Monmouth Football: Dissecting the running back room

Heading into the 2025 college football season, the Monmouth Hawks feature a dynamic group of running backs, blending seasoned experience with emerging talent. Monmouth’s ground attack will be powered by senior running backs Makhi Green and Lawrence Hunter, who are set to lead the Hawks with their experience and skill.

Beyond the two senior leaders, the Hawks boast a trio of promising underclassmen in Rodney Nelson, Josh Love, and Elijah Jennings, who are poised to make an impact. Alongside the trio of promising underclassmen, freshman Kenny Smith and Greg Randall add another exciting dimension to the Hawks’ backfield, bringing fresh talent and potential to the program. 

With last year’s leading rusher, Sone Ntoh, moving on to the NFL and signing with the Baltimore Ravens, the Hawks will rely on this talented group to rise to the occasion in 2025.

In 2024, Ntoh set a new Monmouth single-season rushing touchdowns record with 25. He also led the FCS in rushing and total touchdowns (26). The team captain scored at least one touchdown in every game and averaged 4.5 yards per carry, totaling 487 rushing yards. He leaves Monmouth with two All-CAA honors (2024 First Team, 2023 Second Team) and scored touchdowns in 21 of his 23 career games for the Hawks.

Who will rise to the challenge in 2025 to fill the void left by Ntoh?

Monmouth Football: Dissecting the RB Room

In 2025, Monmouth’s backfield boasts a dynamic mix of seasoned veterans and promising newcomers, bringing both experience and fresh talent to the ground game. Fans should expect Makhi Green, Lawrence Hunter, and Rodney Nelson to lead Monmouth on the ground in 2025.

Key Players for 2025

Makhi Green

As a senior, Green brings plenty of experience and agility to the Hawks’ backfield. He played in all 12 games last season, recording 278 rushing yards on 55 attempts and averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Green’s versatility extends to special teams, where he contributed as a kick and punt returner. Green is a shifty runner, relying on quick cuts, acceleration, and vision to find gaps in the defense. 

Lawrence Hunter

Hunter is from Old Bridge High School in New Jersey, and could be a strong candidate to see additional carries in 2025. At 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds, Hunter has experience in the backfield and on special teams.

During the 2024 season, Hunter appeared in six games, primarily on special teams. He had one carry for three yards in his Monmouth debut against Fordham.

Before transferring to Monmouth, Hunter played at the University of New Haven, where he built a strong reputation. While he hasn’t been a featured back, his speed and vision make him a useful asset in certain situations.

Rodney Nelson

Rodney Nelson will be key in the passing attack for the Hawks. At 5-foot-8 and 195 pounds, he has emerged as a key contributor in the Hawks’ backfield.

In the 2024 season, Nelson played in all 12 games, starting nine of them. He led Monmouth with 809 rushing yards on 133 carries, averaging an impressive 6.1 yards per attempt and scoring six rushing touchdowns. His ability to break big plays was evident, including a career-long 59-yard touchdown run against FIU.

Nelson contributed in the passing game, catching 17 passes for 154 yards. His versatility and efficiency make him a strong candidate for a bigger role in 2025.

Monmouth’s Running Back Depth

Here’s a look at Monmouth’s running back depth as they approach the 2025 season.

Jersey #	Name	Class	Height	Weight	Hometown	High School / Previous School
6	Makhi Green	Senior	5’9”	170 lbs	West Orange, NJ	West Orange High School
20	Rodney Nelson	Sophomore	5’8”	195 lbs	Owings Mills, MD	Franklin High School
24	Lawrence Hunter	Senior	5’10”	200 lbs	South Amboy, NJ	Old Bridge High School / University of New Haven
26	Josh Love	R-Freshman	5’7”	160 lbs	Manchester, NJ	Manchester Township High School
29	Elijah Jennings	R-Freshman	5’8”	170 lbs	Pennsauken, NJ	Pennsauken High School
NA	Kenny Smith	Freshman	5’11”	185 lbs	Sicklerville, NJ	Glassboro High School
42	Greg Randall	Freshman	6’1”	195 lbs	Madison, NJ	Madison High School

Breaking Down Monmouth’s Offensive Scheme: The Running Back Impact

In 2024, Ntoh was the primary back in the short-yardage and goal-line situations. Expect Hunter to absorb the short-yardage role in 2025. He is the biggest running back on Monmouth’s roster in 2025, weighing in at 200 pounds.

As for the early down situation, Green will be key here. His ability to read gaps and accelerate quickly makes him a threat for big gains.

Players like Rodney Nelson could be a change-of-pace contribution, seeing snaps when Monmouth needs fresh legs or a different tempo. If Monmouth balances these styles effectively, it could have one of the more unpredictable rushing attacks in the Coastal Athletic Association football conference.