TEMPE, Ariz. – The days of a dominant lead rusher who could plow through defenders, like former running back Cam Skattebo, may be in the past for Arizona State football. 

However, head coach Kenny Dillingham believes his running backs can remain effective by keeping defenses off balance with a diverse skill set.

“It’s very hard to find players that are so dominant that defenses have to plan around,” Dillingham said. “So, if you can’t … then your ability to do multiple things is your X-factor."

Dillingham used a basketball metaphor to explain the importance of having versatile running backs.

“It’s like playing with a true center, and then playing with a stretch (five) – a guy who can pop out and shoot a three once in a while.”

With a week remaining until the Sun Devils' season opener on Sept. 5, the running back room remains in flux with several names competing for spots on the depth chart. However, senior Kyson Brown leads the way, as he’s taken the first-team reps alongside newly announced starting quarterback Cutter Boley.

Kyson Brown brings experience within the ASU program. The Texas native has spent all of his collegiate career in Tempe, spanning Dillingham’s tenure as head coach.

“It’s a special place with special people,” Kyson Brown said.

Kyson Brown reflected on his time with the program, learning under stars like Skattebo and Raleek Brown.

“Everybody’s played their role in my experience," Kyson Brown said. 

Now, it’s Kyson Brown’s turn to step into the role of a veteran leader as a member of the Pat Tillman Leadership Council, while also becoming the Sun Devils’ likely first option in the backfield. 

“I just feel the challenge to uphold that standard,” Kyson Brown said.

Like Kyson Brown, junior Jason Brown Jr. has been at ASU his entire career, playing in 11 games for the Sun Devils in 2025. He was used sparingly, with 16 carries for the season and 151 yards.

With the combination of another year of experience under his belt and Dillingham’s eagerness to utilize the different abilities of his running backs, Jason Brown Jr. could see a significant uptick in usage in 2026.

Another running back with college football experience is sixth-year senior Marquis Gillis. Gillis is a transfer from Delaware State, where he rushed for 2,474 yards and 19 touchdowns in his FCS career.

Junior David Avit is another FCS transfer, coming to ASU from Villanova – a team that reached the FCS semifinal last year. Avit averaged 5½ yards per rush in 2025.

With a diverse group of players with many different skill sets, Kyson Brown said the running back room presents a unique challenge to opponents.

“I think we all bring that versatility to the game too,” Kyson Brown said. “So I’m really proud of the guys in the running back room.”

With a number of likely contributors to the run game, Dillingham emphasized the importance of a culture built around team success rather than individual aspirations.

“If you want to have individual success, you need the people around you to succeed,” Dillingham said. “If you are the boat, you need the water to flow and you need it to rise.”