Running backs

By The Michigan Daily  On  September 5th, 2001

B.J. Askew #35: For the first time since 1990, an unproven running back will carry the offense. That year, Jon Vaughn replaced Tony Boles and Leroy Hoard, and ran for 489 yards in his first two games against Notre Dame and UCLA. Lloyd Carr is expecting similar results from B.J. Askew. Expected to play fullback this year, a position where he started last year and made a name for himself catching swing passes and screens, he was moved to tailback because he was Michigan"s most impressive back in fall practices and against Miami (Ohio). Askew would rather play tailback. He started his career at that position, but was moved to fullback last year because of Michigan"s depth at tailback and his superior blocking ability. Chris Perry #23: Even as Askew"s backup, Perry will still get about 15 carries a game. "Chris Perry has the opportunity to be one of the finer backs we"ve had at Michigan," Carr said. Perry was at his best last year carrying the ball off tackle on the sweep. In backing up Anthony Thomas last year, Perry averaged 5.4 yards per carry last season and in his first game, he rushed for 103 yards, becoming just the second back in school history to top 100 yards in his career debut. The other back to do so was senior Walter Cross. Walter Cross #8:Coming out of high school, Cross was considered one of the best running backs in the country. And his 104-yard career debut against Syracuse, which featured an 80-yard touchdown run, was reason to believe that more 100-yard games were in his future. This hasn"t been the case thus far, as his one handoff, 41-yard performance against Wisconsin is his second-best single-game yard total to date. Expect Cross to get about five carries a game this year.

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