Indianapolis Colts running backs coach Jemal Singleton is serving as the running backs coach for the West Team as part of the East-West Shrine Game, which will be held on January 21st at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Per NFL.com’s Chase Goodbread, the Colts assistant coach could be seen putting the West Team’s running backs through positional drills on Monday:
#Colts RB coach Jemal Singleton puts Utah's Joe Williams through ball security drill w/ ball on string. RBs having hard time. #shrinegame pic.twitter.com/yddhNz0QMS
— Chase Goodbread (@ChaseGoodbread) January 16, 2017
.@UWBadgers RB Dare Ogunbowale, same drill. pic.twitter.com/OJMUXpBtty
— Chase Goodbread (@ChaseGoodbread) January 16, 2017
Of course, with starting running back Frank Gore set to turn 34 years old in May, the Colts could sorely use a long-term answer at the position.
Having Singleton serve as a running backs coach provides the Colts with an inside look when it comes to evaluating the West Team’s three running back prospects: Louisiana-Lafayette’s Eli McGuire, Wisconsin’s Dare Ogunbowale, and Utah’s Joe Williams.
The 5’11”, 198 pound McGuire rushed for 4,312 total rushing yards on 711 carries (6.1 ypc avg.) and 42 rushing touchdowns in 51 games during his 4-year collegiate career with the Ragin Cajuns.
However, he also showed exceptional ability as a pass-catcher with 129 total receptions for 1,383 passing yards and 10 touchdown receptions.
As such, McGuire finished as Louisiana-Lafayette’s all-time leader in all-purpose yards and touchdowns. He was named to the All-Sun Belt Second Team following his senior season.
Meanwhile, the 5’11”, 200 pound Ogunbowale finished his Badgers career with 1,470 total rushing yards on 308 carries (4.8 ypc avg.) and 11 rushing touchdowns in 47 games–having had to play behind San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon during his first two seasons (who was also his roommate).
He also added 451 total receiving yards on 54 receptions and 2 receiving touchdowns in his 4-year collegiate career with Wisconsin–serving primarily as their passing back.
Ogunbowale is an impressive story because he started as a walk-on defensive back at Wisconsin before making the switch to running back and earning a scholarship.
Lastly, the 5’11, 205 pound Williams rushed for 1,407 total rushing yards on 210 carries (6.7 ypc avg) and 10 rushing touchdowns during his senior year–having had to play behind Denver Broncos running back Devontae Booker previously during his junior season.
The former Utes standout finished with 1,884 total rushing yards on 314 carries (6.7 ypc avg) and 13 rushing touchdowns in 19 games during his two seasons with the school.
He also added 191 receiving yards on 20 receptions.
While Williams briefly retired–only to return this season (which is sure to raise some questions), he had some monster rushing games for the Utes this season including a 332 rushing yards performance against UCLA in October, as well as a 222 rushing yard game versus Indiana in the Foster Farms Bowl in late December.
The Colts have a lot of holes on their roster–especially defensively, so it may not be the most prudent idea to select an elite running back such as LSU’s Leonard Fournette or Florida State’s Dalvin Cook in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft.
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That being said, the Colts could definitely be in the market for a young running back in the early-mid rounds of this year’s NFL Draft to groom behind Gore for a season.
Whether any of McGuire, Ogunbowale, or Williams fit that bill remains to be seen, but the Colts are clearly gaining some insight of some young running back prospects that other NFL teams may not have the luxury of this week.
It’s worth noting that Singleton isn’t the only Colts coach serving on a coaching staff, as four of his Indianapolis colleagues: Tim Berbenich (RB), Frank Giufre (OL), Brad White (DC), and Greg Williams (DB1) are also coaching in this year’s game.