Anyone see this guy?

[95coug]

Junior running back in Indiana. 5A school, just finished an undefeated season with 3,300+ rushing yards & 70 TDs. No offers, little interest.

Indiana’s not exactly a recruiting hotbed, but those numbers should attract better than Ball State. His video shows he’s not a speedster (4.6) but he runs strong and has good balance & decent vision. Highlights also show a few catches out of the backfield that are straight out of our playbook.

Not saying he’s a PAC-12 player at this point, but seems like a kid to keep an eye on.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles...ater-high-school-back-still-seeking-attention

 

[cr8zyncalif]

A tweener RB. Could play FB no problem, but can't double as a TE, and is probably too slow to be a halfback. Speed is not everything, especially if you are likely to get 2 yards after contact in the open field, but speed beats power in pretty much every version of a spread offense. The goal in any spread (Air Raid or other) is to have a RB that is fast enough to be a mis-match if a LB has to cover him out of the backfield. In this young man's case, a LB would be able to cover him without presenting a mis-match.

Ultimately he will either be an all purpose back for an Akron, Toledo, Kent State type team; or play with one of the few remaining teams that runs an I formation; or be the second back in a two back set, where having good hands makes you versatile enough to see some playing time. He might fit well in a pistol somewhere.

And I almost hate to mention it, but I seem to be seeing the option come back into vogue. You need a tweener FB/HB to really make several versions of an option work right.

 

[random soul]

A tweener RB. Could play FB no problem, but can't double as a TE, and is probably too slow to be a halfback. Speed is not everything, especially if you are likely to get 2 yards after contact in the open field, but speed beats power in pretty much every version of a spread offense. The goal in any spread (Air Raid or other) is to have a RB that is fast enough to be a mis-match if a LB has to cover him out of the backfield. In this young man's case, a LB would be able to cover him without presenting a mis-match.

Ultimately he will either be an all purpose back for an Akron, Toledo, Kent State type team; or play with one of the few remaining teams that runs an I formation; or be the second back in a two back set, where having good hands makes you versatile enough to see some playing time. He might fit well in a pistol somewhere.

And I almost hate to mention it, but I seem to be seeing the option come back into vogue. You need a tweener FB/HB to really make several versions of an option work right.

What you're describing sounds like an ideal A back in Paul Johnson's offense, who is basically the feature guy

 

[BiggsCoug]

He has a short stride length. A lil more flexibility would really help him. He isnt athletic. He may run a 4.6 but he has to gear down to make cuts. He is stronger now as a junior than most of the PAC 12. Its a short list of guys that can squat 575 and bench 420.

He looks like a linebacker playing running back. In fact, my guess is that is where he winds up OR where college coaches want to play him.

He would be a beast in ANY state. Put him in Florida amd he still crushes kids. Put him in Texas and he becomes a folk hero for all day tough, hard nosed running. He would eat California alive. He just doesnt have the shake n bake athleticism that a lot of teams want.

If it were 1990 this would be a done deal. He is Tom Osborne Nebraska all day.

 

[CougInSpain]

He has a short stride length. A lil more flexibility would really help him. He isnt athletic. He may run a 4.6 but he has to gear down to make cuts. He is stronger now as a junior than most of the PAC 12. Its a short list of guys that can squat 575 and bench 420.

He looks like a linebacker playing running back. In fact, my guess is that is where he winds up OR where college coaches want to play him.

He would be a beast in ANY state. Put him in Florida amd he still crushes kids. Put him in Texas and he becomes a folk hero for all day tough, hard nosed running. He would eat California alive. He just doesnt have the shake n bake athleticism that a lot of teams want.

If it were 1990 this would be a done deal. He is Tom Osborne Nebraska all day.

Or Toby Gerhart or Touchdown Tommy Verdell

 

[95coug]

He has a short stride length. A lil more flexibility would really help him. He isnt athletic. He may run a 4.6 but he has to gear down to make cuts. He is stronger now as a junior than most of the PAC 12. Its a short list of guys that can squat 575 and bench 420.

He looks like a linebacker playing running back. In fact, my guess is that is where he winds up OR where college coaches want to play him.

He would be a beast in ANY state. Put him in Florida amd he still crushes kids. Put him in Texas and he becomes a folk hero for all day tough, hard nosed running. He would eat California alive. He just doesnt have the shake n bake athleticism that a lot of teams want.

If it were 1990 this would be a done deal. He is Tom Osborne Nebraska all day.

I noticed the stride too. He should spend some time with a track coach and see if he can work that out. If he can get his 40 time to sub-4.5 - especially if he can do it without losing power - he'll be hearing from everyone.

At 5'10", 225 lbs, there's probably not a lot of room to put more weight on him, and he's at the small end for an LB. Might be able to move where the 225 is, replace with some lean muscle and gain him a little quickness. With programs for strength, conditioning, and nutrition, he could develop into something worth attention.

On the other hand, at his size and the way he runs...how long til injuries start catching up?

 

[BiggsCoug]

I noticed the stride too. He should spend some time with a track coach and see if he can work that out. If he can get his 40 time to sub-4.5 - especially if he can do it without losing power - he'll be hearing from everyone.

At 5'10", 225 lbs, there's probably not a lot of room to put more weight on him, and he's at the small end for an LB. Might be able to move where the 225 is, replace with some lean muscle and gain him a little quickness. With programs for strength, conditioning, and nutrition, he could develop into something worth attention.

On the other hand, at his size and the way he runs...how long til injuries start catching up?

He squats 575 and bench presses 420. He is already on the workout and nutrition plan you speak of.

Even if he ran 4.4 he still cant cut with the ball. Which may be fine for some coaches. Just run people over and move the chains.

If youre Purdue or IU I think you have to offer. His high school numbers are so big youre gonna look foolish if he goes somewhere else and does well.

 

[cr8zyncalif]

I'm with you on this one, Biggs. IU in particular really can't afford to look like they missed on a local kid with ridiculous numbers. Worst case you have him play special teams.

I think he is big enough to be a MLB for an FCS school, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him do that.

 

[Ffffws]

Remember Don Nottingham?