Talking running backs today after Western Kentucky’s fourth camp of the fall.

Injury update: Wide receiver Jared Dangerfield was back in full Tuesday. Center Max Halpin dressed but did not fully participate, as was the case with defensive end Tanner Reeves.

Running backs coach Greg Nord

 Running backs: “Leon’s (Allen) came into camp healthy, in shape, ready to go – been a real pleasure. The good thing is there’s depth there to compete. Whenever you’ve got competition, you’re going to make sure that you get better.

“Been real pleased with the way ‘Ace’ (Anthony Wales) and (Darmontre) Warr’s reported back to camp. They’ve obviously got the experience from spring that’s helped keep them up on top, but you throw in those two rookies with Joe Brown and (D’Andre) Ferby, both those guys are pushing down their neck and have a great deal of ability. We just got to get them knowing what to do and pointed in the right direction, I believe they’ll be good players.”

    Second year on the offense help: “Yeah, especially a guy like Leon when he’s played in games. Any of the guys that have played in games, there’s only one thing that makes you better playing this game and that’s playing.”

 Importance of depth: “It’s a great benefit. You can work their tails off. If someone doesn’t react or respond or work something exactly like you want it, then you just move them around and keep on competing. Then you also, the big advantage is, you start being able to fit players into what they do best and be able to carry many multiple sets and formations and utilize each one of ‘ems individual talents.”

 Ball security: “We sit there in our meetings holding a football for ball security. That’s one of the big things that’s a must for us in this offense and the program in general. When you look at last year’s flaws that was one of ‘em that probably kept us from being as good as we wanted to be.”

Running back D’Andre Ferby

    Your place in the backfield: “Right now we got great depth and for me individually, I’m just trying to get in the playbook, learn that and then see what happens from there.”

    The playbook: “It’s just different from high school, the wording and everything like that. In high school we really didn’t have to focus on the blocking schemes or what not, so just trying to get into that.”

 Freshmen class: “During the summer workouts, we all said the goal was to move on up and up the depth chart. So that’s what we’re trying to do now.”

 RB depth: “I look up to all of them. Right now my role is to have them feel me breathing on them to make them work even harder. If I move up, then that’s what happens, it’s part of the business.”

    Adjustments: “Definitely the speed. Speed is different. The holes, in high school, they stay open for, like, maybe four seconds. Here’s it’s like 2.5. I’ll get used it it.”

Darmontre Warr

Running backs: “I feel like our backfield is really strong. We got, like, a brotherhood backfield. We just look out for each other and care for each other and feed off each other’s energy. If Leon can’t make it, then Ace’ll make it. If I can’t make it, Leon’ll make it. We just back each other up real well.”

    RB depth: “I feel like it motivates us a lot because we’re forced to bring our ‘A’ game every day. Whenever we’re in the game, the next guy to come in might not come out. The competition makes us better each and every day.”

    Second year in offense: “I feel like we’re very comfortable. Now it’s just more easier, flowing, whereas last year we were trying to learn it and think too much. Now we can just X-out the thinking and just execute.”

    Ball security: “That’s what we stress everyday in meetings. They want us to keep the ball high and tight and make sure we don’t turn the ball over any. We try to over-emphasize it to make sure it doesn’t happen in the game.”

Forrest Lamp

    Running backs: “We have a lot of versatility in our running back area. From Leon Allen to ‘Flea’ to ‘Ace’ and our new running back Ferby, they’re all great. They all do different things and we’ll be really good at running back.”

    Second year in offense: “We didn’t change much stuff. Coach Brohm has been under coach (Bobby) Petrino for a long time and it’s just been real great going with him. I’m real comfortable, I feel like most of our offensive line is comfortable. Everybody is.”

    Helping along the younger guys: “Well, like you said, last year was my first year playing a full season. Cam (Clemmons) is our main offensive line leader. He usually leads the examples, so I just try to follow in his footsteps, do what he does, lead, show them what to do, how to do things if they mess up – because I do know more than they do – so just try to lead by example.”

 Creating holes: “When we make a hole and they break it, it gives you a really good feeling knowing that you did that for them and they also show us a lot of appreciation, so that helps a lot.”

   Clemmons: “When I first came in I was a guard and Cam obviously plays offensive tackle. I just moved to offensive tackle last year and so he basically taught me a lot of things along with senior Ed Hazelett last year. Just teaching me how to kick step and stuff like that that I didn’t know that much from high school.”