While Frank Warren has clearly nailed down the starting role, the offense is still making use of fellow senior running back Cornelius Walker — and the two remain close-knit friends.
“Walker is one of my best teammates,” Warren told me. “He gives me tips on what I need to do, if he sees something from the defense. We push each other.”
It’s a partnership, though unconventional in a new-look sports world that’s all about personal gain, which has clearly worked in Grambling’s favor.
Warren and Walker amassed nearly 1,600 rushing yards as freshmen in 2007, before Warren struggled with injury in ’08. Much of Grambling’s offensive spark over that championship season came courtesy of quarterback Greg Dillon’s outsized skills as a runner.
Now sitting out awaiting NCAA clearance, Dillon ended up as the team’s No. 2 overall rusher in 2008, averaging just 3 yards a game less than top running back Walker — who gained 719 yards as Grambling claimed its 22nd SWAC title. As a group, Dillon, Walker and Warren ran for more than 2,000 yards that season.
A year later, a healthy Warren again led the team in rushing. Warren, who rushed for a team-high 901 net yards in 2007, added 926 in 2009 — just shy of becoming the second Grambling running back to reach 1,000 since 1993. Walker pitched in 645.
They’ve returned to these spring practices with a shared temperament, Warren said, and a steely resolve toward success — whoever gets the ball.
“It’s nice,” Warren said, “to have the same goals: To win.”
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I'm expecting big things out of our run game this year… I know of Warren and Walker's abilities, but will we see more of Baptiste and Bates at running back?
MB, I think we will see plenty of Baptiste aka "Lil Bolt" in this offense. His talent to catch passes coming out of the backfield and in a normal wr position is so valuable to our offense. Baptiste will be a great safety valve for any qb in trouble. Bates has nice speed also.