By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
GREENVILLE — While several East Carolina football fans are anxious to see what the freshmen running backs can do, Pirate coach Skip Holtz said Jonathan Williams and Norm Whitley will have to wait their turn.
The Pirates (1-1), who play host to the Southern Miss Golden Eagles (1-1) at sold-out Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium this Saturday, have been rather anemic in the ground game this season. ECU has just 206 yards on 68 carries, a meager 3.0 average-per-rush, in the two games.
Quarterback Patrick Pinkney leads the Pirates in rushing with 70 yards. Dominique Lindsay has run for 69 yards (3.3 yards average-per-rush.
Chris Johnson has 47 yards (2.6 yards average-per-rush).
Holtz would love to get his freshmen backs involved in the ground game, but he’s just waiting for the right opportunity.
Williams, a 6-1, 207-pounder out of J.H. Rose High School, has touched the ball twice this season, both on kickoff returns. He electrified the crowd with a 63-yarder against North Carolina and has a 39.0 average on the two returns. Williams also has one special teams tackle.
Whitley, a 5-9, 187-pounder, has also played on special teams. He put a lick on UNC safety Trimane Goddard during a return that caused Goddard to stay on the ground for a bit.
Holtz said he wants Williams and Whitley to earn their playing time.
Holtz sees a bright future for Williams and Whitley.