Arizona State running backs coach Shaun Aguano is used to having a 1,000-yard rusher in his stable. It's pretty much been the norm during his seven-year tenure in Tempe.
But now, with so much depth at the position, several guys are expected to share the load.
Maybe nobody reaches 1,000, but multiple backs hit between 500 and 700. The ever-optimistic Aguano offers something better.
"I envision two 1,000-yard rushers," he said. "That's my dream."
Now that would be some accomplishment.
The curtain rises on a new season as the Sun Devils take on Morgan State (1-0) at 7 p.m. MST on Sept. 5 at Mountain America Stadium to start the fourth year of the Kenny Dillingham era.
Aguano, the only holdover from the previous coaching regime, acknowledges depth is
a good problem. He has seven running backs, all of whom have shown they can be that lead back. But there is only one ball. How do you keep a room full of running backs engaged if they're not the guy?
"From a psychological standpoint, it's going to be hard because they're so competitive," he said. "They're all good friends, and they work together. If we go to the two-back, it will help us out a lot, but whenever they go in and have the opportunity, they have to make sure they take advantage of it, or that opportunity might not come again.
"It's kind of plug and play, whoever can go, because all seven can go."
The 2025 leading rusher Raleek Brown and Kanye Udoh are both transferred. That makes Kyson Brown, who was sidelined for eight games with an ankle injury last season, the veteran in the room. He is one of seven players on the roster entering their fourth year in the program.
"I feel old," Brown said. "I've been here, been around the block for a while. It's just good to know we're building something special here."
Aguano said Brown is undoubtedly the leader of the group.
"They look to him every time they make a mistake because he knows the answer, and he'll help them from that standpoint," Aguano said. "He hardly makes any wrong decisions, so they look for that part of it, but they're still pushing him for the athletic part of it."
Then there is junior Jason Brown (no relation), who ran for 134 yards in the Sun Bowl — one of the few opportunities he was given in the last two years.
Rounding out the unit are two sophomores who didn't see much game action in 2025, Grayson Rigdon and Demarius "Man Man" Robinson; two transfers in Marquis Gillis (Delaware State) and David Avit (Villanova); and a promising true freshman in Cardae Mack.
It's simply a numbers problem.
Whoever gets what playing time could come down to small details that don't necessarily have anything to do with running the ball. That means less-heralded tasks such as blocking.
Aguano said Kyson Brown is probably the best blocker of his backs, just because he has had the most experience doing it against FBS competition.
"Blocking is a huge part of it," he said. "Protecting the quarterback is the No. 1 thing, so we play a huge part in that, being able to understand defensive structures, so that's a huge part of the trust part of who's going to play."
"It all comes down to who makes the least mistakes. Who is trusted the most. And they all understand that. So they're competing for that. That's why you see on the sidelines, one makes a mistake, they kind of lose it because they know if they make a mistake, they're not going to be in there."
The other benefit of having depth at the position is the ability to have fresh backs in the game at all times.
The Sun Devils also have running backs of different styles and skill sets. All adhere to the iron sharpens iron mentality.
"You need multiple backs in order to produce in college because you've got to have a lot of guys that can work with you," Mack said. "And if everybody is working hard, pushing each other, everybody's going to be better."
There are different personalities in the room too. Aguano said that Kyson Brown and Gillis, who ran for 1,182 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025, are more the alpha dogs. Rigdon and Jason Brown bring the humor, which often comes at the expense of Mack, the youngster in the group.
You have to go back to 2016 to find the last time the Sun Devils relied on a running back by committee. That was the year Demario Richard ran for 593 yards, and Kalen Ballage added 536, with quarterback Manny Wilkins contributing as well.
"I like all seven. That's the hard part," Aguano said. "We'll see what happens when the lights come on.
"I'm hard on them. Sometimes too hard, but they understand where I come from, the feelings I have for them, and I take care of them, but they understand it's a professional decision. It's never personal. It's always professional. I tell them I love them every day. They understand that, but when it comes to it, it's who is the best player on the field."
Kyson Brown sees the big picture.
"I think a lot of the guys we brought in, they add different aspects to the game, and hopefully they can come in and contribute," he said. "We all have a piece to play in this offense."
The season opener against Morgan State should be a chance to see what they can contribute.
ASU leading rushers by year
2025 — Raleek Brown 1,141
2024 — Cam Skattebo 1,711
2023 — Cam Skattebo 783
2022 — Xazavion Valladay 1,192
2021 — Rachaad White 1,006
2020 — Rachaad White 420 (4 games)
2019 — Eno Benjamin 1,083
2018 — Eno Benjamin 1,642
2017 — Demario Richard 1,027
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona State has 7 running backs. Who will emerge vs Morgan State?
