Roy Finch is battling back from injury this spring

Roy Finch is taking it easy this spring after suffering a stress fracture in his leg late in the 2010 season. Finch is running around in practice, but coaches are taking it slow with the potential game-changer at running back. Finch talked about his progress earlier this week.

Talk about your rehab and how it's going?

It happened about 10 weeks ago, ten or eleven weeks ago, and it probably takes about that much time to fully kind of get back. After I got out of the cast I was on the field actually two weeks after, so really it doesn't have that much time (to heal).

Q: Was (surgery) an option, I guess, in August when you first hurt it and talked about surgery or coming back to play?

Yeah you know when I had surgery they were like we are going to see how you are when spring practice comes around it was kind of like 50/50 they didn't really know and then I started kind of running on it, it wasn't 100% it was kind of aggravating. And they were like, 'if you can still run they want you to be out there doing stuff.' So I'm just trying to take it kind of slow and hopefully I can get back out there.

With so many young running backs out there, how are hard is it to watch them go through practice and not being able to do a whole lot?

It's not really that hard. I know I can play. I know what I can do. It's just taking me a little time. You know I'm just praying and rehabbing and doing what I need to do to get back.

Q: What's the day-to-day rehab like for you?

Two or three rehabs a day. After classes, after practice, just getting in there and doing what I have to do.

On taking on a leadership role in the backfield…

I actually feel like I do take on a leadership role. With the young guys coming in like Brandon and then a lot of other guys like the walk-ons and stuff like that, that have come on. I just feel like I've been here for a year and I should know my plays by now. Whenever they need help you know I'm there for them, just helping them and putting them in the right position.

Can you talk about Dominique Whaley (walk-on)?

He's doing great. He's a strong kid., hard nosed, smart, very teachable. He's going to be a player.

On his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield?

I do pretty well in that area , you know. That's one of my attributes that I can help the team with and contribute, just getting out of the backfield and getting me one-on-one with linebackers. I feel like I can do a pretty good job with that.

Your thoughts on Brandon Williams?

How physical he runs, he's really physical in-between the tackles and he's just a hard nosed runner. He can really play.

It's kind of unusual for a freshman to come in as he had so far in spring ball isn't it?

Yes, like I said he's still young, he's still learning and that's the beauty of it. You know he's got a lot of talent but he's still learning at the same time which is great.