Last year, Kirk Elsworth got his first taste of college football as a freshman running back at Western Michigan.
This year, he’s hoping to play a bigger role on the Broncos, and perhaps even claim the first-string running back spot. Elsworth will be part of a retooled offense that lost two starters to the National Football League, and will have a new position coach to work with.
Last year, Elsworth saw action in 10 games, primarily on special teams, although he did make one start Oct. 8 against Ball State. For the season, he finished with 61 yards on 18 carries, and added 110 yards on six kick returns, 14 yards on a punt return, two tackles and a blocked kick.
The Broncos bounced back from a 1-10 campaign in 2004 to go 7-4 last year under first-year head coach Bill Cubit. However, the Broncos lost two key pieces of their offense, wide receiver Greg Jennings and tight end Tony Scheffler, to the NFL.
Both players were selected in the second round of April’s NFL draft, with Jennings picked 52nd overall by the Green Bay Packers and Scheffler 61st by the Denver Broncos.
However, Elsworth, 19, believes the Broncos have enough talent on board to keep the offense running smoothly. ‘The seniors were a big part of the team last year,? he said. ‘We’re a young team, but we have guys who will step up and keep things going.?
Elsworth will also be working with a new position coach this season, as Chris Tabor was hired as the Broncos? running backs and special teams coach in March.
Tabor was an assistant coach at Utah State for four seasons prior to coming to Western. According to the Broncos? Website (wmubroncos.com), he was the assistant head coach for the Aggies from 2002-04, primarily working with the team’s wide receivers. In 2005, he was the Aggies? running backs and special teams coach.
Tabor was also the running backs coach at the University of Missouri when Cubit was the offensive coordinator there during the 2000 season.
‘He came in about halfway through the (offseason) camp,? he said. ‘All the running backs have bonded with him and got to know him. He’s a real good coach.?
Tabor said Elsworth’s running style is similar to that of Mike Alstott, who is currently with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
‘I watched him on tape, and he had some nice runs this spring,? he said. ‘He runs physical and plays physical, and his speed is above-average.
In addition, Tabor said Elsworth will be an integral part of the Broncos? special-teams unit, and will be relied upon quite a bit to help make that unit work effectively.
Tabor said during the Broncos? spring practices in March and April, Elsworth had ‘some good days and some bad days, just like all our running backs, but I thought he got better.?
One aspect of the position which Tabor said Elsworth has improved in is pass protection. ‘That’s a position goal for us,? he said.
Elsworth reported to Kalamazoo in June to begin training for the upcoming season, and said he is currently staying at a friend’s house while training with the team. He said he is lifting about three or four days per week, and running three or four days per week as well.
Tabor said players are scheduled to report Sunday, Aug. 6 for the beginning of ‘training camp.? Western’s first regular season game is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 2, when the Broncos travel to the University of Indiana.
Elsworth is one of eight running backs on Western’s roster for this season. The other backs are senior Seth Quivey, juniors Mark Bonds and Anthony Gebhardt, sophomore Jamarko Simmons, and freshmen Bobby Crawford, Glenis Thompson and Brandon West.
The Broncos lost last year’s starting running back, Trevon Riley, to graduation.
Tabor said there will be plenty of competition for playing time among the team’s running backs.
‘It’s a job that guys are going to have to compete each and every day for, and Kirk knows that,? he said.
Nonetheless, Elsworth said he will continue working hard to earn his role in Western’s offense. ‘My goals are hopefully to get more playing time, and possibly become the first-string running back, as well as possibly more playing time on special teams,? he said.
As far as the team is concerned, Elsworth said he hopes the Broncos can build on their success from last year. ‘I don’t think we’ll sneak up on anyone like we did last year, but hopefully we’ll make it to a bowl this season,? he said.