During spring practice last year, Marquette coach Michael Stewart approached then-junior Devin Hollins and told him what every Mustangs’ running back hopes to hear.
‘You’re going to get the ball a lot,’ Hollins recalled.
That phrase may be ambiguous on some teams, but at Marquette, the message is crystal clear.
During the 2021 season, Marquette senior Christopher Kreh averaged 31 carries per game, including a whopping 51 in a come-from-behind victory over Kirkwood. Senior Justin Jackson carried the ball 252 times for the Mustangs in 2023.
“We’re looking for kids who are relentless in how they run the ball,” Stewart said. “Christopher Kreh, Justin Jackson, Devin Hollins – those kids all carry that same Mustang lineage. They’re horses for us.”
Hollins received a hefty 89 percent of the handoffs for Marquette last season and expects a similar workload this year when the Mustangs open their season at 7 p.m. Friday at Hickman.
“I’ve always been prepared for this. Seeing players who wore this jersey before me, seeing them get hit and get back up. As my younger self looking up to them, I wanted to do the same thing,” Hollins said.
Only Austin Haas of Warrenton (295 carries) toted the rock more than Hollins (284) in the St. Louis region last season, and Haas played an additional two games. Hollins carried the ball at least 23 times in every game except one, including a 32-carry, 213-yard performance against Vianney in a district quarterfinal victory.
“When he gets tackled, he’s going to get right back up and be ready for the next rep. He might not be the fastest player on the field, or he might not be this or that, but I can tell you, he has the most heart,” Stewart said.
In the Mustangs’ 23-20 playoff victory against Vianney on Nov. 1, Hollins scored on a 45-yard burst in the second quarter. Then, on his 30th carry of the game, exploded for a 34-yard touchdown run that decided the outcome.
“I’ve been practicing those long runs. As a younger back, I was able to slip a lot of tackles but once I ran through (the defense), I’d always get hauled down by someone tailing me from behind,” Hollins said. “A coach told me, ‘On film, you’re getting a lot of long runs, but I want them to be longer.’ During (Vianney) game week, I kept thinking, ‘Long runs, long runs,’ and I took it to the house.”
Hollins’ most productive games occurred in games 8-through-10. He averaged 189.6 yards per game and eclipsed the 200-yard mark twice, seemingly getting stronger as the hits to his body accumulated.
“I love absorbing the hits. When I get popped hard, it gives me motivation,” Hollins said. “After a game, Coach Stewart asks me, ‘Are you ok?’ And the answer is always, yes. I may be sore, I may need an ice bath, but I’m always ready to get back on the field and do it again.”
For Stewart, a feature back like Hollins allows the offense to work the way it is designed.
“We are the Mustangs, and he’s a horse for us. The offense is on his back, and we are blessed to be able to trust him to make the right decisions on each play,” Stewart said.
Out of every 10 handoffs, nine were placed into the chest of Hollins last year, and Stewart does not plan on trying to deceive opponents with smoke and mirrors this year.
“I don’t think the Marquette Mustangs have ever been a team of illusion. We’re going to line up the way we line up, we’re going to run the same plays that we run and it’s just a matter of you stopping us or not,” Stewart said.
In the red zone, the percentage of Hollins’ carries is even greater. He scored at least one touchdown in nine of the Mustangs’ 11 games and scored multiple touchdowns four times.
“I’ve got to shout out my O-line. I put my trust in everyone, and when we get down there, I know I’m going to score,” Hollins said. “When we get in the huddle, I don’t really say too much. I just give them eye contact, and they know what it is. We have to push them back, and I’m going to do anything to get into the end zone.”
In preparation for the upcoming season, Hollins ran track, worked on explosion drills and became a weight room fixture. He feels physically and mentally ready for the unique role of being Marquette’s feature running back.
“The goal this season is to be way better than I was last season. I feel like I have a high standard and I’m going to go get it,” Hollins said.
Running Backs to Watch in 2025
Gained 1433 yards rushing and scored 26 TDs for a Eagles team that went 7-4 last season. Mack also completed 3-of-4 passes for 3 TDs and caught 35 passes for 394 yards and 3 TDs.
Gained 1244 yards and scored nine TDs on the ground while adding 16 receptions for 167 yards and a score through the air on a Jr. Bills team that went 7-5 last season. Committed to Sacramento State University.
Gained 1363 yards rushing and scored 17 TDs while averaging 11.1 yards per carry. He also caught 13 passes for 231 yards and scored four TDs through the air to help the Crusaders win the Class 4 state title.
Gained 612 yards rushing and scored 11 total TDs for a Vikings’ team that finished 9-3. Gunn added 61 yards receiving and a had an defensive interception.
Gained 1446 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. Hollins averaged 25.8 carries per game and his 284 total carries ranked second in the STL area. He also added 16 receptions for 175 yards.