Redbirds add running back from California

[May 10, 2012]  NORMAL -- Illinois State football head coach Brock Spack added another piece to his 2012 recruiting class Wednesday, when he announced the addition of running back Marshaun Coprich (Victorville, Calif./Oak Hills HS) to the team's roster.

The 5-foot-9, 190-pound ball carrier was a late signee for the Redbirds, but Illinois State head coach Brock Spack was to add another talented running back to his roster for the fall.

"Throughout the recruiting process, we wanted to add a speed back who could give us a change of pace, and Marshaun fits that profile," Spack said. "We have three very solid backs on the roster now that are bigger and more physical, so having him will give us a different look back there. It took a while for us to find him in the process, but he fell through the cracks with all the attention placed on the Los Angeles area, and we were fortunate to be able to add him to the roster. He not only adds some depth, but could also provide us a bit of insurance as Jonathon Miller returns from injury."

Coprich was a three-year letter winner at Oak Hills High School for head coach Robert Kistner and finished his career with 56 combined touchdowns. As a senior in 2011, he rushed for 2,269 yards and 29 touchdowns on his way to being named an all-area, all-conference and all-state selection. Included in that performance were a 91-yard touchdown run and a 101-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

During his junior season, Coprich rushed for 1,565 yards and 15 touchdowns and broke onto the scene as a sophomore with 825 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in 2009. He joins Donovan Harden (Rialto) and Sam Campbell (Lake View Terrace) as the only Redbirds on the roster from the state of California.

Coprich will join the rest of his new teammates on the field Aug. 4, when fall training camp begins. ISU will open the 2012 football season at home against Dayton Sept. 1.

[Text from news release received from Michael Williams, Illinois State University]