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Photo by: Ty Klopf
Running Backs Preview: Speed and Unselfishness
8/22/2026 1:10:00 PM | Football
With Brock Townsend back, Chippewas add seven new players to the running backs room, Charles Walker begins his first year as Running Backs coach.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—With eight talented runners, several with collegiate experience, and several youngsters developing, first year Running Backs coach Charles Walker is excited to be coaching his group.
"We have highly intelligent kids and all of them can run the football," Walker said. "The most important thing that they all bring to the table is they're all unselfish. They all do everything we ask them to do. They don't always get the ball, and they've bought into that completely. There's never enough carries to go around. I'm just impressed collectively with who they are. It's easy for selfishness to creep in, but all of them have bought into the system and they are all preparing like they're the starter."
Junior Brock Townsend emerged as a key offensive playmaker last year. Townsend led the Chippewas in both touchdowns scored (eight) and receiving touchdowns (four), totaled 582 all-purpose yards, rushed for 418 yards on 82 carries (5.1 average) and caught 13 passes for 145 yards (four TDs). The all-around talent made big plays in a variety of ways, including a 51-yard reception and 46-yard run. His four touchdown receptions also rank as the second-most in a single season for a running back in school history.
"Brock can do everything we ask him to do," Walker said. "He's helped tremendously with my transition here, being the only one that's back that's played meaningful reps. Having him back has helped me tremendously. I really appreciate him."
Senior Vaughn Blue, who was recently named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List, transfers to CMU after three years at Liberty. In his 28-game career, he rushed for 557 yards on 101 carries with three touchdowns, a long run of 45 yards and finished with 19 receptions for 188 yards and two touchdowns. In all, he averaged 5.5 yards per carry and scored five total touchdowns. Last year, he concluded the season with 234 rushing yards on 47 carries and two touchdowns with a long run of 22 yards and eight receptions for 119 yards with one touchdown and a long catch of 59 yards.
"Vaughn is probably our most explosive running back in the backfield," Walker said. "He's versatile, has got great speed and is physical."
Senior Jayden Clerveaux transfers to Central Michigan from Holy Cross, where he was a two-time All-Patriot League honoree (First Team in 2024 and Second Team in 2025). In his three-year, 26-game career, Clerveaux rushed for 1,735 yards on 367 carries with 16 touchdowns and a long run of 67 yards with six receptions for 37 yards, returned nine kickoffs for 194 yards. He totaled 1,966 career all-purpose yards and averaged 4.7 yards per run.
"Jayden Clerveaux has been a great addition as well," Walker said. "He's strong, probably our strongest runner. He runs behind his pads and he's physical at the point of attack. I'm very pleased with him."
Nicholas Woodford is a sophomore transfer from Morehouse College, where he started six games and played in 10 contests last year as a freshman. He rushed for 427 yards and five touchdowns on 105 carries with a long of 49 yards, caught 24 passes for 245 yards and one touchdown, scored a total of six touchdowns and totaled 672 all-purpose yards. He caught at least one pass in all 10 games played.
"Nick Woodford is another strong runner and has good vision," Walker said. "He plays behind his pads as well."
The Chippewas added four accomplished freshmen, including Jordan Stapleton (Gulfport, Miss.), Trav Moore (DeWitt, Mich.), Jayel Harris (Cincinnati, Ohio), and Kobe Hendricks (Slinger, Wis.).
"Jordan Stapleton is an explosive running back," Walker said. "He's really good on the perimeter, hopefully, he can help us in the return game as well. He's young, but his best years are far ahead of him as he gets a little bit stronger. He's going to have a bright future here. Trav Moore was here in the spring, and I'm excited about the improvement he's made. I'm very excited about his future. He's got good feet, he's quick, and is very versatile as well. He can also block well. Jayel Harris has made great strides from spring to now. He's put on some good weight; you can see it in his lower half. He was raw coming from where he came from, but he's doing a tremendous job. And, Kobe Hendricks also has a bright future. He got here late in the summer. He is blazing fast, was a 10.6 runner in high school. He's got a bright future. He's highly intelligent, smart and he's fast. I'm excited to help him build his career."
2026 RUNNING BACKS PERSONNEL ROSTER
24 | Vaughn Blue | Sr. | 5-11 | 205 | Mount Pleasant, S.C.
31 | Jayden Clerveaux | Sr. | 5-11 | 220 | Everett, Mass.
47 | Jayel Harris | Fr. | 5-11 | 185 | Cincinnati, Ohio
40 | Kobe Hendricks | Fr. | 5-10 | 185 | Slinger, Wis.
22 | Trav Moore | Fr. | 5-11 | 205 | DeWitt, Mich.
45 | Jordan Stapleton | Fr. | 5-9 | 195 | Gulfport, Miss.
2 | Brock Townsend | Jr. | 6-0 | 215 | Caledonia, Mich.
43 | Nick Woodford | So. | 5-9 | 220 | Macon, Ga.
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"We have highly intelligent kids and all of them can run the football," Walker said. "The most important thing that they all bring to the table is they're all unselfish. They all do everything we ask them to do. They don't always get the ball, and they've bought into that completely. There's never enough carries to go around. I'm just impressed collectively with who they are. It's easy for selfishness to creep in, but all of them have bought into the system and they are all preparing like they're the starter."
Junior Brock Townsend emerged as a key offensive playmaker last year. Townsend led the Chippewas in both touchdowns scored (eight) and receiving touchdowns (four), totaled 582 all-purpose yards, rushed for 418 yards on 82 carries (5.1 average) and caught 13 passes for 145 yards (four TDs). The all-around talent made big plays in a variety of ways, including a 51-yard reception and 46-yard run. His four touchdown receptions also rank as the second-most in a single season for a running back in school history.
"Brock can do everything we ask him to do," Walker said. "He's helped tremendously with my transition here, being the only one that's back that's played meaningful reps. Having him back has helped me tremendously. I really appreciate him."
Senior Vaughn Blue, who was recently named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List, transfers to CMU after three years at Liberty. In his 28-game career, he rushed for 557 yards on 101 carries with three touchdowns, a long run of 45 yards and finished with 19 receptions for 188 yards and two touchdowns. In all, he averaged 5.5 yards per carry and scored five total touchdowns. Last year, he concluded the season with 234 rushing yards on 47 carries and two touchdowns with a long run of 22 yards and eight receptions for 119 yards with one touchdown and a long catch of 59 yards.
"Vaughn is probably our most explosive running back in the backfield," Walker said. "He's versatile, has got great speed and is physical."
Senior Jayden Clerveaux transfers to Central Michigan from Holy Cross, where he was a two-time All-Patriot League honoree (First Team in 2024 and Second Team in 2025). In his three-year, 26-game career, Clerveaux rushed for 1,735 yards on 367 carries with 16 touchdowns and a long run of 67 yards with six receptions for 37 yards, returned nine kickoffs for 194 yards. He totaled 1,966 career all-purpose yards and averaged 4.7 yards per run.
"Jayden Clerveaux has been a great addition as well," Walker said. "He's strong, probably our strongest runner. He runs behind his pads and he's physical at the point of attack. I'm very pleased with him."
Nicholas Woodford is a sophomore transfer from Morehouse College, where he started six games and played in 10 contests last year as a freshman. He rushed for 427 yards and five touchdowns on 105 carries with a long of 49 yards, caught 24 passes for 245 yards and one touchdown, scored a total of six touchdowns and totaled 672 all-purpose yards. He caught at least one pass in all 10 games played.
"Nick Woodford is another strong runner and has good vision," Walker said. "He plays behind his pads as well."
The Chippewas added four accomplished freshmen, including Jordan Stapleton (Gulfport, Miss.), Trav Moore (DeWitt, Mich.), Jayel Harris (Cincinnati, Ohio), and Kobe Hendricks (Slinger, Wis.).
"Jordan Stapleton is an explosive running back," Walker said. "He's really good on the perimeter, hopefully, he can help us in the return game as well. He's young, but his best years are far ahead of him as he gets a little bit stronger. He's going to have a bright future here. Trav Moore was here in the spring, and I'm excited about the improvement he's made. I'm very excited about his future. He's got good feet, he's quick, and is very versatile as well. He can also block well. Jayel Harris has made great strides from spring to now. He's put on some good weight; you can see it in his lower half. He was raw coming from where he came from, but he's doing a tremendous job. And, Kobe Hendricks also has a bright future. He got here late in the summer. He is blazing fast, was a 10.6 runner in high school. He's got a bright future. He's highly intelligent, smart and he's fast. I'm excited to help him build his career."
2026 RUNNING BACKS PERSONNEL ROSTER
24 | Vaughn Blue | Sr. | 5-11 | 205 | Mount Pleasant, S.C.
31 | Jayden Clerveaux | Sr. | 5-11 | 220 | Everett, Mass.
47 | Jayel Harris | Fr. | 5-11 | 185 | Cincinnati, Ohio
40 | Kobe Hendricks | Fr. | 5-10 | 185 | Slinger, Wis.
22 | Trav Moore | Fr. | 5-11 | 205 | DeWitt, Mich.
45 | Jordan Stapleton | Fr. | 5-9 | 195 | Gulfport, Miss.
2 | Brock Townsend | Jr. | 6-0 | 215 | Caledonia, Mich.
43 | Nick Woodford | So. | 5-9 | 220 | Macon, Ga.
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