31 days until kickoff, Dimitri Nance was a stable presence at running back

Yesterday's spotlight looked at the career of Ben Malone, part of some sensational backfields of the 1970's. With 31 days until the Devils face off against the Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks, we turn to a player who held down the backfield in some transitional seasons, that being Dimitri Nance.

A 3-star recruit from Trinity High School in Euliss TX, Dimitri emerged as a highly decorated prospect, being unanimously named Offensive Player of the Year for Texas' 5A-District 6 as well as first-team All-Texas at running back, joining Cedric Benson as the only 5A players in Texas high school football history to rush for over 3,000 yards in their careers. Nance was recruited by a number of schools, including Houston, Oklahoma State, and Missouri, however he would commit to Arizona State in December of 2005, joining a backfield that contained the likes of Ryan Torain and Keegan Herring.

Nance appeared in all 11 games as a true freshman in 2006 as the third back behind Torain and Herring, finishing third among Pac-10 freshmen with 229 rushing yards, adding 3 rushing touchdowns to his line (second among Pac-10 freshmen). He found himself locked in as the third back to start his sophomore season in 2007, but was elevated to second on the depth chart after Torain went out for the season with a foot injury in Week 7. He appeared in all 11 games for the second straight season, making his first career start in the 2007 Holiday Bowl against Texas. His 7 rushing touchdowns led the backfield in scoring, and 500 rushing yards good for third as the Devils recovered from the loss of their premier running back. He added 13 catches for 120 yards, showing development into a reliable pass catching back.

2008 proved to be a difficult season for the Sun Devils, finishing 5-7 and missing out on a bowl game for the first time since 2003, but Nance stepped in to a share of the lead back position with Herring, edging Keegan for the team lead in rushing yards with 410, and recording 3 rushing touchdowns. He remained consistent catching passes out of the backfield, hauling in 20 catches for 111 yards, showing defenses that they needed to be mindful of him both on the ground and through the air.

Nance's senior season in 2009 saw the departure of Herring to graduation, and he took the opportunity as lead back and ran with it. Dimitri set career highs with 795 rushing yards, 4.2 yards per carry, 28 catches for 216 yards, adding 7 total touchdowns including his first career receiving touchdown. Nance recorded all three of his 100 yard games as a senior, including a career-high 111 yards in a 20-17 loss to Arizona in the season finale. He recorded three or more catches in five games throughout the season, further solidifying his role as a dual threat out of the backfield. In recognition of his season, Dimitri received Honorable Mention All-Pac-10 honors for the first time in his career.

Dimitri proved himself time and time again in his four years as a hard-nosed and straightforward rusher, rarely getting tackled for a loss (losing just 80 yards over his career), finishing with 1,934 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground and adding 63 catches for 463 yards and one touchdown through the air.

Dimitri went undrafted in the 2010 NFL Draft, but was signed as a free agent by the Atlanta Falcons on April 26th. After getting cut and signed to their practice squad on September 5th, the Green Bay Packers would sign him nine days later.

He appeared in 12 games for the Packers in 2010, gaining 95 yards on 36 carries in mostly goal line situations. He dressed for one game in the 2011 NFL playoffs, and received a ring after the Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. The Packers cut him the following September, and though he returned to the Falcons practice squad in 2012, Nance did not see another down in his NFL career.

Dimitri Nance may be a name that is often overlooked when recounting Sun Devil running backs of the 2000's, but the stability and consistency that he provided following the loss of Ryan Torain cannot be overstated.