HARRISONBURG — James Madison running backs Khalid Abdullah and Cardon Johnson plan to earn respect together.

Last fall, Abdullah and Johnson combined for more than 2,000 yards rushing. The duo helped JMU become the top rushing offense in the Colonial Athletic Association and seventh in all of FCS while platooning as a pair of first-team running backs.

Despite the success, neither Abdullah nor Johnson appeared on any preseason All-American or All-Colonial teams.

“We’re out for respect,” Abdullah said. “A lot of articles have come out about the top backs and we’re not listed. Although we’re not worried about individual goals, we still want to put our names out there and be respected as one of the best running back groups.”

JMU’s new offensive coaching staff is planning to push Abdullah and Johnson beyond the 2,012-yard rushing mark they combined for last season.

In 2015, former Dukes coach Everett Withers rarely used Abdullah and Johnson simultaneously. Under new offensive coordinator Donnie Kirkpatrick and run-game coordinator Bryan Stinespring, JMU will attempt to put extra pressure on opposing defenses when Abdullah — a senior — and Johnson — a junior — line up on each side of the quarterback. According to Stinespring, JMU has a multiple-personnel package featuring two running backs on the field together.

“They both can catch the ball well and then the thing that they don’t get enough credit for is when they don’t have the ball in their hands because they’re tremendous blockers,” Stinespring said. “We have the ability to give it to one of them and the other can be the lead blocker. We can send them out on routes, too. If the defense is sitting on the run game, we can get them matched up against slower linebackers for the pass.

“I think anytime you can get those two guys that aren’t singular in what they can do, but instead multi-talented, on the field at the same time, it poses big problems for how the defense wants to defend us.”

Throughout the first week of JMU’s preseason camp, the offense practiced these formations in both the individual and team settings. During the individual portion of practice, quarterbacks worked with Abdullah, Johnson and the rest of the running backs on handoffs, option reads and swing passes before applying it in the team period against the JMU defense.

“It excites me,” running backs coach De’Rail Sims said. “It’s something else that the defense has to prepare for.”

Johnson, who scored 10 rushing touchdowns last year, agreed with his position coach.

“We’re looking forward to having the formation this fall. It’s probably going to be real tricky for defenses when they see both of us in the backfield,” Johnson said.

Sims added other backs like sophomore Trai Sharp or junior Taylor Woods could see action in these formations when JMU opens the season on Sept. 3 against Morehead State in Harrisonburg. Sharp and Woods could be paired with Abdullah or Johnson at times in the two-back sets.

“We have four guys that are legit,” Sims said. “The way we’re going to do it is by rotating and keeping guys fresh. You don’t win the game in the first and second quarter. The third and fourth quarter are when you win the football game, so if I have a fresh guy coming in when the defense is tired, that’s when we will start the punishment.”