Freshmen just aren’t supposed to perform like this.

At a time in college football when most new recruits sit out a year to adjust to the speed of the game, this game isn’t too fast for speedy Sacramento State true freshman running back Ryan Mole.

“Once I started him (Sept. 18 against Southern Utah) I knew this wasn’t too big for him and I knew he could handle it,” Hornets head coach Steve Mooshagian said.

An opening day injury to junior Tyronne Gross on Sept. 11 at Nevada opened the door for Mole, who earned a spot on the roster just weeks earlier after impressing the coaching staff in the preseason.

With Gross coming off a strong year despite injuries, the competition was looking stiff. Mole simply rushed the ball hard in his appearances and now No. 13 stands firm in the Hornets’ backfield.

In his first career start against Southern Utah, Mole carried the ball 19 times for 125 yards and his first touchdown. The following week in the Causeway Classic, Mole eclipsed the century mark again rushing for 132 yards on 16 carries with another touchdown.

“The line did a great job opening the holes,” Mole said. “I just hit the hole hard and do what I can with it.”

Gross and Mole became quick companions in preseason workouts despite battling for the same starting position. The team hopes to run the football switching the freshman Mole and the more experienced junior Gross in and out of the backfield, Mooshagian said.

Mole may have never found his way to Sac State if it was not for a freak injury during his senior year of play at Righetti High School in Santa Maria. While attempting to rush for a two-point conversion Mole broke his collarbone.

This injury kept Mole off the field for two months, which was the remainder of the regular season. In his comeback game, Mole rushed for 243 yards against Hueneme High School in a playoff game. The following week Mole rushed for 158 yards against St. Bonaventure High School in his last game of his high school career.

Because of his missed playing time, Mole slipped off the recruiting radar of select Division I-A universities including San Jose State, but was picked up by current Sac State offensive coordinator and running backs coach Craig Young. “CY,” as Hornet players refer to him, recruited Mole and brought him to Sac State.

After starting his fifth consecutive game and carrying the running game without Gross, those Division I schools may be regretting that decision.

Mole had a prosperous career in high school, setting numerous Righetti program records. As a junior, Mole set the school record for touchdowns with 22, rushed for over 1,500 yards and recorded an additional 500 yards receiving.

In only four games during his senior year, Mole rushed for 1,136 yards and 11 touchdowns and bounced back from a potentially season ending injury.

Although he lacks experience at the collegiate level, Mole has been running the pigskin since fifth grade. Bryan Mole, Ryan Mole’s father, admits that baseball initially encouraged Ryan to run the football.

“During a little league game, Ryan’s coach commented how quickly he ran the bases,” Bryan Mole said. “We waited until he was old enough and got him on the football field.”

However, after his performance in the Causeway the Hornets’ offense stalled for three weeks, limiting Mole’s touches and his output.

In the week four loss at Northern Arizona Oct. 2, the Hornets found themselves down by 14 early in the game. Sac State looked to the air with senior quarterback Ryan Leadingham to even the score.

This gave Mole only six opportunities to tote the rock, but he saw more carries the following week against Portland State.

Against the Vikings, Mole carried the ball 14 times for a total of 59 yards. Sac State failed to score for the second consecutive week, but the drought ended last Sunday at home against Weber State.

Gross overshadowed Mole against the Wildcats rushing for 126 yards and two touchdowns. Mole would not be upstaged, however, as he threw his first career touchdown pass 15 yards to sophomore transfer wide receiver Ryan Coogler on a trick play.

“Mole’s a good kid, he’s doing a good job on the field and he’s doing a good job during practice,” Gross said. “I’m proud of him.”