Warner praised Langford for having the highest yards-per-carry rate among the backs.

“Langford has been creating plays,” Warner said. “He’s got tremendous speed and he has decent size. He’s played wide receiver and he’s played (defensive back).

“So he’s got great hands. So he has the complete package, he’s just never been in one position long enough to succeed. I’ve seen him through this last week really perform well.”

Warner also had praise for the freshman running backs, Gerald Holmes and Delton Williams, for keeping the competition tight.

“There’s good players there that can put up a lot of yards by committee,” Warner said.

Injury concerns for Riley

Bullough was not able to fully participate in practice due to an undisclosed injury, and is questionable for the scrimmage Saturday.

Head coach Mark Dantonio and Warner declined to confirm the injury.

Bullough admitted he has to adjust to the extra punishment that running backs take.

“Bad practice (the other day),” Bullough said. “Stupid mistakes, stupid things I shouldn’t be doing as a running back. I just need to get over the learning curve being a running back. I need to be that guy and just step it up a little bit.”

Bullough, converted to running back from linebacker in the spring, admitted because he’s newer to the position, his learning curve is steeper. Competing against juniors Hill and Langford also has been a challenge for him. .

“I guess they’ve been here 3-4 years,” Bullough said. “They’ve been around a lot longer, I’m still learning. At the same time, every day, we go out there and all grinding hard. It’s tough, it’s long, but we’re getting through it.”

Scrimmage preparation

The football team will participate in a scrimmage Saturday and Dantonio sees it as an opportunity to examine the defense.

“I guess the thing that you want to see always get better, it’s early, but you want to see execution in all aspects where there’s defense,” he said. “You don’t like to see coverage blown, you don’t like to see a missed block from a protection standpoint. You don’t want to see a turnover. So there’s things that kinda rattle you a bit.”

Some players, such as Hill, will use the scrimmage as an opportunity to showcase their talents, and maybe create separation in the position battles.

Though Hill said doesn’t prioritize the scrimmage over practice, he understands it’s an opportunity to showcase himself.

Hill has put on 20 pounds of muscle since last season, and according to himself has not lost any of his speed nor quickness. Hill said as a vet, he’s getting a feel for what the freshmen running backs are capable of doing, but still is aiming for a starting spot.

“I’ve always been an underdog, and I look at myself in the same situation, as an underdog, a guy that’s overseen, and is always rising to the top and to the challenge,” Hill said.