Central Michigan University Athletics
Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw
Football 2022: Nichols Is The Headliner, But There Is Plenty Behind Him In CMU's Stable Of Running Backs
8/18/2022 8:05:00 AM | Football
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – True, when one thinks of the Central Michigan run game, the spotlight is rightfully on all-everything Lew Nichols III.
And while the reigning NCAA rushing leader and 2021 Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year is the alpha in the Chippewas' stable of running backs, he's hardly alone.
Just behind Nichols on the depth chart sit a pair of young and talented sophomores in Marion Lukes and Myles Bailey.
While neither is as imposing as the 222-pound Nichols, a workhorse battering ram who had a combined 381 touches a year ago, both have bulked up since their respective arrivals at CMU prior to the 2021 season.
"They're young guys, they're eager guys," running back coach Cornell Jackson said. "They have the speed and the agility; they can also help us on special teams returning punts and returning kicks.
"The thing I like about young running backs, especially these two guys, is they do an unbelievable job in pass protection protecting the quarterback."
Last season, the 5-foot-10, 206-pound Bailey carried 30 times and caught five passes, totaling 160 yards from scrimmage; Lukes had 22 carries and caught nine passes for 158 yards. He also returned 21 kicks for 485 yards including a 100-yard return for his first career touchdown in the Chippewas' 31-10 victory over Eastern Michigan in the regular season finale.
Lukes, who stands 5-9 and is listed at 195 pounds, earned Third Team All-MAC honors as a return man.
Lukes said that watching former teammate Kalil Pimpleton helped him immensely in the return game. The electrifying Pimpleton, now a Detroit Lion, was the Chippewas' primary punt return specialist and was a First Team All-MAC performer at the position.
"KP always had a little something to say," Luke said. "He'd just tell me to calm down, read the look, open your eyes. He was telling me to just go out there and do exactly what you've been doing your whole life. He's a really good mentor and a really good guy; everybody knows that. He always has something to tell you to add to your game."
Nichols, who is on the preseason watch list for every individual award for which is eligible, learned some lessons from the likes of Pimpleton as well.
Nichols roomed last year with Pimpleton and another standout wide receiver, JaCorey Sullivan. That dynamic duo helped groom Nichols on some of the intangibles that are critical, particularly for a player who is now front and center as now only a leader of his position group, but the entire team.
"I think they helped him figure out how to be a leader," Jackson said. "Is he a rah-rah, get-in-your-face type of player? No. he turns up the volume with pads on."
Clearly Nichols did that in 2021 and needs to continue that production in order for the Chippewas to be successful this season.
"We're going to go with Lew, that's not a secret," Jackson said. "I think the guy can carry the load. He did it last year, but we're going to incorporate the other guys in the system."
Lukes and Bailey are "not young backs anymore," Jackson said. "We feel really confident about them. They've shown us that they can contribute to this football team. When Lew needs a break, we've got no problem putting those guys in there."
Career-long growth and maturity is crucial to any college football player. The leap from the freshman year to the sophomore year is particularly important, and, often, when a player will make his most noticeable strides.
"When I first got (here)," Bailey said, "I kind of had my toes in the water, I didn't really know a lot, wasn't being patient, wasn't hitting the holes the way I need to hit the holes. This year I feel like I'm more patient, more explosive, (with) better vision. I worked on that tremendously in the offseason and I feel like it's going to impact my game.
"I know coaches expect a lot from me and I'm ready; I've always been ready. I kind of see how the game progresses. I've been a learner from the sideline and I feel like I'm prepared to go bigger and beyond."
And while the reigning NCAA rushing leader and 2021 Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year is the alpha in the Chippewas' stable of running backs, he's hardly alone.
Just behind Nichols on the depth chart sit a pair of young and talented sophomores in Marion Lukes and Myles Bailey.
While neither is as imposing as the 222-pound Nichols, a workhorse battering ram who had a combined 381 touches a year ago, both have bulked up since their respective arrivals at CMU prior to the 2021 season.
"They're young guys, they're eager guys," running back coach Cornell Jackson said. "They have the speed and the agility; they can also help us on special teams returning punts and returning kicks.
"The thing I like about young running backs, especially these two guys, is they do an unbelievable job in pass protection protecting the quarterback."
Last season, the 5-foot-10, 206-pound Bailey carried 30 times and caught five passes, totaling 160 yards from scrimmage; Lukes had 22 carries and caught nine passes for 158 yards. He also returned 21 kicks for 485 yards including a 100-yard return for his first career touchdown in the Chippewas' 31-10 victory over Eastern Michigan in the regular season finale.
Lukes, who stands 5-9 and is listed at 195 pounds, earned Third Team All-MAC honors as a return man.
Lukes said that watching former teammate Kalil Pimpleton helped him immensely in the return game. The electrifying Pimpleton, now a Detroit Lion, was the Chippewas' primary punt return specialist and was a First Team All-MAC performer at the position.
"KP always had a little something to say," Luke said. "He'd just tell me to calm down, read the look, open your eyes. He was telling me to just go out there and do exactly what you've been doing your whole life. He's a really good mentor and a really good guy; everybody knows that. He always has something to tell you to add to your game."
Nichols, who is on the preseason watch list for every individual award for which is eligible, learned some lessons from the likes of Pimpleton as well.
Nichols roomed last year with Pimpleton and another standout wide receiver, JaCorey Sullivan. That dynamic duo helped groom Nichols on some of the intangibles that are critical, particularly for a player who is now front and center as now only a leader of his position group, but the entire team.
"I think they helped him figure out how to be a leader," Jackson said. "Is he a rah-rah, get-in-your-face type of player? No. he turns up the volume with pads on."
Clearly Nichols did that in 2021 and needs to continue that production in order for the Chippewas to be successful this season.
"We're going to go with Lew, that's not a secret," Jackson said. "I think the guy can carry the load. He did it last year, but we're going to incorporate the other guys in the system."
Lukes and Bailey are "not young backs anymore," Jackson said. "We feel really confident about them. They've shown us that they can contribute to this football team. When Lew needs a break, we've got no problem putting those guys in there."
Career-long growth and maturity is crucial to any college football player. The leap from the freshman year to the sophomore year is particularly important, and, often, when a player will make his most noticeable strides.
"When I first got (here)," Bailey said, "I kind of had my toes in the water, I didn't really know a lot, wasn't being patient, wasn't hitting the holes the way I need to hit the holes. This year I feel like I'm more patient, more explosive, (with) better vision. I worked on that tremendously in the offseason and I feel like it's going to impact my game.
"I know coaches expect a lot from me and I'm ready; I've always been ready. I kind of see how the game progresses. I've been a learner from the sideline and I feel like I'm prepared to go bigger and beyond."
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ FootballCoach Drinkall Press Conf.
Sunday, October 05
Brock Townsend Press Conference
Sunday, October 05
Jordan Kwiatkowski Press Conference
Saturday, October 04
Football Insider - 10.2.25
Thursday, October 02