Going into the 2015 football season, Derrick Craine feels equally comfortable being the featured running back for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga or being one of three or four players getting carries.
He’s going to get a shot at both.
The 5-foot-10, 205-pound junior is the Mocs’ leading returning rusher apart from quarterback Jacob Huesman. Craine had 491 yards and four touchdowns while spelling 1,000-yard rusher Keon Williams in 2014, and he also caught 24 passes for 218 yards and two scores. His six total touchdowns ranked fifth on the team.
He’ll be one of two primary running backs going into the season, with sophomore Richardre Bagley being the other. UTC coach Russ Huesman said Thursday that true freshman Kyle Nalls will figure into the rotation, as could true freshman Alex Trotter, who is limited while he heals from a minor shoulder injury.
UTC quarterback Alejandro Bennifield hands off the ball to running back Derrick Craine during the Mocs’ spring Blue and White football game Saturday, April 18, 2015, at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn. The white team won 6-0.“I’m surrounded by a bunch of great guys,” Craine said. “I’m in a leadership role, but the other guys push me to be a leader because a lot of them look up to me. It’s my third year in the system, but we feed off each other.”