Ball State Sports Link, a national leader in digital sports production, in partnership with Ball State Football, will provide a one-of-a-kind look into the 2018 season with a new series, Running Back U (#RBU).
The series will tell the story of the season from the position of the running backs. Production begins Aug. 15, with the first episode slated to premiere the following week.
Head coach Mike Neu, along with running backs coach Kevin Lynch, have granted Sports Link exclusive access to the team, locker room, team functions, road trips and more. Members of the running back corp are also providing input on feature and content ideas.
#RBU will provide unprecedented cinematic footage of the team and features-style storytelling on the group. In addition to the weekly episode, #RBU will also be available in shorter, more consumable content on digital platforms throughout the week.
Additional series distribution will be available through ballstatesports.com and Ball State’s social media platforms (@bsusportslink, @BallStateFB and @BallStateSports).
Senior Connor Nichols is the executive producer and director of creative content for the series, while a team of digital sports production students from Sports Link will work on the production crew throughout the season. Nichols is a two-time professional Emmy Award winning producer/storyteller and was the 2017-18 Sports Link Member of the Year.
#RBU is highlighted by a trio of notable performers — James Gilbert, Malik Dunner and Caleb Huntley.
Gilbert enters the season ranked ninth on Ball State’s all-time rushing list (2,147 yards). He led the Mid-American Conference with 12 rushing touchdowns and piled up 1,332 rushing yards, the fourth most in a single season by a Ball State player in 2016.
Dunner was a threat all over the field on offense and special teams last season, appearing in all 12 games and led the team in touchdowns (9). He finished second on the team in rushing attempts (74) and fourth in receptions (18).
As a kick returner, Dunner ranked second in the league in kick return average (24.4 yards per return), which included a 93-yard return for a score in the win over UAB on Sept. 9.
Huntley burst onto the stage last season. He led the team in rushing attempts (210) and yards (1,003) to became just the second freshman in Ball State history to rush for at least 1,000 yards (Bernie Parmalee, 1987). Huntley finished third in the MAC in rushing yards per game (83.6).
Tye Evans, Markice Hurt, Will Jones and Rashaad Poindexter comprise the seven-member running backs unit.
Ball State opens the season Aug. 30 against Central Connecticut State at Scheumann Stadium.
