At instances, it's laborious to separate Indiana operating backs Turbo Richard and Lee Beebe Jr.
There's a 1-inch peak distinction and an 8-pound weight distinction. Each got here to Bloomington after a number of seasons at different faculties. , and Richard and Beebe each possess the velocity/energy mixture and productiveness s from his floor recreation. Even their stats are practically an identical.
Both may very well be a star as a solo act, however this dashing duo appears to be enjoying higher collectively.
“That is what this recreation is all about — the way you reply," quarterback Josh Hoover mentioned after Beebe's breakout recreation helped 3 two weeks in the past. “It's not going to be good, and also you've acquired to have the psychological toughness to maneuver ahead, hold working and hold placing drives collectively. It's going to be laborious at instances as a result of soccer is a tricky recreation."
On a workforce filled with robust guys, although, maybe no one is more durable than Beebe or Richard.
Beebe arrived at Indiana final 12 months and was speculated to be a part of a three-back rotation with Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black. However the all-conference switch from UAB appeared in solely three video games earlier than e ended his season and compelled him to look at the Hoosiers' nationwide championship run.
This 12 months, he returned prepared to point out what he might do when wholesome — and d. Beebe returned the opening kickoff of the season 67 yards to arrange a landing. His second contact went for a 43-yard TD run, solely to be negated by a holding penalty. However as an alternative of fretting, Beebe stored making large play after large play.
By means of 5 video games with the seventh-ranked Hoosiers (5-0, 2-0 Large Ten), he’s averaging 5.8 yards on 89 carries and ranks twelfth nationally with 540 yards. Final week, after showing on Indiana's midweek harm report, he registered 18 carries and 122 yards, giving him his third 100-yard recreation of the season and two straight heading into Saturday’s journey to Nebraska (5-0, 2-0), which has the stingiest run protection (101.6 yards) Indiana has confronted this 12 months.
But it surely was Beebe's efficiency in opposition to Northwestern that actually turned heads.
Richard didn’t return after struggling what seemed to be a severe harm within the first half, and Beebe responded with profession bests of 24 carries and 203 yards whereas nearly carrying the Hoosiers to their twentieth consecutive win. It was ok to earn Cignetti's highest reward.
“He’s acquired as a lot coronary heart as anyone that’s been on this program the final three years,” Cignetti mentioned. “I’d examine his coronary heart to Kaelon Black’s coronary heart. He’s a man that was doing rather well and acquired harm final 12 months, so he misplaced the season. Boy, we actually wanted him and he carried the load.”
Richard wouldn’t be outdone. He returned to the lineup final weekend and was as dazzling as Beebe was the earlier week. Richard averaged 15.8 yards per carry and wanted solely 13 rushes to complete with 204 yards — topping Beebe's whole by one and giving him three 100-yard video games, similar to Beebe.
Richard, the previous Boston Faculty star, moved previous Beebe to reclaim the title of the Hoosiers' high rusher, and he ranks ninth nationally with 587 yards, making Indiana the one program with two rushers among the many high 12.
“I adore it,” Richard mentioned when requested about Beebe's 200-yard recreation. “Watching the sport after happening (in opposition to Northwestern) I'm like, ‘Yo, Lee's holding it down.’ It simply gave me motivation, like on the point of come again, you understand, being there and doing it with him."
Up to now, it's been fairly a one-two punch. Indiana ranks ninth nationally at 252.6 yards dashing per recreation and is fourth at 6.4 yards per carry. And shortly, with the potential return of Khobie Martin from a damaged arm, this good pairing might emerge because the even more durable triplets — a change that might be welcomed by the common-or-garden two backs.
“I simply try to raise everyone up, simply attempt to be that voice and like, ‘Hey, don’t hold your head down, stick with it,'” Beebe mentioned. “I simply wanted to step up and be there for the workforce (in opposition to Northwestern), and I used to be ready to do this. It wasn't simply me, it was the road, it's the receivers blocking down the sphere, it was Josh.”
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