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Where's Mike Goodson?

A&M running back off freshman pace of 847 yards

By BRIAN DAVIS
The Dallas Morning News

Texas A&M quarterback Stephen McGee ranks fourth in the Big 12 with 88.9 rushing yards per game. He was just named the league's offensive player of the week.

Running back Jorvorskie Lane has scored 15 touchdowns this season. He's quickly chasing down A&M's career all-time record for rushing touchdowns.

Anybody know what happened to Mike Goodson?

It's peculiar how the nation's fifth-best rushing attack at 260.1 yards per game can't find room for its most electric runner. Goodson had 847 yards last season as a freshman. Right now, he's on pace for about 700 yards in 12 games as a sophomore.

Goodson's impact, or lack thereof, has been a major talking point inside the coaches' offices.

"We've talked about that a good bit," coach Dennis Franchione said. "It's a combination of various factors, I think, that have led to this. We probably have not been getting the ball as well to the perimeter as many times as we were last year.

"On the tackle-to-tackle plays that Mike's had, he's gotten some tremendous gains, but he hasn't broken big ones. And we've played two or three teams that just haven't given up many big plays."

Goodson has run for 20 yards or more six times this season. His longest run of the season was a 34-yarder against Montana State.

Perhaps Goodson takes off this week. Last year, he turned on the boosters in the final four regular-season games, when he had runs of 64, 58, 53 and 41 yards.

But A&M's final four opponents this season - Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas - have the top four rushing defenses in the Big 12.

There will be some tough sledding down the stretch. The Aggies could use Goodson's engine revving to boost their chances if they have any shot of beating all four.

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More Miller: Freshman defensive end Von Miller of DeSoto is fast becoming a force. He had a sack and a forced fumble against Nebraska. He'll probably get more playing time down the stretch.

"I'm really high on Von," defensive coordinator Gary Darnell said. "There's even some unique things about him. I swear he's grown 2 inches since we've signed him. He's got a flash that you don't coach."

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Holding court: Tight end Martellus Bennett didn't talk to the media for a month. But he still co-hosted Franchione's weekly radio show, which is broadcast from Wings 'N' More in College Station.

"I did that with Coach Fran," Bennett said. "Plus, Coach Fran needs me there by his side. They give him a tough time up there. It's always good to have a big bodyguard."

n Brian Davis' e-mail address is brdavis@dallasnews.com.