ELON — Elon enters the 2026 football season with experience, versatility and competition in its running back room, giving the Phoenix multiple options to complement one of the CAA's top offenses.

Leading the group is senior Jimmyll Williams, who made an immediate impact in his first season with the program in 2025 after transferring from Virginia State. Williams earned a preseason All-CAA nod after being named an All-CAA honorable mention last season. The senior led Elon with 673 rushing yards on just 104 carries, averaging 6.5 yards per attempt while scoring three touchdowns. Despite starting only four games, he paced the Phoenix in rushing and ranked among the conference's leaders in yards per carry. He also contributed as a receiving back (13 catches, 143 yards), helping make him one of Elon's most versatile offensive weapons.

"It's always good to have somebody that's proven from a statistical and game rep standpoint," running backs coach Nate Harris said. "He's someone who is super studious and he's one of the two older guys who brings a calming presence to the room."

The other veteran is senior Dan Frederick, who is expected to build on an expanded role he assumed during the final weeks of the 2025 season. As injuries reshaped the rotation, Frederick earned more opportunities and responded with physical running between the tackles while providing a reliable option in short-yardage situations. He finished the year with 244 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 51 carries, averaging 4.8 yards per rush. His increased workload late in the season provided valuable experience that could translate into a larger role this fall.

"He's taken incremental steps every year, he's stayed the course and he's gotten better," Harris said. "(Frederick) seems focused, he has a confidence about him in both him and with the schemes we are running which will pay dividends for the team as a whole."

The depth chart also features promising young talent, including freshman Kamerin McDowell-Moore, one of the most decorated high school running backs to sign with the Phoenix in recent years.

McDowell-Moore starred at Tarboro High School – two hours east of Elon – where he rushed for more than 1,000 yards and at least 20 touchdowns in each of his four varsity seasons. A four-year starter, he helped lead the Vikings to the 2024 N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1A state championship and was twice named the Offensive MVP of the state championship game. He also earned first-team all-state honors, finishing his prep career as one of the state's most accomplished running backs.

While McDowell-Moore adjusts to the college game, his talent adds another layer to a running back room that already features proven production and quality depth.

"We have speed, we have power, and we have guys that have both," Frederick said. "We have a great expectation in this room from the top to the bottom and depth across the board."

Running Back Personnel
Dan Frederick | Sr. | Pikeville, N.C.
Josiah Robinson | R-Fr. | Clinton, N.C.
Dino McRae | R-So. | Marion, S.C.
Kamerin McDowell-Moore | Fr. | Tarboro, N.C.
Jimmyll Williams | Sr. | Durham, N.C.
Xavier Spadacini | Jr. | Westland, Mich.
Shepherd Miller | So. | Charlotte, N.C.
 
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