PARK CITY, Utah — There are a few things you have to know about Idaho State all-conference running back Xavier Finney.

First, he’s focused — on his future, goals, what’s best for his teammates, what he can do to make sure the Bengals win a Big Sky Conference championship.

Second, he’s humble. If the Oceanside, California, tailback can match the production from his junior season as a senior, he’ll leave Idaho State as its all-time leader in rushing attempts, yards and touchdowns. But good luck getting him to talk about any of that. He’ll dart around discussing his own accomplishments, instead remarking on his offensive line, quarterback, fellow running backs and the Bengals coaching staff.

Xavier Finney is not going to brag.

Third, and this may be most important for Bengal fans, he’s hungry and incessantly upbeat. Finney was the Big Sky’s leading rusher last year as ISU shocked the league by ripping off eight wins and nearly taking the crown.

None of that, however, satisfied him. He and the Bengals want more. A lot more.

“It’s going to be a great year. I’m excited,” Finney said Monday at the 2015 Big Sky Conference Football Kickoff. “We had a lot of success last year, and I think we’ll have even more success this year.”

Finney’s junior season was the stuff of legends in Pocatello. He set single-season records for the Bengals in rushing attempts (259), yards (1,495) and touchdowns (14). As Finney churned up turf, he helped breathe new life into a dormant program that had its first winning season in 11 years.

But there was a moment that stopped Finney and ISU from finishing off a truly epic season — a fumble in the third quarter at Montana State.

The Bengals and Bobcats were deadlocked in a de-facto playoff game. With the score tied at 30, Finney burst up the field for a 15-yard gain. When he was tackled, the ball squirted loose. Montana State pounced and later took the lead. Idaho State never recovered.

Finney had separated his shoulder in the first half and returned in the third quarter to try and carry the Bengals to a road victory. Ultimately, he paid a price. Although Finney would never use an injury as an excuse.

“It was hard on me, but I can’t focus on that,” Finney said. “I’ve got to prepare my mind, prepare my body for this season. And I feel like I’m going to be all right this season.”

The Bengals went to Finney early and often a season ago. He carried the ball a combined 46 times at Utah and Utah State and 33 times against Chadron State.

This time, ISU and head coach Mike Kramer want to do everything they can to ensure he's at his best late in the year. They’ll rely on a deep stable of running backs, spreading around the number of carries so Finney can survive the grind.

Kramer needs Finney ready to hit his peak in November during the most difficult and crucial part of Idaho State’s schedule.

ISU hosts Montana (Nov. 7) and Montana State (Nov. 14) and travels to Weber State (Nov. 21) for its final three games. That’s Finney’s time.

That leads us to the fourth thing you need to know about the man they call X. Even though it’s only July, the Bengals and Finney are planning for the future. And they’re thinking big.

“I’d like him to be the player of the game when we clinch a Big Sky Conference championship,” Kramer said of Finney. “Really my job is to make sure we don’t wear out Xavier early. He has to be the defining factor down the stretch.”