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After losing three scholarship running backs (one to the transfer portal and two to graduation), ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ running backs coach Alonzo Carter had a list of running backs he wanted the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ to target in the transfer portal. "At the very top of that list" was former Texas State star Ismail Mahdi, Carter said.

Once Doege was hired and saw Carter's list with Mahdi at the top, he was all-in on the senior running back having a role in the new fast-paced, up-tempo offense.  

Carter said ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ had to "beat out some big schools" to land Mahdi, who signed with the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ over Arkansas. In two seasons at Texas State, Mahdi had 406 rushes for 2,322 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also had 31 kick returns for 760 yards and a touchdown. The 5-9, 188-pound Mahdi led FBS in all-purpose yards (2,169) in 2023 and was a two-time All-Sun Belt First-Team member in 2023 and ’24.

"Ismail, if you've seen what he did at Texas State, just get the ball in his hands and he can take the top off," Carter said. "He's a home-run hitter. ... We felt like he would fit the offense."

Mahdi was a part of a similar "tempo-based offense" at Texas State under Texas State head coach and former quarterback G.J. Kinne, Mahdi said. The Bobcats led the Sun Belt in total offense, averaging 476.9 yards per game. With Mahdi leading the way at running back, Texas State's balanced offense was second in its conference in rushing with 208.2 yards per game. 

"Texas State offense and Doege's offense is similar," Mahdi said. "Me playing in that offense and knowing the stuff I did, it can translate into that offense."

Added Carter: "He's played in a offense similar to this, but this is a little different, so he's still getting the system down. You still haven't seen him at his full tilt because the verbiage is different and everything, but I'm excited to have him." 

Even though Mahdi has been in Tucson for a few months, which is the first time he has lived outside of Texas since his family emigrated from Kenya when he was an infant, "it's been really great adjusting here," he said.

"I already felt like I've been here before because of the players and how they welcomed us," Mahdi said. "It's been going really good." 

The other pieces added to ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥'s running back room from the transfer portal in the offseason were Utah's Mike Mitchell and Portland State's Quincy Craig.

The 6-foot, 213-pound Mitchell, an Orange Park, Florida, product, played two seasons at Utah and rushed for 158 yards and a touchdown in his last season with the Utes. Mitchell "is definitely a good ball player" and "he's definitely athletically gifted," Mahdi said. Even though Mitchell has been limited this spring due to his recovery from an injury, "Mike is special," Reescano said.

"You can tell by the way some players move and how fast they make their jump-cuts and every little aspect, Mike's got it," Reescano added. "He really is like that. Once he settles in on the little things and learns blocking schemes, he's going to be something else."

Mitchell's "athleticism is different from the other guys," Carter said.

"He brings a whole different component to the game," said ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥'s running backs coach. "He's still learning, as well, but excited to have him. I'm excited about the whole group." 

Doege and ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ receivers coach Bobby Wade "found (Craig) in the portal and brought it to my attention on Christmas break," Carter said. 

"This guy can fit because he's a jack of all trades," Carter said of the 5-10, 195-pound Craig. "He has a lot of versatility that we don't have in the room. ... It was important to find pieces that fit the offense."

Before Craig played three seasons at Portland State, he was an all-purpose player at national high school football powerhouse Mater Dei in Southern California. Craig went up against UA quarterback Noah Fifita, who played at rival Servite High School, in youth football and high school. Craig's Irvine Chargers played against Fifita's Orange County Buckeyes before their bouts in the Trinity League. 

At Mater Dei, Craig had more return yards (877) than rushing yards (464) and receiving yards (759). Craig and Mahdi are expected to be among the list of players returning kicks this season. 

"I find value in special teams," Craig said. "It's definitely another aspect of the game. If you can create some juice on the special teams side, it definitely allows the offense and defense to have even more energy when they take the field." 

Craig is "real versatile, real physical, but he can also catch the ball very well," Carter said, and Craig and Mahdi "bring versatility to the room that we didn't have last year."

"They're totally different from what Kedrick does," Carter added. 

Craig has been the most improved running back this spring, according to Carter. 

"I just want to give him credit for responding from the first day," Carter said. "There was just a lot of pressure and he was too amped up. I know he knows it. ... We were real shocked that he just kind of laid an egg on the first day. From Practice 2 to now, you just see him getting better and better and better."

In Craig's first practice at ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥, "I was definitely antsy," he said, but "the game just slowed down for me a little bit more."

"As the practices went on, I started to see and understand the play-call and blocking and how it was going to work out," he said.

Earlier in the spring, Doege said all of ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥'s running backs "bring a little bit of a different skillset to the table, so it’s going to be unique to go through this process of spring ball and the summer and figure out how we’re going to use them as a unit."

"Mahdi is fast, Quincy has a feel in space, Ked can do it all — a little bit more powerful — and Mike is super explosive," said ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥'s offensive play-caller.

The veteran group of Reescano, Mahdi, Craig and Mitchell, "I feel like all of those young men, when the ball is in their hands, can affect the game and be great on special teams." 

"That's the luxury of having those three young men," Carter said. "They're all different body types, but they can play in any situation." 

Extra points

— The mantra for ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥'s running backs this season is fast, violent, physical  or "FVP." Said Reescano: "The FVP thing, that's a mentality. You have to embrace that in every aspect of the game. You can't just be fast one play, violent the next play, physical the next; you have to be all of that in one every single game." 

— Mahdi, on the value in kick returning: "It's vital when you get to the NFL. You gotta be versatile. Even if you're a high-round pick, you're not going to come in and be a starter. You gotta do the special teams reps."

— Craig, on being in EA Sports' "College Football 26" video game for the first time since FCS schools aren't in the game: "I think that's pretty cool. I didn't get that opportunity at Portland State. I think it's going to be a cool experience." 

— ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ is holding its third open practice at ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Stadium on Saturday at 7 p.m. It's ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥'s only evening practice this spring besides the Red-Blue Spring Showcase on April 19.