HBCU Football Star Running Back Shines In NFL Preseason Debut

It was rookie season for running back Ian Wheeler of the Chicago Bears during his first NFL preseason game against the Buffalo Bills. The former Howard University rusher and HBCU football star scored two rushing touchdowns getting his Bears to a 33-6 win.

“It’s one of the things that I have been preparing for several months now Wheeler said. ” ‘Well, I did not get a chance to play in the last game, but my teammates had to assist me score two times in the end zone and that could be seen as some achievement obviously. ’

Ian Wheeler's Performance

One of the biggest surprises was Ian Wheeler an undrafted free agent out of an HBCU, he proved his worth with a 43 rushing yards on five attempts for the Chicago Bears. Wheeler, however, asserted himself in the power and displayed quickness scoring two touchdowns in the last six minutes of the game.

His first carried him to the end zone with determination on a 7-yard run with 6:03 on the clock in the 4th quarter. In the second try, an Howard alum crossed 8 yards to the pylon which is physically fast and mentally smart when the clock showed 2:29 left in the game.

Key Highlights

Wheeler scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns that brought the Bears more points into the advantage as well as provide Eberflus with the idea of what Wheeler could offer to the team of Chicago.

He slept the game with 43 rushing yards on five carries, thus proving to be highly efficient by earning 8. 6 yards per attempt. A top Bears backfield with quarterback Caleb Williams, the league’s first overall draft pick, could use Wheeler’s services much like top-ranked school Oklahoma did with Kenneth Murray in 2020.

Williams was 4 of 7 through the air for 95 yards and although he isn’t a runner like Reggie, he did show his agility with a 13-yard gain on third and nine. The Bears’ defending line also carried out its responsibilities well, especially in logistic function since Micah Baskerville scored a touchdown after intercepting the ball in the final quarter.

Wheeler is fighting for a spot in Chicago’s 53-man squad, against a very strong competition from RB Velus Jones who added a 4-yard run in the third period towards the score.

This is a promising rookie running back who, in his first game for the Chicago Bears, HBCU star gave a splendid performance.

Looking Ahead

In the second week, the Chicago Bears will play the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, August 17; this will be another chance for Wheeler to further make the NFL bets they have placed in him look good. Thus Wheeler, the stroke of his performance in his first match has built up a reputation for himself and he will certainly be a man to watch as the preseason unfolds.