Jamal Sullivan is back in the rotation at tailback for JMU.

Sullivan carried the ball five times for 27 yards in Saturday's win against Hofstra. It was his first extended playing time since the Massachusetts game on September 13.

Sullivan's been slowed this season by a torn thumb ligament suffered in camp. He missed JMU's first two games before returning for UMass, but head coach Mickey Matthews has said Sullivan may have rushed back too quickly.

When healthy, Sullivan gives the Dukes a three-headed attack at the tailback position, along with fellow sophomore Griff Yancey, and senior starter Eugene Holloman.

"I think all three of those kids are playing well," says Matthews, whose Dukes lead the CAA in rushing and scoring offense. "You know me, I like having three runners. Having three runners is good."

Matthews most famously used a trio of backs, Alvin Banks, Raymond Hines, and Maurice Fenner, en route to the 2004 1-AA National Championship.

"I think it benefits the team a lot," says Sullivan of the three-back setup. "Each of us has something different to offer the team. And that adds a new dimension to the team, having three running backs who have three different skills."

"I'm pretty versatile. Jamal, he's a power back," says Yancey, who is third on the team with 266 rushing yards, second with seven rushing touchdowns, and leads the Dukes with 130 receiving yards. "And Eugene, he's pretty much both of us."

Holloman has been the Dukes' starting tailback for five of their six games. He missed the UMass game because of a severe quad bruise.

He's second on the team in rushing, behind quarterback Rodney Landers, with 366 yards on 20 carries. He's also scored three times.

"It's nice," he said of splitting carries. "You don't get hit as much. You can save your body for the rest of the year, because we've still got a long season to go."