Even before the Alabama State football season had begun, senior running back Malcolm Cyrus told media members on media day that he was going to rush for 1,500 yards.

With one game still remaining on the 2014 schedule, the 5-foot-10, 185-pound back has hit that mark on the dot to make good on his proclamation. 
 
Averaging 6.3 yards per carry, the prognosticator has 237 carries for 1,500 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns. A threat out of the backfield, he also has 26 receptions with 350 additional receiving yards and a touchdown through the air. 
 
Cyrus' rushing totals have placed him in rarified air and a new goal has been brought to the forefront. 
 
When Alabama State (6-5) meets Stillman College (5-5) on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the 91^st Turkey Day Classic, it will give Cyrus an opportunity to rush for more yards in a single season than any other player in Hornets' history. 
 
Cyrus needs 206 rushing yards to surpass Brad Baxter's 1986 single-season Hornets rushing record of 1,705 rushing yards. 
 
"The good thing is we don't have to change our game plan to allow him to break the record or even get closer to the record," Alabama State head football coach Reggie Barlow said of the offense, which seeks weekly to establish the running game first. "It would be a little different if we were a passing team or needed to pass the ball to break a receiving record. We want to run it. In talking to Malcolm earlier in the week, his mindset is he wants to challenge it. It's something that our offensive line, our coaches want, just to be a part of it. Brad Baxter was an outstanding running back here. It hasn't been done in a long time. I think it would be great for Malcolm, our O-line, and of course our offensive coaches."
 
The game can be watched live on the internet broadcast beginning with the pregame show at 12:15 p.m. on bamastatesports.com/showcase.  The game will also be carried across 22 counties in Alabama on WKXN FM 102.7 (Montgomery), 95.7 FM (Greenville) and 96.7 FM (Pine Hill). 
 
Road to redemption
 
Cyrus is a proactive thinker. 
 
However, this wouldn't be the way that he would have described himself just three seasons ago when he first joined the Alabama State University football team. 
 
Coming out of a local, small high school in nearby Autaugaville, Cyrus was the big fish in a small pond star athlete.  Admittedly, Cyrus said that he didn't have the most repercussions because he was such a good football player. 

The structure of college life, how Alabama State University, and the coaching staff and its impact is what stands out in Cyrus' mind today. 

"What I really learned is they made me a better person," Cyrus said. "When I first got here as a freshman, I was terrible.  I'm not afraid to say it.  Every year, I progressed and got better and better.  I feel like a man now. I've grown into a better person. I came from a small school and I was good, so I mostly got my way and got to do what I wanted to do. 

"I didn't have the organizational skills and I wasn't on time," Cyrus continued.  "The path I'm on now isn't the same path that I was going on when I first got here.  I've become more responsible.  Football is more than a game.  It helps you in life.  When I leave Alabama State and am done playing football, the things I learned here are going to correlate to life situations."

One of the coaches who sat down with Cyrus and discussed what the expectations of the program were and how student-athletes were to conduct themselves was Hornets' offensive coordinator and running backs coach Fred Kaiss. 

Kaiss has helped direct the Hornets into one of the most consistent running attacks in the SWAC.  Alabama State has averaged 235.5 rushing yards per game this season (good for second most in the conference) following up a season in which it led the SWAC with 231.5 rushing yards per contest. 

"I was repeatedly disciplining him," said Kaiss, while also serving as a bit of a mentor to Cyrus. "I sat him down and told him our goals and I said, 'Look, this is where we are headed and this is what we have to do.  And, if we can't do this together, then it's not going to happen.'  I really had to give him a heart-to-heart lecture.  I think it really made a difference.  His grades are up.  I think at that point two summers ago, it was a turning point for him."

Now, focus is one of Cyrus' biggest strengths.    

In his game-day preparations, Cyrus listens to all types of music.  He said he doesn't have a favorite artist, but he looks for one thing in particular to help him mentally get ready for the game. 
 
"I listen to the words that have meaning," Cyrus said.  "Even if I can't relate to it, I can listen to it if it has a story."

As part of a pre-game ritual, Cyrus said that he always tries to eat a Fiesta omelette on home game days for breakfast.  His teammates always make sure that's he the first in line to grab breakfast at the omelette station.  If it's Golden Corral or Waffle House, it doesn't matter.  As long as Cyrus can get his Fiesta fix, it serves as a good luck charm and he feels ready to go.    

Student of the game

Cyrus is a player who studies the game so well that he's constantly thinking ahead.  He draws up the offensive assignments in his head.  He knows where the offensive line is supposed to be blocking and he knows what the quarterback's reads are.  Of course, reading the defense is another one of his skills. 

"Every time that I do something positive, I think about what can we count on," Cyrus said.  "Every time we do something that doesn't work, I think about what we could have done differently.  I'm always trying to be one step ahead."

One of his best takeaway memories from his playing career was when he got his first chance to start last year and scored the winning touchdown in a 48-42 overtime win against Prairie View A&M last Oct. 12.  Cyrus racked up 24 carries for 240 yards, had four receptions for 60 yards and scored twice in his 301-yard outing. 
  
"He's one of those high-energy, loves the game, office rat type of guys," said Kaiss. "One of the first questions you have to find out if, 'Does he love football?' Period.  If he doesn't, then you have to move on; it doesn't matter how much talent you have." 

Cyrus said his cousin was very knowledgeable about football so he was always quick to listen to what he had to say.  Always mindful of what the coaching staff instructs, Cyrus also said he watches a lot of game film to help him prepare for each opponent. 

"I grew up in Baltimore and I'm a big Orioles' fan," Kaiss said.  "The players tease me because Cal Ripken Jr. was not very fast.  But, his fielding percentage at shortstop was incredible because he studied everybody.  He knew where to put himself to make the play.  That's Cyrus.   Cyrus knows where to put himself, what to do and you'll see him talking with the O-line.  He understands the whole concept.  He's a step faster than he really is because he understands what's going to happen before it happens."

Cyrus' toughness is another trait that the coaching staff will be quick to point out.  Dependability was something that the Hornets very much needed—especially during one stretch in which Alabama State played four games in 20 days.  Cyrus hasn't missed a game all season and he's been a workhorse back that is ready to play. 
 
"He's a tough son-of-a-gun," Kaiss said.  "If you cut his arm, he'll want to get back into the game.  He's that type of player.   He can provide phenomenal pass protection.  He'll get hit and push through for an extra two or three yards after getting hit.   He'll just run through people."

Cyrus, who is third in career rushing in school history with 2,741 yards, has already produced the second most rushing yards in a single-season. Now, he aims to seriously threaten a 28-year old record. 
 
Saturday's rushing total to break the record is 206 yards.  Whatever happens, expect Cyrus to keep on smiling.

"It doesn't matter what is going on" Kaiss said.  "You gravitate to him because he's got that Stevie Wonder smile 24 hours a day."

#GOHORNETS#