Gary Taylor is the number one tailback - for now.

With the offense expected to carry the team this year, the Wildcats need a running game. Taylor, who has been hampered by a groin injury, has found a couple youngsters opening some eyes and climbing the depth chart.

"If we were to play our first game tomorrow night, Gary would be our number one guy, but nothing is sealed, and he is being challenged for his job," running backs coach Marc Lunsford said.

That challenge is coming from two, true freshmen - Dennis Northcutt and Leon Callen. Both are 18 years old and are eager to make an impact.

Northcutt emerged in Monday night's scrimmage for 45 yards on nine carries, while Callen showed strong running up the middle for good yardage, something that was missing from last year's package at times. Callen ran seven times for 22 yards.

"I felt that I could have done better. When you don't get the ball that much, it's hard to get into a groove, but I'm happy with what happened," Northcutt said about his performance in the scrimmage.

Both can hit the holes hard and possess the breakaway speed to get to the outside. Callen has been timed in the 100 meters in 10.5 seconds, and Northcutt showed good vision with the ball. During one play, Northcutt tried to go over the left tackle, but wa s met head-on by senior Joe Salave'a and four other defensemen. With a stutter-step and a quick burst of speed, he got around the corner and turned what looked like a loss into a four-yard gain.

The only negative is their size and inexperience. Northcutt is listed at 5-foot-11, 160 pounds while Callen is listed at 5-10, 180.

"We recruited Leon because of his speed and his toughness, and that showed up last night. Dennis is one of those gifted athletes. He has Ontiwaun Carter's quickness and might have Chuck Levy's speed," Lunsford said.

Both come from California, where they were honored runners for championship programs. Callen never lost a game in his high school career (39-0) and earned Parade All-American honors. Northcutt broke his school's record in touchdowns with 23.

Speed is the key to turning around last year's dismal running attack that finished last in the Pacific 10 Conference in yards-per-game (103.6), average per carry (2.7), yards (1,140), and touchdowns (7).

With the entire offensive line returning, a running game could develop.

"Your running game starts with your offensive line. Last year, we never really had a cohesive group, and once we lost that continuity, we never recovered it," Lunsford said. "This year's group is all a year older and a year smarter. With that experience, I think that it is one of the better units we have ever had."

Kevin Schmidtke and Scotter Sprotte round out the tailback crew and will see game action. At the fullback position, Charles Myles and Sadiki Johnson blocked well, with Johnson finding the end zone from a yard out. Sprotte, who took carries from the fullba ck position, also found the end zone from a yard out.

"I'm excited about the whole group," Lunsford said.

Match these guys with two mobile quarterbacks and a returning receiving corps, and the offense could exceed expectations.

"This is the period of time right now that we need to grow. The growth from last night's scrimmage to the first game, and from the first game to the second game, will determine what kind of a season that we will have," Lunsford said.

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