Jersey RB wants 300 in first game

At 5-foot-10, 222 pounds, Linden, N.J., running back Andre Sumner has the size to run through defenses and the 4.5 forty-yard dash time to leave people in the dust.

Sumner has a scholarship offer from Minnesota and he has received letters from Florida, Notre Dame, Virginia and Syracuse. He camped at Penn State and Rutgers, where he left Greg Schiano's staff gushing. He reminds people of Ron Dayne, and you better believe Wisconsin called this week.

The running back plans to make official campus visits in December. While he isn't close to making a decision, he named Wisconsin and Florida as his early favorites. Barry Alvarez had better watch out for his rival to the north, though, as Glen Mason and his staff are developing a chummy rapport with Sumner.

"I told them I was going to rush for 300 yards in our season opener next week," Sumner said. "[Minnesota coaches] kidded me that they didn't think I could do it. Now, I'll have to prove them wrong."

Sumner is out to make a statement this season. As a sophomore, he rushed for more than 1,300 yards, but a pulled hamstring sidelined him for the first half of last season. Despite only playing in five games, he rolled up more than 900 rushing yards, including a 315-yard/ 4-touchdown explosion in a playoff game.

"This year, I want to rush for 2,300 yards," Sumner said.

The plan is to give Sumner 30 touches per game, so this workhorse will have ample opportunity to reach his goal.