USD’s Adam Criter a natural at new position: running back

Summarizing Adam Criter’s first three seasons as a University of San Diego wide receiver does not take long: One catch, 11 yards.

With that as a backdrop, first-year USD offensive coordinator Nick Fulton invited Criter into his office last spring. Fulton and other USD offensive assistants pitched Criter on the idea of switching to running back.

“I was all for it, honestly,” said Criter, a senior.

On the fourth quarter’s first play of USD’s season opener against Cal Poly on Aug. 30, facing a third-and-1 from the Toreros’ 21, Criter was handed the ball for the first carry of his college career.

It was a simple play. Line up to the left of the quarterback. Take the ball. Run.

The result was anything but routine.

Criter ran off right tackle and soon was past the linemen, past the linebackers and running down the sideline in front of USD’s bench.

“I kind of blacked out for a moment,” said Criter. “I don’t remember much of it.”

Criter, who has been clocked at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard, sped down the sideline and no one caught him. His first college carry resulted in a 79-yard touchdown, one of the few highlights in a 41-17 loss. He celebrated by somersaulting into the end zone and was flagged for 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Awaiting to greet Criter on the sideline was USD head coach Brandon Moore.

“That was awesome,” Moore said of the run. As for the somersault, Moore added: “Just don’t do that again.”

“It was a little slap on the wrist,” said Criter, “then back in the huddle.”

The Toreros take a 3-2 record (1-0 in the Pioneer Football League) into Saturday’s game at Marist, and Criter has developed into one of their most fascinating stories.

A foot injury suffered in Week 3 has sidelined starting running back Matt Colombo. Into that void stepped Criter, who at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds is tall as running backs go.

Criter has not looked lost at his new position. In a 42-35 win at Princeton, a game the Toreros trailed by 21 points on three occasions, Criter carried 25 times for 105 yards and scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns on runs of 4, 24 and 8 yards. He also caught 10 passes for 68 yards.

In last Saturday’s 30-27 comeback win against St. Thomas (the Toreros trailed 27-10 in the third quarter), Criter carried 28 times for 120 yards and caught two passes for seven yards.

That’s 65 touches in the past two games.

Asked if he’s sore, Criter said, “Yes, definitely. The ice bath is my best friend right now.”

Criter grew up in Downer’s Grove, Ill., 23 miles west of Chicago. He played his senior year at St. Francis High School, a Catholic college prep school. He landed at USD after attending a football camp at the University of Iowa, where former USD offensive coordinator Matt Aponte coached.

Criter primarily played wide receiver at St. Francis, but did have some experience at running back. St. Francis ran a version of the Wildcat offense, with Criter taking direct snaps and darting off.

His high school coach, Bob McMillen, isn’t surprised by Criter’s success.

“Just watching him run the ball in high school, I thought he would succeed at either position, wherever San Diego put him,” said McMillen. “His work ethic is like nobody else’s.”

As for what USD saw in Criter that gave him the idea of shifting him to running back, Fulton passes the credit to offensive line coach Austen Jacobs, who’s in his fourth year at USD.

“He mentioned there were some (previous) internal discussions that Adam might be successful at that position,” said Fulton.

The idea for the move was partially out of necessity. The Toreros were thin at running back.

“I just felt it was in his best interest and our best interest to try to figure out a way to get the ball in his hands more,” said Fulton. “Moving him to running back seemed like a real good fit.”

Going into the season, the idea was that Criter would complement Colombo, likely getting the bulk of his carries on the edge or as a passing option out of the backfield.

But since Colombo’s injury, Criter has done it all. For the season, Criter has carried 72 times for 365 yards and scored a team-leading five touchdowns. He has also caught 17 passes for 104 yards.

“The kid’s doing an exceptional job,” said USD coach Brandon Moore. “He’s muddying it up there with the big defensive linemen and the downhill linebackers. He’s holding his own. He’s our run game at this point.”

“His ceiling is extremely high,” Fulton said. “I don’t even know that he’s touched what he’s capable of at that position. We’re excited. We think he has a bright future.”

Criter said the biggest adjustment has come in expanding his football I.Q.

“Understanding how the offensive line works, understanding pass protection,” he said.

Running in space is instinctual. Running inside, amidst the traffic and mayhem of so many bodies, takes more seasoning.

“It requires more patience,” he said. “It’s taught me to train my eyes.”

When Colombo is healthy, he’ll likely return as the lead back. After all, he’s been playing the position since childhood and gained 202 yards on 34 carries in a 30-27 overtime win against Southern Utah.

Criter, though, will not be relegated to the bench.

“Having Adam and Colombo gives us a one-two punch,” said Moore. “You see it a lot in programs. If two backs carry the load, that can be pretty effective.”

One thing is certain. Criter is certain he’s supposed to be a running back. He’s planning on returning for a fifth season next fall.

“I want to squeeze everything I can,” he said.

“Ultimately,” said Moore, “what it took is for somebody to believe in the kid and for the kid to believe in the system and the offense we’re running. They’re both thriving now.”

USD (3-2, 1-0) at Marist (2-2, 0-1)

When: 9 a.m., Saturday

Where: Tenney Stadium, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Streaming: ESPN+; audio on USDToreros.com

History:  USD leads 16-1. The Toreros routed the Red Foxes at home last year 34-6. Marist’s lone win in the series came in 2023, winning at home 30-15.

Toreros notes:  Call them the Comeback Kids. USD came from 21 points down to beat Princeton 42-35 two weeks ago. The Toreros spotted St. Thomas a 17-point lead in the third quarter last week before winning 30-27 on a final-play field goal. QBs Dom Nankil and Tyler Voss have split time the last two games with remarkable success. Combined, they’ve completed 74% of their passes for 672 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions. The Toreros have suffered just two turnovers in five games and have yet to throw an interception.

Red Foxes notes:  Quarterback Sonny Mannino keys an attack that’s averaging 25.7 points per game. He has passed for 583 yards with five TDs and two interceptions and is Marist’s leading rusher with 225 yards.

DON NORCROSS