Big South RBs

[bjtheflamesfan]

After some good discussions on the QBs for next year, I thought Id take a look at the other guys that will be in the backfield:

(Note: Im going on the top two returning rushers from 2009 so this could be subject to change once training camp starts. If I have missed any names or names are listed in error, would a fan from the school in question please let me know. Also, the rankings at the end are based only on my personal opinion.)

Charleston Southern

DeMarcus Moon 67 Rushes 322 Yds 1 TD
BJ Hackworth 31 Rushes 156 Yds 2 TDs

Coastal Carolina
Eric O'Neal 89 Rushes 377 Yds 2 TDs
Jeremy Height 59 Rushes 225 Yds 0 TDs

Gardner-Webb
Patrick Hall 108 Rushes 599 Yds 12 TDs
Kenny Little 59 Rushes 299 Yds 2 TDs

Liberty
Aldreakis Allen 118 Rushes 530 Yds 9 TDs
SirChauncey Holloway 54 Rushes 285 Yds 7 TDs

Presbyterian
Lance Byrd 127 Rushes 700 Yds 4 TDs
Trandon Dendy 133 Rushes 554 Yds 5 TDs

Stony Brook
Edwin Gowins 145 Rushes 890 Yds 9 TDs
Eddie Mateo 26 Rushes 154 Yds 0 TDs

VMI
TJ Talley 28 Rushes 150 Yds 0 TDs
Michael Rainey-Wiles 26 Rushes 101 Yds 1 TD


This one probably was more open than the QBs because a lot of the conference RBs are returning. In fact, four of the top ten rushers are back for 2010. VMI led in total rushing but with the change to a more conventional offense we will see if they can put up the gaudy numbers they did with the triple option. Looking over some of the spring game recaps it looks like some teams will have some freshmen making a case to run with the first team come the fall and so these guys listed are going to have to really step their game up to stay on their team's two-deep. Based on what I have though Id rank the teams this way:

1. Stony Brook
2. Liberty
3. Gardner-Webb
4. Coastal Carolina
5. Presbyterian
6. Charleston Southern
7. VMI (sorry kdinva)

[kdinva]

Don't be "sorry" .........it's a "wait and see" for all of y'all, and VMI, too.

Rainey-Wiles was moved to CB, and took to it like a fish to water. Don't be surprised if at the end of the season he's 2nd-team all conference on defense.

I'd say, for now, VMI's top three backs are (based on Spring performance):
Gabe Itoka, 5'6, 180, Sr. Can pick his hole, then accellerate to the next gear.
T J Talley; 5'10, 190, Jr. If able to turn the corner, will make things happen.
Chaz Jones; 6'0, 225, R-Jr. Abegesah's backup for two years, not afraid to get the ball on 3rd and 3, and decent open field speed (I'd guess 4.65).
Also, incoming Rat Martinez Miles(6'0, 195, first team group A in Va.) will get reps in August.

[bigSfan89]

As a fan of Charleston Southern and the Big South, i appreciate the posts. Keep it up. What about an eval of receivers, offensive and defense lines, kickers, etc. Of course its all speculation right now, but we need something to talk and think about until kick off. It's still a long wait.

[g-webb1994]

Hall will be our workhorse no doubt, but I really want to see one of our freshman, Blount from Forest Hills High over near Monroe, get on the field and get some carries. Very elusive runner, but small at 5'8".

[Redwyn]

Matteo isn't technically our most productive "returning rushers", if by returning you simply mean someone who competed at FCS last year.

Miguel Maysonet and Brock Jackolski are two Hofstra transfer runningbacks that were extremely well rated. Maysonet led Hofstra in rushing, and Jackolski was a jack of all trades, doing kick returns and the like.

In all, expect Stony Brook to keep putting a top ground game on the field. With a trio of runningbacks, look for Fiore to keep spreading the wealth.

[bjtheflamesfan]

KD- It certainly is a wait and see to be sure...the running game was probably the only real bright spot that I could tell over the years when you guys ran the triple option. WIth the change to a more pro-style Im interested to see if you can keep putting up the gaudy numbers you were over the years

bigSfan- thank you for the kind words. I will be getting to the WRs next and then the big boys in the trenches and the specialists...in good time so keep checking and feel free to put your two cents in these discussions as well as they are posted

Redwyn- the reason I didnt list Maysonet and Jackolski is because they were with Hofstra last year. I was looking more at the top two guys who are returning from the 09 rosters. I would not be surprised to see either of them supplanting MAtteo as the #2 back for the Seawolves come training camp later this summer

[Redwyn]

Cool. very nice job with these rankings. Definitely learning a lot about the conference with them. Keep it up!

[gobluehose]

After some good discussions on the QBs for next year, I thought Id take a look at the other guys that will be in the backfield:

(Note: Im going on the top two returning rushers from 2009 so this could be subject to change once training camp starts. If I have missed any names or names are listed in error, would a fan from the school in question please let me know. Also, the rankings at the end are based only on my personal opinion.)

Charleston Southern

DeMarcus Moon 67 Rushes 322 Yds 1 TD
BJ Hackworth 31 Rushes 156 Yds 2 TDs

Coastal Carolina
Eric O'Neal 89 Rushes 377 Yds 2 TDs
Jeremy Height 59 Rushes 225 Yds 0 TDs

Gardner-Webb
Patrick Hall 108 Rushes 599 Yds 12 TDs
Kenny Little 59 Rushes 299 Yds 2 TDs

Liberty
Aldreakis Allen 118 Rushes 530 Yds 9 TDs
SirChauncey Holloway 54 Rushes 285 Yds 7 TDs

Presbyterian
Lance Byrd 127 Rushes 700 Yds 4 TDs
Trandon Dendy 133 Rushes 554 Yds 5 TDs

Stony Brook
Edwin Gowins 145 Rushes 890 Yds 9 TDs
Eddie Mateo 26 Rushes 154 Yds 0 TDs

VMI
TJ Talley 28 Rushes 150 Yds 0 TDs
Michael Rainey-Wiles 26 Rushes 101 Yds 1 TD


This one probably was more open than the QBs because a lot of the conference RBs are returning. In fact, four of the top ten rushers are back for 2010. VMI led in total rushing but with the change to a more conventional offense we will see if they can put up the gaudy numbers they did with the triple option. Looking over some of the spring game recaps it looks like some teams will have some freshmen making a case to run with the first team come the fall and so these guys listed are going to have to really step their game up to stay on their team's two-deep. Based on what I have though Id rank the teams this way:

1. Stony Brook
2. Liberty
3. Gardner-Webb
4. Coastal Carolina
5. Presbyterian
6. Charleston Southern
7. VMI (sorry kdinva)

I like this work you've done, but gotta say I disagree with PC's Byrd and Dendy being 5th. Pure statistics show that Dendy (a sophomore) is second in returning rushers behind Stony Brook's Gowins with 127 rushes for 700 yards. This is also considering he didn't start half the year and became the go-to guy when Dendy went down with an injury in the Liberty game. As for Dendy, he posted 100+ yard rushing games against 2 Socon teams in Furman and The Citadel before being hurt with 4 games left to play.

Byrd himself rushed for more yards than both of Coastal's returners combined and more than GW's and Liberty's top reterning RBs. Combined (which is likely to be the way they are used), the Byrd/Dendy combo led the Big South in returning RBs.

There must have been some other formula you used to determine the ranking so please share your thoughts. If not, PC has to be top 2 or 3.

[bjtheflamesfan]

gobluehose- I put the logos of all the Big South teams on a dartboard and chucked darts at it to make the rankings!

But in all seriousness, it was tough to really put the RB rankings together (as I said in the OP four of the top ten rushers were returning for 2010). 3-6 really could have been put in pretty much any order because all those guys are good runners to say the least. Dendy and Byrd have a chance to be a good 1-2 combination (and a bright spot for you guys even though I have you pegged for I think 6th if memory serves me correcty).

[bjtheflamesfan]

I'll probably post a ranking of the WRs and TEs (team and individual) around middle of next week but Im gonna give this a bump so that you guys can discuss this some more...the QBs discussion is on page two if anyone wants to weigh in on that