DeMarco McCleskey (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        WEST HARRISON, Ind. - Whether or not he wants to admit it, DeMarco McCleskey has a chance to set the University of Cincinnati's single-season rushing record.

        This season, McCleskey will be the first featured running back at the school in three years - give or take a few carries.

        Coupled with a 13-game regular season, he could be in position to break Reggie Taylor's 16-year-old record of 1,325 yards.

        McCleskey, a fifth-year senior, downplays individual goals.

        “The goal I have is to win the Liberty Bowl,” he said, referring to the reward afforded the Conference USA champion. “All the individual goals are pretty much out the door.”

        Bearcats running backs coach Amos Jones knows another story.

        “I know DeMarco wants to (break it),” Jones said. “I think DeMarco is just being diplomatic. He'd like the ball every time he's on the field.”

        McCleskey will easily gain 1,000 yards, Jones said, although the coach also said breaking the single-season record will be difficult. It will depend on whether McCleskey can pick up extra yardage by making defenders miss, something he's done in the past. He will also need to stay healthy and consistent.

        McCleskey is expected to handle three-fourths of the carries this season, between 15 and 18 per game. To break Taylor's record, McCleskey would have to average 102 yards per game through 13 games. He had a career-high 179 attempts last season.

        It's not that the Bearcats' coaching staff doesn't trust the other running backs. It's just that McCleskey will be this year's workhorse.

        “We hope he'll get enough carries, so he'll feel good about himself by the end of the year,” UC head coach Rick Minter said.

        McCleskey probably won't challenge UC's career rushing record, also held by Taylor (4,242). McCleskey is eighth all-time with 2,126 yards.

        Junior Tedric Harwell is second behind McCleskey on the depth chart, with sophomore Ohio State transfer Richard Hall, the former Ohio Division III Player of the Year, a close third.

        “Of course, I want to be that other guy,” said Harwell, who had nine carries for 33 yards last season. “But what they give me, I'm going to take.”

        McCleskey, who led UC in rushing two of the past three seasons, hasn't rushed for more than 800 yards since his freshman season in 1998. Then, he played in a run-oriented offense and gained 861 yards. He wasn't enrolled in school for the 1999 season.

        When McCleskey returned the following year, the Bearcats ran more of a passing-oriented

        offense. He split time with Ray Jackson, who led the team in rushing that year (808 yards). McCleskey wasn't far behind with 500 yards.

        Last season, McCleskey rushed for 765 yards.

        “If you ever said it's time for a guy to step up and have a career year,” Minter said, “it's his turn.”

McCleskey takes run at UC record

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