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The Running Backer Battle: UCLA’s Myles Jack Vs Washington’s Shaq Thompson

By Mike Regalado

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As it is every week in the Pac-12 conference, we have another epic battle this weekend, but this one is going outside of the realm of team versus team and player versus player. When the #18 UCLA Bruins (7-2, 4-2) head north to face the Washington Huskies (6-3, 2-3) this weekend, we are going to see a player battle, but not be like a QB vs QB match-up where we see the players perform individually. In this game, we may actually see two players going against each other as members of both offense and defense for their respective teams. This weekend we will be seeing both UCLA’s Myles Jack and Washington’s Shaq Thompson facing each other as “running backers”.

Last season we found out that freshman linebacker Myles Jack was a threat on defense, but nine games in, Bruin fans everywhere found out that we have a two-way threat in the Washington native. In UCLA’s game at Arizona, Jack had over 100 yards rushing, including a 66-yard touchdown run. He continued that in next game against the Huskies when he only ran for 59 yards, but collected 4 touchdowns in that game. Since then, Jack has had a few carries in almost every game since.

Nov 1, 2014; Boulder, CO, USA; Washington Huskies running back Shaq Thompson (7) carries for a touchdown past Colorado Buffaloes cornerback Kenneth Crawley (2) in the first quarter at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The same storyline is occurring a few hours north in the Seattle as Washington is experimenting (successfully) with a two-way player in Shaq Thompson. Because of injuries, Washington has had to go with Thompson as a replacement at running back (very similar to Jack’s rise as an offensive player) and has been working out well for the Huskies. In the last two games, Thompson has ran for 272 yards with a long of 56. For the season he has two touchdowns and is averaging 7.9 yards a carry on some very fast legs. Needless to say, he is having a very Jack-like year, but that is just on offense.

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    • On defense, Thompson is 5th on the Huskies with 54 (34 solo, 20 assisted), 2 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, 1 interception and 3 forced fumbles (for 184 yards), one of which he took back 100-yards for a touchdown. Though Washington has a lot of talent on defense, you cannot help but knowing when Thompson is playing for the Husky defense. Not only is he a smart football player, but as you can tell from his rushing statistics, he can get to anywhere on the field in a hurry.

    Going back to Jack, is was no surprise that UCLA would use him on offense, but it is his play on defense that is his strong suit. Last week he was named as a semifinalist for the Butkus Award. Currently, he is second on the Bruins in total tackles with 63 (42 solo, 21 assisted), 5 tackles for a loss and 6 broken up passes. Like his counterpart, he is definitely a commodity on defense, but this year Jack has had some offensive success as well as he has collected 71 total yards with two touchdowns and is also averaging 7.9 yards per carry.

    Nov 15, 2013; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins running back Myles Jack (30) celebrates with offensive lineman Caleb Benenoch (74) after scoring on a 2-yard touchdown run in the third quarter for his fourth touchdown against the Washington Huskies at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

    So now imagine this. Let us say Washington gets the ball first. The majority of their running game will utilize the talents of Thompson, so he leads the run game against UCLA, which will more than likely include encounters with Jack. Then UCLA gets the ball and needs some short yardage, that is most likely when Jack will serve his purpose on the offense. He gets the ball and (if he plays on defense) Thompson is there to meet him with some D of his own. We could be seeing the an epic battle of Ironmen, or as Jack puts it, “running backer”. Now it is more than likely that both teams will not plan their games just to have this battle, but it is very possible that we cold see this individual battle more than once during the game.

    Whether they play a majority of offense or defense, the “running backer” that is Jack and Thompson will no doubt bring some flare to this game. Either way it will be a wild ride in Seattle, especially with UCLA still in the hunt to win the South Division. Oh college football, how I love thee.