule.

Moreover, quarterback Clay Bruno was Western’s second-leading rusher with 177 yards last fall.

Second-year head coach Myers Hendrickson knows his Leathernecks’ must find an effective way to run the ball.

During the annual Missouri Valley Football Conference media day, Hendrickson was asked to identify his offensive goal for the season.

“Protecting the football,” he said. “I want to be able to run the football.”

The Leathernecks fumbled the ball 14 times, losing six, in 2022. WIU quarterbacks threw 19 interceptions and were sacked 29 times.

A recipe for success

Last year’s lack of ground production isn’t lost on two of WIU’s top returnees.

“It’s something that we could definitely improve,” Bruno said. “(Last year), we got into situations where we almost handcuffed ourselves. We had to throw the ball probably a little more than we probably should. Running the ball (effectively) would be a really big thing for us this year.”

Senior Ludovick Choquette, the team’s third-leading rusher a year ago, knows a strong running game would help the offense as a whole.

“It would open up the field for us and make the opposing defense have to play us inside the box and outside the box. That would help our offense move the ball efficiently,” the native Canadian said.

Junior college transfer Nathan Lamb, a dual-threat quarterback, agrees.

“It helps to open up the game,” he said. “In those crucial situations where you need to run the ball, it’s super important to have a running back who can take care of the ball and get the first downs and make those plays.”

Who will carry the ball?

The Leathernecks list five running backs on their roster. Leading the way are Choquette and redshirt freshman Seth Glatz, who rushed for over 6,000 yards in his prep career at downstate Morton High School.

“Seth was one of our first recruits here. As a true freshman last year, he came on late and played some good football,” Hendrickson said.

“I see Seth as a really explosive back,” Choquette said. “He takes the ball and doesn’t hesitate. He’ll find the hole and sprint through it. Even though he’s smaller (5-11, 190), he can get a lot of yards. He’s a powerful back and is really fast.”

Glatz rushed a season-high 17 times for 78 yards in WIU’s final game, an overtime loss at Illinois State.

Western also brought in junior Torrance Farmer, a transfer from FBS Arkansas State who began his career at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College after originally committing to Bowling Green out of high school.

Junior Austin Norman and freshman Dylan Van round out the WIU running backs.

It starts up front

No matter who carries the ball, strong offensive line play is needed.

Western’s rebuilt line includes transfers Ryan Merklinger (Valparaiso) and Jeremiah Banks-Wall (Bowling Green).

Merklinger, listed at 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, was a four-year varsity letter winner at Calvary Day High School in Savannah, Ga.

Listed at 6-foot-4 and 292 pounds, Banks-Wall made 13 starts at left tackle at the FBS level. He is a Lombard Montini Catholic graduate.

“We’re going to have a lot of guys who make some noise this year that people might not have known in the past,” quarterback Matt Morrissey said. “We’ve got people in the line that are coming in and stepping up.”

Loyal Leatherneck

Choquette has played in more than two dozen games in his collegiate career. During that time, WIU posted a 3-20 record.

In an era where football players are transferring at a record rate – ESPN reported 8,699 entering the portal between Aug. 1, 2022, and May 1, 2023 – Choquette has remained a Leatherneck.

“I’ve been loyal to all the people that offered me an opportunity,” Choquette explained. “I always wanted to prove that no matter the challenges, we can overcome things no matter what.

“It always starts with a team that never necessarily had the wins that it wanted. I stayed here because I want to prove that we can win if we keep pushing ourselves on both sides of the ball.”

Certainly an efficient running game would help with that.

Dan Verdun is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin. He has written four books: NIU Huskies Football, EIU Panthers Football, ISU Redbirds Football and SIU Salukis Football.

Find us on social media!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PSPigskin

Facebook: Prairie State Pigskin