Northwestern Football: Who replaces Jeremy Larkin in the backfield?

Tough news struck Evanston on Monday afternoon as Northwestern football’s starting running back Jeremy Larkin was forced to retire.

Pat Fitzgerald has a decision to make. Just three games into the year, he has to deal with one of the most crushing blows his program has ever had, losing starting running back Jeremy Larkin to early retirement due to a spinal injury.

It was the right move for the sophomore running back as to not risk further damage that could hamper him down the line, but it takes one of the most explosive players in the Big Ten away and makes Northwestern scramble to find his replacement.

Through three games this season, Larkin was averaging 115.3 rushing yards per game and he added 127 receiving yards as well. He scored five touchdowns and was a major piece to the offensive puzzle, taking pressure off Clayton Thorson.

So who replaces the star back after his sudden retirement?

An early favorite has to be junior John Moten IV who had a strong freshman season in 2016, but he’s seen his yards per carry average fall dramatically. As a freshman, he averaged 6.0 yards per carry, totaling 340 yards and two scores. Since, he has a total of 29 carries for 76 yards and a score.

If Moten IV can get back to that freshman form, the Wildcats won’t lose out on too much production without Larkin, but there’s not much depth at the position behind him.

We could see more of freshman Isaiah Bowser as well who has just one carry this season for no gain, but he could find a way to earn himself more carries next season and beyond.

Right now, it has to be Moten IV based on necessity, but finding a couple of adequate backs will be tough — we may see some players switch positions as well.

Tough loss for the Wildcats, as you can see.