When was the last time a guy ran for 118 yards, including a 33-yard touchdown, and then dropped back to third string?
That’s where Damien Platt is listed on Illinois’ depth charts for the Minnesota game. He’s behind Clinton Lynch and Kevin Jackson, whose combined yards-per-game average is only slightly higher than Platt’s 75.3. But don’t think the Illini have forgotten about the shifty freshman from Mt. Clemens, Mich.
“I know I’m going to play, but I don’t know if I’m going to start,” Platt said Tuesday.
Platt said he didn’t need to pinch himself after running for more than 100 yards twice in three collegiate games. “I know it’s reality,” he said. “If it wasn’t, I’d still be in bed, snoring. I read my name in the paper. You can’t read when you’re sleeping.”
Despite his size, the 5-foot-11-inch, 195-pound Platt has big plans. “I thought about going over 1,000 yards,” he said. “Not this year. Maybe next year.”