Bill Belton Takes Over At RB For Silas Redd
The Nittany Lions won’t have the luxury of relying on second team All-Big Ten running back Silas Redd this season who rushed for over 1,200 yards in 2011.
With Penn State’s current situation, that’s going to be a difficult task to overcome. According to Bill O’Brien, he’s already found Redd’s replacement.
His name is Bill Belton. A former wide receiver from South New Jersey who played quarterback and running back in high school rushing for over 1,000 yards and passing for over 2,000 in his senior season.
He stands at 5-10 and is listed at 202 pounds. Along with his teammates, Belton has made significant strides in the weight room under new strength and conditioning coach Craig Fitzgerald. That will help him be able to carry the ball 20 or more times a game if needed.
Belton’s no stranger to the Penn State backfield, he lined up in the wildcat formation last season carrying the football 13 times for 65 yards.
It’s going to be difficult to duplicate Redd’s production last season, but it will be a nice transition for Belton in to the backfield. He’s grown up running the ball and has had an entire spring to get to know O’Brien’s system.
Penn State will have to return four starters on the offensive line, something that doesn’t worry Belton one bit.
“On Sept. 1, we should be physically and mentally prepared,” he said. “It’s going to be crazy. I would expect big things from us.”
You have to like his confidence in his teammates and new coaching staff. That’s something Bill O’Brien is trying to get everyone on board with.
That will be crucial for this team’s success in the future.
Will Wilson is a writer for Rant Sports covering College Football and the Big Ten Conference.
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