Football | 8/10/2026 9:55:00 AM

August 10, 2026- The running backs and Stinger backs are the most inexperienced group for the Hornets with no seniors listed among the 13 players at that position.
 
Running backs
Camden Crooks has the most experience among the running backs. The Cushing, Okla. native had 303 rushing yards on 82 carries with three touchdowns last season.  He also caught 24 passes for 208 yards and a score for the Hornets. He had 58 return yards for a total of 569 all purpose yards last season. Played in six games over two seasons at Tulsa with 60 yards on six carries for the Golden Hurricanes.
 
Terrel Graves is in his first season at ESU after transferring from NCAA Division III Greenville (Ill.). He played in 18 games over two seasons with the Panthers. The Roxana, Ill. native gained 1084 yards on 184 carries with 13 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2025 to earn First Team All-Conference honors. He recorded two games of over 200 yards, including a 291 yard, three touchdown performance against Minnesota Morris.
 
Victor Chionuma is in his second year at Emporia State but third year in the MIAA after transferring from Missouri Southern. He appeared in 21 games over two seasons with the Lions, gaining 541 yards on 146 carries with five touchdowns. The Prosper, Texas native was 12th in the MIAA in rushing as freshman with 435 yards and three touchdowns.

RUNNING BACK NOTES:
There are no seniors or sophomores, four juniors, two redshirt freshmen and two true freshman listed among the eight running backs.
Only one of the running backs has seen game action for Emporia State.
Three of the running backs are from Kansas, two are from Oklahoma, two are from Texas, and one is from Illinois.  
 
Stinger Backs
Sam Hull is in his third year at Emporia State. He played in seven games last season for the Hornets.  He was named All-State and All-District at wide receiver for Humboldt HS. He had 53 receptions for 814 yards and nine touchdowns.
 
Seneca Steele is in his second year with the Hornets. He earned First Team All-District honors at quarterback as a senior for Kansas (Okla.) HS as he amassed nearly 7,500 yards and totaled 81 touchdowns in his career.
 
Ike Owen is in his first season at Emporia State after transferring from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M where he earned All-Conference honors at tight end in 2025. He started his collegiate career at Drake where he redshirted in 2023.
 
STINGER BACK NOTES
There are no seniors, two juniors, one sophomore, one redshirt freshman and one freshman listed among the five Stinger backs.
All five Stinger Backs will be seeing action on the field in either their first or second year at Emporia State.
Two of the Stinger Backs are from Kansas, two are from Oklahoma and one is from Texas.

RUNNING BACKS

8	Camden Crooks	RB	5-11	201	R-Jr.	Cushing, OK	Cushing HS	Tulsa
22	Charles Morgan	RB	5-8	175	Jr.	Manhattan, KS	Manhattan HS	Coffeyville CC
25	Victor Chionuma	RB	5-10	203	Jr.	Prosper, TX	Rock Hill HS	Missouri Southern
28	Felix Teal	RB	5-9	190	R-Fr.	Laverne, OK	Laverne HS
30	Terrel Graves	RB	5-11	206	Jr.	Roxana, IL	Roxana HS	Greenville
46	Cooper Parsons	RB	5-9	194	R-Fr.	Osage City, KS	Osage City HS	Ottawa
	Carter Hajek	RB	5-10	205	Fr.	Seneca, KS	Nemaha Central HS
	Vudrico Roberson	RB	5-9	160	Fr.	Fort Worth, TX	Haltom HS

 
STINGER BACKS

9	Ike Owens	SB	6-2	218	R-Jr.	Tulsa, OK	Jenks HS	Drake/Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
49	Seneca Steele	SB	6-3	227	R-Fr.	Kansas, OK	Kansas HS
84	Robert Harding	SB	6-3	235	R-Jr.	Killeen, TX	Ellison HS	Tyler JC
89	Sam Hull	SB	6-4	220	R-So.	Humboldt, KS	Humboldt HS
	Jordey Pierce	SB	6-2	220	Fr.	Arkansas City, KS	Arkansas City HS

Running back Cameron Crooks, S-Backs Sam Hull and Seneca Steele along with assistant coach Blake Stone  and head coach Garin Higgins will be available on Monday, August 10 in the interview tent at Welch Stadium.
This is the fifth part of an eight-part series of position previews for the Emporia State football team. Saturday the receivers were featured and tomorrow the offensive line will be at the podium.