Editor’s note: This is the latest in a series of articles focusing on the different football positions up for grabs.

If the running backs on the ISU football team had gotten a memo from their new coach when Gene Chizik was hired, it might have read something like this:

“Get ready to work – hard.”

From day one Chizik has preached the establishment of a powerful, physical run game and he is working to put his game plan into effect.

“We have to be able to run the football,” Chizik said. “It’s that plain and simple.”

Right now, that’s easier said than done.

The Cyclones are without a strong candidate for the starting running back job, as those who are currently in the ISU fold have struggled in previous game experience.

The job of Iowa State’s coaches is to replace Stevie Hicks, a 1,000-yard rusher his sophomore year and the Cyclones’ featured back for nearly his entire career.

Hicks was Iowa State’s season-opening starter in 2003, a position he never relinquished. But injuries slowed him down, as he missed significant portions of three seasons because of various nagging ailments.

While Hicks was out, several Cyclone runners had a chance to step in and fill the void, and one by one they were sent back to the sideline.

Now those same backs who struggled replacing Hicks are vying for the starting spot Hicks’ graduation left open.

“There are no favorites,” running backs coach Jay Boulware said. “Guys are working – grinding – and trying to grasp the offense. We’re not going to sit here and say this is my favorite, he’s leading. We’re not about that. We have a number of guys working in that position and I’m still evaluating them.”

Iowa State has three running backs who have seen action before.

Jason Scales has the most experience, carrying the football 91 times for 268 yards in two seasons. But he is very injury-prone, missing all of the 2005 season with a knee injury.

Jason Harris was set to become Hicks’ replacement two seasons ago, but nagging fumbling problems sent him to the defensive secondary last season. Now Harris is back at running back as the ISU coaching staff is looking for anyone who can help carry the ball.

“We need some running backs – we were thin at that position when we got here,” Boulware said. “We felt like he could add something to the room and he has.”

Finally there is sophomore Josh Johnson, another back who was bitten by the fumble bug last season and sent to the bench.

While those three backs are battling it out during spring practice, there is one more player who will be in the mix when the season starts.

Chizik signed Jamicah Bass from El Camino Community College in California. Bass – the California Junior College player of the year last season – could make an immediate impact.

He rushed for more than 1,200 yards last season while leading his team to the California Junior College title.

Chizik’s goal right now is to find his best running back to establish a mark that Bass has to do better than to earn playing time.

“When he gets here we want a definitive guy he has to beat out,” Chizik said.