Big Shoes to Fill in the Rutgers Backfield
PISCATAWAY, N.J., Aug. 21 - A sweat-stained gray undershirt fluttered from beneath Jack Corcoran's shoulder pads Tuesday, and he accessorized the look by keeping his black socks low to reveal bulging calves. Even his knuckles were skinned scarlet.
Corcoran, a sophomore from Atlantic City, has claimed the starting fullback position at Rutgers, which means he gets to block for Ray Rice, the junior tailback whom the school is pushing for the Heisman Trophy through a Web site, www.seerayrun.com.
But Corcoran's job is not exactly as simple as moving aside snarling linebackers. He is replacing Brian Leonard, the tireless, selfless fullback who helped the Scarlet Knights get to bowl games the past two seasons after a 27-year bowl-game drought.
As Mike Teel, the starting quarterback, said Tuesday: "Brian Leonard was the face of Rutgers football - everywhere you went, you saw Brian Leonard. You can't replace a guy like that, and Ray Rice can't do it all by himself."
Leonard, who is now a rookie with the St. Louis Rams, was versatile, at times inspirational, and Corcoran must help Rutgers overcome the loss of a player who did it all as well as try to open running lanes for Ray Rice.
Leonard finished his collegiate career with 2,775 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns on a program-record 678 attempts. He also caught 207 passes, another Rutgers record, for 1,868 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Corcoran, who rushed for 3,683 yards at St. Joseph's High School, played mostly as a blocker in every game as a freshman at Rutgers except the opener. For the season, he had 30 yards rushing on 4 carries, all in a 56-7 victory against Howard.
He has a way to go to catch Leonard.
"I think it's all positive," Corcoran said cheerfully after practice.
He said he would have help from the big offensive line. Plus, he said, Ray Rice, who gained 2,914 yards in the past two seasons, was the kind of running back who did not need a wide seam to break a long gain.
"He just needs a little hole," Corcoran said. "He's the best back in the country, a Heisman candidate, an all-American, you name it. I'm looking forward to the challenge."
What if he fails to conquer the challenge? Corcoran frowned, then said, "I don't think as an athlete you can think like that."
Although Rutgers Coach Greg Schiano saw some things at practice that he did not like - he nearly hurled his bullhorn after a blunder during a kickoff return - he seemed to think his team would be ready for its season opener Aug. 30 against Buffalo.
"You can see that game on the horizon," Schiano said. "That excitement is starting to brew."
Schiano seems pleased with Corcoran. Apparently, it has not always been a smooth transition.
"He's looked good," Schiano said. "He had a good spring, not a great spring, but he's had a very good camp."
Corcoran agreed with Schiano's assessment. "I've had a lot better camp than I did in the spring," he said. "I'm not happy if I don't keep progressing. I might not play as big a role as Brian played, but I'll block for Ray Rice and catch an occasional pass. Brian really had to carry the load."
Several times during practice, the first team jogged off the field after running a play, and Corcoran and Ray Rice stood next to each other, as if they were already a matched set. Ray Rice adored Leonard, but he said he felt comfortable with Corcoran, too.
"I got to know him when he came in last year, and he was so willing to learn - he asks all the questions he has to ask to learn something," Ray Rice said of Corcoran. "He's definitely eager. That's what's going to drive him to be the best he can be. I don't think he wants to let anybody down. He wants to show he can do it."
Corcoran likes to think he is somewhat similar to Leonard. At 230 pounds, only about five pounds more than Leonard, Corcoran is not a bruising, earth-moving fullback, either. He is light on his feet, has good hands and thinks he knows where he should be on the football field.
Teel said Corcoran was as stoic as Leonard, who adapted to fullback so Ray Rice could move into the lineup as a freshman. "He's a pretty quiet kid," Teel said. "He keeps to himself. He goes about his business, and he does what he needs to do."
Corcoran, and the Scarlet Knights, have time to find a rhythm. Their first five games are at home. They do not play their second road game until November, after they play host to West Virginia - which, like Rutgers, went 11-2 last season.
"I'm just going to do the best I can to keep the yardage up," Corcoran said. "It's not going to be all on me. It's going to be on the offensive line, too."
But the linemen are not replacing Leonard. Smiling, Corcoran said, "I guess anyone filling in for a legend like Brian Leonard is going to get some amount of attention."
| 
