It’s the end of an Elon football journey for senior running back Malcolm Summers. The senior took to Twitter Thursday night to make the announcement. After not playing the previous two games for the Phoenix and with speculation swirling on when, or if, the deep back would return, Summers closed the book officially on his career two days before Elon’s game against the University of Rhode Island.
Summers re-injured his hamstring, which sidelined him all of last year, in Elon’s landmark win of the season over James Madison University. The senior broke free and scored a career-long 59-yard touchdown to give Elon a 20-12 lead in the game. In a twist of fate, as poetic or unjust it may seem, that run would become the final run of his career.
As Adam Smith of the Times News reported, Summers was left in tears after the run. As Summers put it, “I just knew” that this tremendous one would be the last one in the maroon and gold for the Mebane, North Carolina native.
Summers finishes his career with 2,178 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns in 31 games played over the course of an injury shortened four years with Elon.
Elon will now turn to two freshmen at the running back position to carry the load for Summers. Jaylan Thomas was a breakout star in his first career start, the win over Richmond on Oct. 20. He finished the game with 150 yards rushing on 27 carries, 27 receiving yards, and two total touchdowns. De’Sean McNair will also be tapped to fill the hole in the backfield. McNair has already contributed 79 runs to the team over seven games and chipped in 265 yards and five touchdowns to the team’s total offensive output.