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Running back is a position that Troy fans will be focused on heading into 2024 after the loss of all-time leading rusher Kimani Vidal.

Replacing a starting running back is never easy but Vidal has been a staple in the Troy backfield for the past five years and shattered virtually every single season, single game and career rushing record at Troy. New head coach Gerad Parker is not shy about the approach that Troy will take to the position in 2024.

“That’s probably one of the biggest question marks for everyone, especially those that have covered the program and covered Kimani in the past,” Parker said of the running back position. “It will be different but I’m very excited about our rotation there. I do like that room but it will be a committee room and that’s okay. We have to find a way to put the ball in space and still be physical and I think we have the guys to do that.”

Parker pointed to, in no particular order, Damien Taylor, Gerald Green, Jarvis Williams and Jordan Lovett as being the four likely candidates to handle the rotation at running back in 2024.

“All four have special teams abilities and all four will play for us,” Parker emphasized. “They’re all different and bring different things to the table.”

Taylor, a junior Northport native, brings the most experience of the returning runners after rushing for 346 yards and one touchdown on 67 carries in 2023. Taylor was rated as a three-star running back coming out of high school and amassed nearly 4,000 yards and more than 30 touchdowns in high school for Tuscaloosa County High.

Green, a transfer running back, brings the most experience to the position, however. Green rushed for 1,456 yards and 13 touchdowns during his career at Georgia Southern and added 101 yards and two scores at East Carolina last season.

“Gerald is kind of a utility guy who will play all four special teams for us and will play meaningful snaps (on offense),” Parker said. “Gerald is a mature dude that really prepares and I really like him. (Taylor) is a guy that brings experience and can be a leader at that spot.”

Parker pointed to Lovett as being a potential “homerun hitter” at the position. Lovett redshirted last season but rushed for 1,035 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior at Statesboro High School (Ga.).

“He’s a racer, he’s so talented,” Parker said of Lovett. “We’ll see him at a lot of different places other than running back, too.”

Jarvis Williams is coming off an injury in the spring and Parker is excited to see him back healthy.

“Jarvis is healthy now, he’s got the knee brace off and he has had a really good summer and will be a good player for us,” Parker said.

Williams rushed for 69 yards and a score on 14 carries last season and was rated as a four-star running back coming out of Blount High School. He amassed 1,352 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior and 1,632 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior.

Other players on the roster include sophomore Tae Meadows, sophomore DeWhitt Betterson Jr. and Enterprise freshman Keion Dunlap. At 6-foot-1-inches and 205 pounds, Parker said that Dunlap is one of the more interesting prospects on the roster.

“I will be very interested to see where he ends up,” Parker said of Dunlap. “He’s going to be a good player for us and I think he can play running back or linebacker. He’s a great and has been awesome already.”

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