Thursday, September 02, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Riggs Jr. OK following in dad's footsteps

Son of former Bonanza High, NFL star competing for starting job at Tennessee

By MARK ANDERSON
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Junior running back Gerald Riggs Jr. has rushed for 256 yards and one touchdown on 63 carries in two seasons at Tennessee. The 14th-ranked Volunteers host UNLV on Sunday night. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Carrying the same name as a successful former NFL running back and playing the same position might seem daunting.

To many people, anyway.

"I don't really view it that way at all," Gerald Riggs Jr. said. "It's great some people recognize the name, and I'm out there and ready to be seen, but I just go out and work and try to make some things happen."

Riggs is ready to make something happen for No. 14 Tennessee, which opens the season by hosting UNLV at 5 p.m. PDT Sunday. The junior is in a three-way battle for playing time.

His dad, Gerald Riggs Sr., was a standout at Bonanza High School before starring at Arizona State and in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins. He rushed for 8,188 yards over 10 seasons and was a three-time Pro Bowl selection. He also was inducted into the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame earlier this year.

However, Riggs Sr. relocated to Chattanooga, Tenn., where his son grew up.

"I've made trips out there (Las Vegas) a lot and have seen my grandparents," Riggs Jr. said. "(My dad's) parents still live there. For the most part, he doesn't talk about his past."

So even though the father hasn't tried to relive his football accomplishments through his son, Riggs Jr., 20, has created a name for himself.

He rushed for 4,162 yards and 66 touchdowns over his final two seasons at Red Bank High School in Chattanooga, taking his team to the state championship as a senior. Riggs also participated in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, the premier game for high school players.

In addition to Tennessee, Riggs (6 feet, 220 pounds) visited Louisiana State and Nebraska but decided to stay close to home.

Though highly touted, he has not yet lived up to his reputation, rushing for 256 yards and one touchdown on 63 carries in two seasons. This year could be different, however, with reports out of camp that he has shown improvement.

Even so, Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said senior Cedric Houston, the team's leading rusher the past two seasons, will start against UNLV because of his superior pass blocking, which should help fend off the Rebels' blitzing defense. Houston and Riggs will share the load with senior Corey Larkins.

"Larkins has actually given us our best plays during the fall camp," Fulmer said. "Riggs has made significant progress, and Ced does some things that probably balances it out better than the other two. It's very much up in the air as to who is going to be the starter (throughout the season)."

Riggs downplayed the competition, even sounding unconcerned.

"The audition was done in two-a-days and in practices leading up to the game," Riggs said. "Now there is more of a focus on the game and getting it done as a team and an offense.

"Whatever the coaches decide to do is obviously best for the team. If I do get my chance, I'll do my best to make plays."

As for making plays against UNLV, Riggs spoke respectfully of the Rebels.

"They come from a lot of different angles," he said. "They bring a lot of different guys. They don't like the game being brought to them. They like to take it to the offense. Mentally, in this game, there is a lot more attention to detail."