Reese, Richardson Pairing Up as Baylor's Next RB Duo
After a disappointing 6-7 season last fall for the Baylor football program, one positive takeaway was the emergence of freshman running back Richard Reese.
Reese, originally from Bellville, Texas, set the BU rushing record for a freshman (972), was ranked fourth in program history for rushing touchdowns in a season (14) and had three games with 100 or more rushing yards.
As a result, he earned Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and Offensive Freshman of the Year (Dave Campbell’s Texas Football) honors while being named a First-Team Freshman All-American (FWAA, PFN).
Over a stretch of six games from September 17 to October 29, Reese averaged 22.83 carries, 118.33 rushing yards and 1.6 touchdowns per contest before struggling with injuries over the final month of the season.
Heading into his sophomore campaign, Reese isn’t one to take his heightened workload for granted, something that is typically uncommon for an underclassman.
“I use [having a big role] as motivation since I’m younger,” Reese said after yesterday’s post-practice availability. “Being young at this age and taking a big role, it’s a lot. But when I have God by my side, I keep going.”
This offseason, head coach Dave Aranda brought in Dominic Richardson (Jr.) from the transfer portal, a bruising 6-foot-1, 200-pound running back from Oklahoma State, to be the thunder to Reese’s lightning.
And as soon as Richardson stepped on campus earlier this spring, competition ensued between him and the reigning Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year.
“[It’s a] friendly competition for sure,” Richardson said after practice Tuesday. “On the field, it’s competition, and we’re going to try and beat each other. But it’s been like, ‘C’mon man, I’m going to pick you up if you fall. You’re going to pick me up if I fall,’ just being each other’s backbone.”
Reese believes the competition will ultimately help him this season as well.
“Dom keeps me pushing me every day and making me a better player,” Reese said. “Dom brings energy to the [running back] room. If he sees someone having a bad day, he’s there to tell them to ‘keep pushing.’”
But once the fall rolls around, both backs will be largely used in different situations, with Reese at 5-foot-9, 180-pounds being the finesse-back and Richardson more the power-back.
“[Reese is] very fast,” Richardson said. “I feel like I have decent speed, but we also bring different things to the table. I’m more of a downhill runner than him. I take more contact, and I’m able to do that, but he as well, he’s learning to hit people in their chest … We’re coming along really well.”
That’s not to say Reese and Richardson will be the only players getting carries this season, however.
With the departure of Qualan Jones from the program, there will likely be the need for someone to step up between Jordan Jenkins (RS-So.), Bryson Washington (Fr.) or Dawson Pendergrass (Fr.).
But Richardson says, “We have great talent in the room,” and isn’t worried if the offense will have to rely on one of the younger guys – all of whom impressed in last Saturday’s scrimmage.
As for the running back’s room relationship with the O-line, everyone must be on the same page considering Eric Mateos is replacing five starters across his offensive line.
“We have to be on the same page as a running back and O-line because that’s our scheme,” Richardson said. “It’s the type of relationship where I know he has my back, and I have his back too. [They are] going to block hard, and I’m going to run hard for [them].”