Bears backfield getting crowded

The soon-to-be Missouri State Bears got a boost at running back last week when former Georgia Bulldog Michael Cooper enrolled. He left the Bulldogs in March in search of more playing time. He's got a chance to do that at MO State.

Cooper redshirted as a freshman and should have two years left for the Bears (I have not seen confirmation of this).

The 5-foot-11, 215-pound tailback was Georgia's leading rusher in 2003 when he made eight starts and rushed for 673 yards (4.3 ypc, long of 46 yards) and six touchdowns. But Cooper missed most of spring drills in 2004 with recurring migraine headaches and had just 70 yards on 29 carries last season. He played in just four games and didn't have a start. His only carries after the third game of the season came during UGA's 62-17 win over Kentucky.

Cooper didn't look to get more playing time in '05 and decided to transfer. Bears coach Randy Ball told Art Haines on Sports Talk that Cooper was visiting his girlfriend in Wichita and noticed a number of people wearing SMS shirts and hats (perhaps during the Missouri Valley Conference's softball tournament). That led to a phone call from Cooper to see if the Bears were interested in a tailback.

Ball said the last call he got like that was at Western Illinois. The back was Aaron Stecker.

The former Dawg will join what is becoming an increasingly-crowded MO State backfield. Lee Baker has joined SMS after one season at Middle Tennessee State. He was listed as a wide receiver at MTSU despite a 5-foot-7, 184-pound frame.

Baker spent two seasons at Coffeyville Community College and will have one year at MO State.

Baker had decent numbers for the Blue Raiders, appearing in 10 games and finishing third on the team in all-purpose yardage. He rushed for 257 yards (4.1 avg) with four scores and a long of 31 yards. He also caught 20 passes for 118 yards (5.9 avg).

Baker could also help out on special teams after returning 14 kicks for a 19.3-yard average.

Another newcomer in the mix is Ramel McIntosh (pictured below, courtesy of The Southwest Standard, scoring in the spring game), who led the Bears with 83 yards and two TDs on 17 carries in the spring game. He comes to MO State from Glendale (Ariz.) Community College. Numbers on McIntosh are hard to find, though he was named Player of the Week for the WSFL after toting the ball 26 times for 258 yards and four TDs in a 49-23 win over Phoenix College.



This trio joins Brandon Taylor (267 yards in '04), who had 12 carries for 63 yards in the Maroon and White game, and Steve McCord (no info found on him...yet), who carried once for 45 yards in the spring game.

You obviously can't replace a Cody Pratt (1179 yards, 12 TDs) with one guy. A combination of Cooper, McIntosh, Baker, etc. will help.

That depth should allow Ball to redshirt incoming freshman Orlando Slider, a speedster from Waynesville who looked solid at last week's Grin Iron Classic IV. He's not just a straight-line runner - as some suggested - showing a couple of wicked moves to evade tacklers. Plus, he's got breakaway speed. A year of seasoning will do him - and the Bears - some good.