Finally healthy, Jarvis Small hopes to leave Albany State with a bang

ALBANY — Jarvis Small takes a handoff from quarterback Caleb Edmonds and runs through a hole created by the offensive line.

Small, not known to be loud or boisterous, is in pain. Not many notice, but the senior running back doesn’t grimace.

He trots back to the huddle, doesn’t say anything and gets ready for the next play.

It hasn’t been the senior season Small hoped it would be. His playing time has been limited after suffering a high ankle sprain in his right leg in Albany State’s season opener against Valdosta State. Small said he knew when a VSU defender made a tackle and rolled his ankle it wasn’t good.

“I pretty much knew,” Small said. “It was kind of bad.”

The featured back in the offense and the two-time SIAC Offensive Player of the Year has taken a back seat this season. Known for his streak of seven consecutive games of rushing for more than 100 yards in 2015 as well as a streak of eight in 2014, not everything has been lost. He has rushed for 235 yards on 79 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns this fall.

While Small has been limited, he has spent most of the season mentoring sophomore McKinley Habersham, who is second on the team with 303 yards, and a number of younger running backs.

“Jarvis’ presence as a leader has taken us to where we needed to go because he was showing the younger guys that even though you are hurt, you still have to push yourself,” Albany State coach Dan Land said.

Finally healthy, Small aims to go out with a bang. The Rams play Fort Valley State Saturday in the annual Fountain City Classic in Columbus. A victory would send ASU back to the conference championship game against Kentucky State on Nov. 12.

He’s determined to make the best of his chances before graduating in December.

While Small has been an excellent teacher for the underclassmen, the knowledge he will pass to his pupils is invaluable, according to ASU coaches. And his legacy will continue to last a lot longer at Albany State.

“That’s the way it is supposed to be … you are supposed to be passing on the things that you learned and experienced while you were playing and give it to them and let them run with it,” Small said. “Then they give something back when they’re seniors.”

Habersham often doesn’t need to consult with running backs coach Kaream Hess. He said having Small around is like having another coach.

“Everything I need to know, I can go to him and ask him what I’m looking for or what I need to do and he’ll let me know,” Habersham said. “I can just go out and make a play.”

Small has amassed 2,548 career yards and scored 26 touchdowns. While the 5-foot-7, 206-pounder hasn’t been the most imposing player on the field, Land said Small’s contributions can’t be measured.

“He came in as a walk-on, and during his sophomore year he took over,” Land said. “That’s the kind of back Jarvis is. He’s very studious and he’s one of those guys that if you tell him one time, he’s got it. Then he turns into what you call a player-coach. He’s a very smart guy. You look at him, you are like, ‘He plays football?’

“But when he puts on that uniform, you’ll see how he plays. He’s a small package with a lot of power.”

Land said he is glad to have Small back at full strength, and the senior makes it clear he hopes to help the Rams win the SIAC title, something that has eluded them the past two seasons.

“I felt good at practice today,” Small said. “Anytime you go from doing what I was doing, it’s going to hurt. As far as me, as long as we’re winning and have a chance to win a championship, my individual stats don’t matter. It’s a team game. Of course, it hurt a little bit, but it’s all good.”

Albany State coaches know their star running back will at least play through the pain to get there.