New KU football running back scored on first carry: ‘He runs the ball like an animal’
Kansas wide receiver Lawrence Arnold was not surprised in any way to see University of Buffalo transfer Dylan McDuffie race 17 yards for a touchdown on the senior running back’s first carry as a member of the Kansas Jayhawks.
“I knew he was going to score. If you see ‘Duff’ in practice ... the way he runs the ball. He runs the ball like an animal,” Arnold said after the Jayhawks’ 48-17 season-opening victory over Missouri State on Friday at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
“To see him score, I’m really happy for him. You give him the ball in practice, even if we just tag him (in a non-contact drill), the DBs come up to tag him and kind of jump out of the way because he runs very aggressive. It’s great to see him run like that.”
McDuffie was one of four KU running backs to score TDs in the victory.
Devin Neal, Sevion Morrison and Daniel Hishaw also reached the end zone for KU, which rushed for 245 yards on 38 carries and outgained Missouri State 521 yards to 217.
McDuffie, a 6-foot, 215-pound senior from Buffalo, New York, who played for third-year KU football coach Lance Leipold at Leipold’s last coaching stop, accepted a handoff from quarterback Jason Bean and was unstoppable on his third-quarter dash to the end zone.
His TD upped a 17-10 lead to 14 points and proved to be one of the Jayhawks’ biggest plays on offense in the Jayhawks’ victory.
Junior running back Neal — he led the way with 94 yards on 13 carries and two touchdowns (48 yard TD run on his first carry and 6-yard pass reception from Bean) — said he was pleased for newcomer McDuffie.
“He was amped up all week,” said Neal. “Obviously it was his first carry and he took it in the end zone. I’m super proud of him and the entire running back room what we’ve been able to do so far this year.”
Bean, who subbed for preseason Big 12 offensive player of the year Jalon Daniels — who did not play because of lingering back tightness — also praised McDuffie’s highlight-film run for a TD.
“It was huge,” Bean said. “He’s worked his tail off this whole offseason. For him to make that play on that particular play, it’s pretty big for him. I’m proud of the way he’s prepared this offseason.”
Also for KU, Hishaw, whose fumble led to a Missouri State score that tied the game at 7-7, scored on a 24-yard run to give KU a 34-17 lead. And Morrison scored late on a 5-yard run.
Morrison had eight carries for 41 yards, McDuffie six carries for 40 yards and Hishaw four carries 29 yards.
“It’s huge because on film (opponents) see four different backs can score,” Bean said. “Defenses will have to prepare for four different backs, not just one running back. It’s a huge credit to our offensive line for the way they played tonight.
“We got a lot of depth a lot of competition, which will make them better. I’m proud of the way (the running backs) played tonight.”
Bean, who threw for 276 yards and two TDs and rushed for 41 yards, said of the four, “They all have their strong suits and they showed that tonight.”
