Bearkat Gameday-Poullard ready to take over

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Bearkat Gameday: Chris Poullard is ready to carry the load

Sophomore running back looks to fill D.D. Terry's shoes in 2007
By Cody Stark
Assistant Sports Editor

There is no secret as to why Sam Houston State came within a game of claiming its third Southland Conference championship since 2001 last season. One has to look no further than 2006 SLC offensive player of the year D.D. Terry.

Terry, a converted linebacker at the beginning of the season, rushed for a school record and conference high 1,328 yards and 15 touchdowns behind a spectacular offensive line. But Terry is gone, leaving the Bearkats in search of a replacement to fill his big shoes.

And that job rests on the shoulders of a promising young talent — sophomore Chris Poullard. The Killeen Shoemaker product shined in his first career start in SHSU’s 17-13 victory over Angelo State last week, rushing for 131 yards on 22 carries, an eye-popping 6 yards a touch.

“I knew I was going to be the starter coming into the summer,” Poullard said. “So I stayed up here all summer, worked hard and that’s why I’m in this situation. As far as D.D., he did a lot of big things last year, and I’m trying to do the same. I’m just taking it one game at a time. I wasn’t expecting to get the ball as much as I did (against Angelo State), but I did and did some good things with it.”

While Poullard isn’t quite as big or has the track-star speed of Terry, he has the same great vision and balance which allows him to find the holes to pick up extra yardage. Poullard also gets a quick, powerful burst off the snap which resulted in only one carry for a loss against Angelo State.

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