Former Mill Valley standout in the mix

By Matt Tait     Jul 30, 2008

They’ve got options

When Kansas State junior Leon Patton was arrested in early July for two outstanding warrants regarding traffic violations, it opened the door for other running backs to step in at Kansas State.

Here’s a look at the candidates:

¢ Keithen Valentine – Jr.

¢ Justin Woods – Fr. (rs)

¢ Dee Bell – Fr. (rs)

¢ Kwamaine Brown – Fr.

¢ Logan Dold – Fr.

¢ Jarell Childs – Fr.

(rs) = red-shirt

With presumed starter Leon Patton battling legal troubles and last year’s leading rusher James Johnson fighting for a spot in the NFL, the keys to the Kansas State football team’s tailback position are up for grabs.

While the list of 2008 possible starters is long, former Mill Valley High standout Justin Woods is in position to hop behind the wheel.

Woods, a 2007 MVHS graduate who committed to Kansas State before his senior season with the Jaguars, has caught the eye of KSU coach Ron Prince and running backs coach Ricky Rahne in the last few months. Heading into camp, it seems that junior college transfer Keithen Valentine is atop the depth chart at tailback. But, last week at Big 12 Media Days in Kansas City, Mo., Prince made sure to point out that the race is wide open.

“(Valentine) improved in the spring and so did Justin Woods,” Prince said. “We know (Olathe East product) Dee Bell and Justin are 100-meter champs (at state track) and all that stuff, so we don’t feel like we’re really going to concede much speed. (The big question) is just going to be experience.”

After starting for three seasons at Mill Valley – leaving with career totals of 3,003 yards and 33 touchdowns, including a school-record setting 304-yard performance in his final prep game – Woods red-shirted last season at Kansas State.

Now, in just his second season with the team, he’s in the running for significant playing time, especially because Prince said he did not foresee Patton’s problems clearing up anytime soon.

“Clearly Leon Patton was our starter,” Prince said. “But that situation will go unresolved for a period of time.”

That forces Prince to look at the rest of his roster, one he’s filled with quality running backs from the past two recruiting classes.

“The truth is, we feel like we’ve done enough in the last couple of years to try to answer (any running back questions),” Prince said.

While Woods’ goals center around cracking the rotation at running back, the K-State coaching staff also has considered him as a return man because of his speed and agility, according to the team’s media guide. Considering the importance KSU places on special teams, 2008 could be a banner year for Woods, one way or another.

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Written By Matt Tait

A native of Colorado, Matt moved to Lawrence in 1988 and has been in town ever since. He graduated from Lawrence High in 1996 and the University of Kansas in 2000 with a degree in Journalism. After covering KU sports for the University Daily Kansan and Rivals.com, Matt joined the World Company (and later Ogden Publications) in 2001 and has held several positions with the paper and KUsports.com in the past 20+ years. He became the Journal-World Sports Editor in 2018. Throughout his career, Matt has won several local and national awards from both the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Kansas Press Association. In 2021, he was named the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Matt lives in Lawrence with his wife, Allison, and two daughters, Kate and Molly. When he's not covering KU sports, he likes to spend his time playing basketball and golf, listening to and writing music and traveling the world with friends and family.