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75 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, August 21, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 16, 2004 Oregon State tailback Dwight Wright, right, has rushed for 735 yards and six touchdowns in three seasons. He averages 4.2 yards per carry. Beavers have the Wright stuff Oregon State tailback has big shoes to fill and others pushing him for playing time By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune Oregon State’s newest starting tailback has every reason to believe his ascension is a Wright, er, rite of passage. The heir apparent to Steven Jackson is convinced he has the right stuff, that he’s the right man for the job. And Dwight Wright might not be wrong, for no less an authority than Jackson provided a glowing endorsement. Wright, a smallish but sturdy senior who has played behind both Jackson and Ken Simonton, remembers the vote of confidence he got from Jackson prior to the Beavers’ 55-14 win over Nevada-Las Vegas in the Las Vegas Bowl in December. Jackson, a junior, had decided he would enter the NFL draft. Advertisement "Me and Steve were real close," says Wright. "Before the game against UNLV, he came up to me and was like, ‘Man, I just want to let you know before I announce it to the team that I’m going pro.’ "That meant a lot to me. He was like, ‘You know, I’m passing the torch to you, man. This is your time to shine.’" It seems a long time coming for Wright, a 5-foot-9, 208-pounder from Pomona, Calif. He’s seen spot duty in 32 games during his career, but never has he come close to wresting the spotlight away from his heralded teammates. Simonton is the Beavers’ all-time leading rusher with 5,044 yards, and Jackson, who was taken in the first round by the St. Louis Rams, is second at 3,625. "Everyone is asking, ‘What’s this guy going to do to replace Steven Jackson?’" says Wright. "All I can do is what I do, honestly. I don’t know if that’s different or not. I’m not Steven Jackson. I’m not Ken Simonton. I’m Dwight Wright, and all I can be is the best I can be." Playing behind the two most productive runners in school history, it’s a wonder Wright has gotten playing time at all. But in three years, he’s gained 735 yards — averaging 4.2 yards per carry — and scored six touchdowns. "Simonton was here, then Jackson was here," says Wright. "God forbid any of them would get injured, but I wasn’t going to see any significant playing time." Now it’s his time, but Oregon State’s running back situation isn’t completely settled. Coach Mike Riley would prefer to have a main man, but he’s mindful that it might take more than that to replace Jackson. His term for his running back situation is "very interesting." "We’re not going to have Steven Jackson," says Riley. "Nobody else is going to have Steven Jackson. He’s gone ... a unique guy. He was an every-down back, for sure." Riley labels Wright the incumbent and doesn’t commit to a running back by committee. However, he allows that sophomore Ryan Cole and redshirt freshman Yvenson Bernard will give Wright stiff competition. Cole is a bruising 6-1, 230-pounder with decent speed and who was the top rusher in the spring game. At 5-8, 207 pounds, Bernard is in the mold of Wright, but he’s turned heads with his ability to catch passes out of the backfield. "Those guys are all good football players," says Riley. "Now, will we play more than one back? Absolutely. We played more than one back last year." Wright was rotated in at predetermined times, says Riley, and that will likely happen with this year’s stable of runners. Specific situations might also dictate who’s in. "We’ll gain yards running the ball," says Riley. "I say that because we have to. We’re not going to be a one-dimensional football team. Things don’t go well when that happens." For Wright, it was motivation enough when Jackson passed the torch. With younger teammates pushing him, his drive isn’t likely to wane. "It’s a different motivation, different work ethic," says Wright. "You know you’re going to be the one on the field, you’re going to be the one put into the spotlight. You mess up, everything’s going to be put on you." Can the man who likens himself to Walter Payton — in part, a speedster and slasher — handle it? "I’m not the biggest guy," says Wright, "but I’ve got a lot of heart and a lot of dedication, and I think that takes you a long way in football." The Wright, er, right way. Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. 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