Rodney Freeman II - Assistant Coach - Running Backs - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Rodney Freeman II

Title:
Assistant Coach - Running Backs
Email:
Phone:
(252) 737-4570

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Rodney Freeman II is in his second year as the running backs coach at East Carolina, a position he officially began on Dec. 13, 2023.

In his first year with the program, he mentored a group that netted 2,241 yards on the ground, 172.4 ypg (50th nationally) and scored 23 touchdowns. Rahjai Harris ran for 1,166 yards, which ranks as the 10th most in a single season, while reaching the endzone 11 times on the ground. Against NC State in the Go Bowling Military Bowl, he set and American Conference bowl record with 220 yards and ranked second all-time in program history behind Chris Johnson’s 223 yards in the 2007 Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl against Boise State.

The Military Bowl Most Valuable Player also tallied the most rushing yards by an individual during the 2024-25 Bowl Season and was named to the Associated Press All-Bowl Team. Harris closed his collegiate career ranking second all-time at ECU in rushing (3,096) and third in touchdowns (29), while registering 10 100-plus rushing contests and earning all-conference honors for the second time in his career. London Montgomery ran for 359 yards and two scores, while Marlon Gunn Jr. added 224 yards and three touchdowns.

Freeman came to East Carolina after serving one year at Utah State University as the running backs coach. With 13 years of coaching experience, Freeman helped the Aggies rank among the NCAA leaders (Top 40) in total offense (22nd/446.4 ypg), rushing offense (25th/186.6 rypg), scoring offense (25th/34.1 ppg) and red zone offense (38th/88.4 pct). His running backs room tallied 13 of 17 ground scores and was led by Davon Booth who rushed for 734 yards on 116 carries with five scores. Booth stood 14th nationally (third in Mountain West) in yards per carry at 6.33 while ranking 86th overall (eighth in conference) in rushing yards.

Freeman went to Utah State after serving as an offensive analyst for Michigan State during the 2022 campaign. He joined the Spartans after spending the spring season as the offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach at Colorado Mesa. Prior to his appointment there, Freeman was the offensive coordinator at his alma mater, Klein Forest High School in Houston, Texas, for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

At Klein Forest, he coached four-star running back Ahmonte Watkins, who signed to play at TCU, to an all-district selection in 2020. In 2021, Freeman coached Kendrick Bradley to all-district honors as he led the district with over 1,400 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns. Bradley was named a Houston Touchdown Club finalist and signed to play collegiately at Division II Henderson State. He also mentored both three-star recruit Parker Jenkins and four-star recruit Jelani Watkins to all-district selections as the duo helped contribute to a potent and explosive offense.

Freeman coached three years (2017-19) at West Texas A&M, spending time as both a wide receivers coach and special team’s coordinator. The Buffs' special team’s unit excelled under Freeman as they ranked first in the nation in kickoff return defense and punt returns. He also coached Tobias Harris, who ranked second in all of NCAA college football in punt return average. Semaj Mitchell had a breakout year under Freeman as the senior wideout recorded a team-high 32 receptions for 457 yards and six touchdowns. Juwan McCall was equally impressive with 29 receptions for 404 yards and four scores, including back-to-back games with over 100 yards receiving. In 2018, Freeman was instrumental in helping Mitchell earn Lone Star Conference honorable mention honors as he led the team in receptions and receiving yards.

During his two seasons (2015-16) at Abilene Christian as a running backs coach, Freeman coached D'Andre Brown who earned second-team all-Southland honors.

Freeman spent two years (2013-14) at Missouri Southern in Joplin, Missouri, where he worked primarily with the wide receivers. He served as the wide receivers and tight ends coach at Western State Colorado in 2012, where he was responsible for running and facilitating position meetings while planning and scripting position segment practices.

Before joining the Mountaineers staff, Freeman spent a season (2011) as the co-offensive coordinator at Lutheran North High School in Houston. He also was the head freshman coach and assistant varsity coach at Eisenhower High School where he led the freshman team to a 9-0-1 record and a district championship.

The Houston, Texas, native played collegiately at both Abilene Christian (2007-08) and Stephen F. Austin (2005-06). He helped lead ACU to a conference championship as a wide receiver and backup quarterback in 2008. Freeman graduated from Abilene Christian in 2009.