NAPLES, Fla. — Naples football has a long legacy of producing top-tier running backs.
From Carlos Hyde, who went to Ohio State, to Duane Coleman, who went to Clemson, to Chez Mellusi who is at Wisconsin, to Carlin Fils-aime who played at Tennessee. Those are just a handful of the numerous Division I running backs that called Staver Field home over the past few decades.
“They just want to be great and be the best in this area and probably the State of Florida,” Naples running back coach Manny Morgan said.
The school has produced so many talented backs that it has earned the title “RBU” — running back university. It may be more fitting for the Golden Eagles to be “RBHS”, however. No matter what you call them, the legacy is continuing this season with not only one standout running back — but four.
“This group alone is pretty different,” Morgan said.
Different in a good way. Naples currently leads all Southwest Florida schools with 279 rushing yards per game this season. It is all thanks to the four-headed monster made up of Shawn Simeon, Jamar Jerome, Martavion Young and Caleb Dume.
“We all get our chance to perform,” Dume said. “It feels good to be out there with them.”
The long legacy that dates back to before these players were even born isn’t lost on them. However, instead of letting the RBU title be a weight on their shoulders, this year’s group uses it as motivation.
“We want to come out here and be great like them and carry on the legacy that Naples High running backs have,” Jerome said.
The quartet has some pretty big shoes to fill this season, specifically due to the departures of Kendrick Raphael, who left for NC State, and Isaiah Augustave, who went to Arkansas. They left a two-Division-I-Power-Five-college-players sized hole, which Simeon has helped fill.
“They gave me the opportunity to ball out,” Simeon said. “So that’s what I’ve been doing since.”
Simeon leads the team and ranks fifth in Southwest Florida with over 700 rushing years on the year. He’s also found the endzone a team-best nine times.
The recent success of RBU is thanks to Manny Morgan, who is a Golden Eagle running back great in his own right. Morgan suited up for Naples from 2009-2012 before a successful career at Akron. Once his playing days were over, Morgan returned to Naples to coach the running backs at his alma mater.
“Manny’s great at what he’s doing,” Young said. “He knows what he’s doing with the running backs. He gets us ready for every Friday game.”
With Morgan leading the way, this year’s group is living up to the RBU title and has its sights set on the ultimate goal.
“They can accomplish great things,” Morgan said. “The expectation is winning a state championship.”
Before that, Naples plays Lely in the 50th annual Coconut Bowl on Friday night.