B-CU walk-on gets his chance to run

By BRENT WORONOFF, Staff Writer

DATONA BEACH -- Senior Justin Brannon has patiently waited four years to become the starting running back for Bethune-Cookman University, and it's hard to determine who's more excited about it, the player or his coach.

"He's going to be our workhorse," said B-CU coach Alvin Wyatt. "He's built low to the ground, he's strong in the legs, holds onto the football and he has that burst of speed. He's going to make a difference for us."

Brannon, whose first game as a starter will be in the Wildcats' season opener against Jacksonville on Saturday at Municipal Stadium here, is grateful to finally have a featured role four years after deciding to walk on to the team.

"You've got to pay your dues," he said. "I've had people here in front of me, people who were recruited out of high school on scholarship. Being a walk-on I had to work a little harder, but it wasn't a problem."

As a high school junior at Jacksonville Englewood, Brannon knew he wanted to play football at B-CU, and he knew his coach, Lamonte Jones, would help get him there.

"I had been (to B-CU) for some of the high school camps they hold, and I knew this was where I wanted to play," Brannon said. "My name wasn't very big, but the coach I had, he could get you into school."

But Jones left Englewood before Brannon's senior season, and the running back fell through the cracks. He enrolled at B-CU on his own and showed up unannounced at the field for spring practice during his freshman year in 2004.

"You've got at least 50 walk-ons coming out every spring, and I believe it was just me and one other guy who made it to (preseason) camp," Brannon said. "To be singled out of that large a number, somebody had to be on my side."

Brannon believes coach Jeff Fagan, then the running backs coach who now coaches B-CU's offensive line, was instrumental in getting him invited back that summer. From there, Brannon did all the work himself, steadily moving up the ladder.

"He's paid his dues," Wyatt said. "He's been very patient, and I think he's going to have a great year for us."

As a third-string running back last season, Brannon rushed for 222 yards and three touchdowns on 39 carries (5.7 ypc). He was second on the team in rushing behind quarterback Jimmie Russell (427 yards).

With the Wildcats committed to returning to the option this year after passing for an unusually high 2,230 yards last season, Brannon will be counted on to provide what had been the missing ingredient.

"We haven't had a consistent runner out of that B-back position since Jay Rogers was here (1998-2002)," Wyatt said. "You look at the great Georgia Southern teams of the 1990s, they had Adrian Peterson rushing for 1,600 yards out of that position."

Running the same kind of option offense, the Wildcats' quarterbacks have always carried the load running the ball. This year B-CU is looking to spread the ball around more, but the B-back is always the first option.

"We need to feature Justin, it's the only way we're going to have success," Wyatt said.

Said Brannon: "I hope to be the guy that receives a lot of carries and has that workload on my back. I feel like I can handle that."