DATE: Sunday, September 14, 1997            TAG: 9709140092

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER, CORRESPONDENT 

DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY                    LENGTH:   79 lines

TAILBACK TACKLES RECOVERY COMEBACK ``KING'' IS OFF AND RUNNING, EYEING A 2,000-YARD SEASON RUSHING FOR THE EAGLES

Call Kentron King the comeback kid.

After sitting out much of his junior football season with an injury, the senior tailback is back, returning to the form that helped him gain 1,200 yards rushing as a sophomore.

As a junior, King sat on the bench most of 1996 after sustaining a groin injury the first week of the season against Perquimans County. He had to grin and bear it as he watched replacement Don Jones take over the tailback duties.

``Even though Don Jones had a good year, when King was out we were not the same offense,'' said Northeastern head coach Eric McDaniels. ``He would have made us that much better of an offense.''

``I felt bad,'' King said. ``I'm not trying to put anybody down, but I knew I could do as good as they (Jones and other running backs) could. It also messed up my career high school stats.''

McDaniels said King's injury was frustrating to everyone.

``He kept thinking he could play. He kept wanting to come back and I allowed him to come back and he kept trying and I could see he couldn't do it,'' McDaniels said. ``Finally I had to say, `You've got to stop.' He finally got back to where he could play, but never at 100 percent.''

King has emerged a new man in 1997. The pain that plagued him last season is gone. In four games, all Northeastern wins, King has gained 583 yards. Against Currituck Friday night, he gained 139 yards and scored three touchdowns en route to a 36-0 win. In the Eagles' 49-0 victory over Manteo the previous week, he gained 175 yards and scored three touchdowns, including a 95-yard touchdown run.

At first, McDaniels wasn't sure what to expect when King came back to training camp in August.

``I didn't believe (he had fully recovered) and I asked him a few times before we began in August because I thought I saw a few signs of (the injury),'' McDaniels said.

After the first four games, there is no doubt that King is back.

The 1997 King is a physical specimen. Emerging from the practice field Tuesday, muscles rippled from his bare chest and arms. In a summer of weight training, he has packed on 15 pounds of muscle. McDaniels chuckled while talking about the 5-foot-10, 185-pound running back's rock-like structure.

``He's added the 15 pounds as well as getting solid physically,'' McDaniels said. ``It's made him a stronger running back. That's a big asset for a big running back. He finishes forward on almost every carry. That's one of the things that the big recruiters look for. I don't remember him being able to do that much as a sophomore, but he's definitely done that this year.

``What's made him special this year is the additional type of runner he is. He's more powerful in the open field. It's hard for one person in the secondary to tackle him.''

King's presence has helped the Eagles open up the passing lanes.

``It's unreal what he adds. The more you're able to do offensively, it makes it that much more difficult for other people,'' McDaniels said. ``People might load up and say, `We're going to stop King.' It helps that we're more than one-dimensional.''

King grinned when asked what his goal was this year. ``I wish I could get 2,000 yards,'' he said quietly.

He expressed concern that the goal was unattainable because of his lack of carries. He has averaged about 10 carries a game, but McDaniels said King will see a lot more action once the Big East Conference season gets under way on Oct. 10 at home against New Bern.

``When we play in our conference, he's not going to see many games with 10 carries, I can tell you that,'' McDaniels said. ``As a sophomore, he carried anywhere from 15 to 20 times a game. The key will be keeping him healthy so he can do that when we get to the Big East Conference. I really think the added weight and strength he's added will be a big asset because they will be much more physical people.''

Personal goals aside, King ultimately wants to see the Eagles continue to win.

``This year I've just got to do what I've got to do,'' he said. ``I'm very excited to be back.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

DREW WILSON/Virginian Pilot

Senior Kentron King, running back for the Northeastern High School

Eagles, spent most of his junior year sidelined by a groin injury.

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