Freshman All-American at returner in 2019. All-Coastal Athletic Association running back in 2021. More than 1,200 yards rushing in 2022. A terrific first four games in 2023 that would have landed him more conference and national honors.
By any measure, Bronson Yoder is one of the most productive William & Mary football skill players of recent vintage. He ran for 408 yards in four games last year, 163 of them by the fourth quarter against Maine, making it no coincidence the Tribe was on its way to a 28-3 victory and 4-0 start to the season.
Which makes it no coincidence that the shoulder injury he sustained on an 8-yard gain against Maine, sidelining him for the rest of the season, was a huge factor in the Tribe’s 2-5 finish to the season. Fortunately for the Tribe, Yoder is back and healthy as camp opens Monday ahead of the Tribe’s Aug. 29 opener at home against VMI.
“I’m doing great,” Yoder, a 5-11, 205-pound senior, said during CAA Media Days on Thursday. “Our great training staff got me back to where I want to be, 100% and better, so I’m happy with the progress I’ve made.
“It was tough. For anyone who’s played football for a long time, having a season-ending injury is never something that you’re happy about.
“Losing football for that period of time definitely allows you to be more grateful for the time that you are able to play, and to be with your teammates and compete with them.”
Sixth-year coach Mike London, who guided the Tribe to an 11-2 season and No. 8 national ranking in 2022, does not deny Yoder’s absence had a negative affect on a season that finished a disappointing 6-5.
“We’re all ruled by the psychology of the results and things that happen to us,” London said. “Bronson was one of our best players, a great person, he’s a captain this year.
“The physicality of a football team and football game is what it is. Missing him, obviously that hurt, but then you’ve got to go on, you’ve got to pick up, you’ve got to play. It’s like a next-man-up mentality.”
London mentioned that the Tribe still had Malachi Imoh, who rushed for 855 yards and a 6.9 yards-per-carry average that ranked him sixth nationally. W&M was solid overall running the ball in ’23, averaging 196.9 yards per game to finish 13th nationally.
But Yoder’s absence denied the Tribe a physical presence on an offense not able to control the ball as well without him, and bedeviled by a passing attack often mediocre until the final three games. Despite the injury, Yoder will not depart from the “rugged” running style he is known for.
“I don’t think that’s my style of play,” he said of easing up even a fraction. “Maybe there’s a desire from coaches and other people for that, but that’s just not the way I play. That’s not the way God made me.
“I’m going to run tough the entire way, and I’m going to get up quick and go back and do it again. So I don’t think my style of play will change much at all.
“Hopefully, it improves … but I don’t think the toughness will change.”
London believes an offense returning Yoder and Imoh, spearheaded by All-American offensive lineman Charles Grant, and with fourth-year starting quarterback Darius Wilson featuring his deepest receiving corps, to approach the ’22 team’s offensive prodigious output (33.5 ppg). The defense that kept the Tribe afloat by allowing just 18.5 points per game a year ago has some holes to fill, but figures to be the reliable staple it has become under London.
With Yoder back, the Tribe, picked fourth of 16 teams in the preseason by conference head coaches, looks to contend for the CAA title it shared with New Hampshire two years ago.
“It was really difficult going into every game and talking to your teammates, just wishing you could go out there with them,” Yoder said. “I’m ecstatic to be back in the locker room with them, starting this season off, and to compete next to them and to go chase a championship.”
Marty O’Brien, mjobrien@dailypress.com
