How's your Backfield?

[G&B]

This doesn't tell me anything. And are you not sure - maybe - or it may be?
I want info, not just chest thumping. Back it up.
Honest assessments. I haven't been this excited/impressed about our backfield....ever.

Reynolds - 47 TDs (2nd in '08, 1st in '09) over the last two years, workhorse, does not get tired, hurt, or worn down. Converted from WR, so he is exceptional catching balls and making plays in the open field. Will be an early favorite for the Payton this year. That was with/despite the most predictable and tired offense in the nation (no hyperbole!)
Dan Moore - strongest back in the nation. Should be unstoppable on any short yardage situation. Will see much more action with TBF and Klaboe graduated
Nguyen - one of the shortest and quickest backs in the nation, our own Barry Sanders as it were. Will also see much more action this year

Assuming they'll redshirt, but two 2-star recruits signed in 2010 who also have Griz Nation damn excited

That was a real good description.

And it could be may be or maybe, since we're rolling out a brand new offense and because.... well because it's July. Obviously I don't know that we'll end up being the best

[CatMom]

Our 'D' won't miss Grimes

[Big McLargehuge]

This doesn't tell me anything. And are you not sure - maybe - or it may be?
I want info, not just chest thumping. Back it up.
Honest assessments. I haven't been this excited/impressed about our backfield....ever.

Reynolds - 47 TDs (2nd in '08, 1st in '09) over the last two years, workhorse, does not get tired, hurt, or worn down. Converted from WR, so he is exceptional catching balls and making plays in the open field. Will be an early favorite for the Payton this year. That was with/despite the most predictable and tired offense in the nation (no hyperbole!)
Dan Moore - strongest back in the nation. Should be unstoppable on any short yardage situation. Will see much more action with TBF and Klaboe graduated
Nguyen - one of the shortest and quickest backs in the nation, our own Barry Sanders as it were. Will also see much more action this year

Assuming they'll redshirt, but two 2-star recruits signed in 2010 who also have Griz Nation damn excited



And it could be may be or maybe, since we're rolling out a brand new offense and because.... well because it's July. Obviously I don't know that we'll end up being the best

Bang on. The Griz are pretty damn set at running back for a good while.

[UCABEAR]

Our 'D' won't miss Grimes

Oh..I forgot. Grimes got 164 on you last year and 132 the year before...we won't go into 2007s game.

I'm just glad Bush is gone! What a RB! (edit: just reread and saw he'll be back but not 100%) Last year you had Canady who got 50 of the 67 total rushing yards against the Bears. Is Dillard still there?

[CatMom]

Our 'D' won't miss Grimes

Oh..I forgot. Grimes got 164 on you last year and 132 the year before...we won't go into 2007s game.

I'm just glad Bush is gone! What a RB! Last year you had Canady who got 50 of the 67 total rushing yards against the Bears. Is Dillard still there?

Bush isn't gone, he's a Senior. He's been out practicing with the 7 on 7 squads. He may only be at 90% of his former, running, self, due to the multiple ligament injury.
We also got Navy's slot back, Marcus Curry.
-against Ohio State - 2 catches/101 yds, 2 TD's

Dillard - Jr (ranked 77th nationally and seventh in the Southland Conference with 58.5 receiving yards per game )
Griggs - Sr (ranked ninth nationally and second among Southland Conference leaders with 12.1 receptions per game)
Griggs is the bigger threat for catches, I feel Dillard is the bigger threat in YAC

[McNeese72]

Just fine

Except for Javaris Murray. But I think we will be fine with Champlain Babin and Marcus Wiltz. As far as behind them, we will know more when fall workouts start.




Doc

[CatMom]

Here's a q&a from the 'San Marcos Daily Record' re: Bush. Tyler Mayforth is, basically, our 'beat' writer for the Bobcats and he goes out to most all the practices (and is at all the home, plus some away, games)

Q: Read your story about (Texas State running back) Karrington Bush being “back and better than ever,” but it left me with a few questions. How does Bush look on the field? Is he comfortable with his knee? I’m glad he turned it around academically, but I want him back on the field to help the Bobcats win some games!

— Jerry from Austin



A: Bush’s ability on the field has improved by leaps and bounds since he first returned to the field during spring practice. When Bush went through the occasional drills in the spring, you could tell he didn’t quite trust his knee enough to fully test it. You can’t really blame Bush since he was only four months out of surgery. Now three months removed from the final spring practice, Bush is back to looking like the running back he was in 2007-08. In last Monday’s scrimmage against Texas Lutheran, Bush caught a pass in the flat and made a quick cut upfield. Three months ago it would have caused concern, now it’s routine for him. Thanks for the question, Jerry.

[slulionsfan]

Here's a q&a from the 'San Marcos Daily Record' re: Bush. Tyler Mayforth is, basically, our 'beat' writer for the Bobcats and he goes out to most all the practices (and is at all the home, plus some away, games)

Q: Read your story about (Texas State running back) Karrington Bush being “back and better than ever,” but it left me with a few questions. How does Bush look on the field? Is he comfortable with his knee? I’m glad he turned it around academically, but I want him back on the field to help the Bobcats win some games!

— Jerry from Austin



A: Bush’s ability on the field has improved by leaps and bounds since he first returned to the field during spring practice. When Bush went through the occasional drills in the spring, you could tell he didn’t quite trust his knee enough to fully test it. You can’t really blame Bush since he was only four months out of surgery. Now three months removed from the final spring practice, Bush is back to looking like the running back he was in 2007-08. In last Monday’s scrimmage against Texas Lutheran, Bush caught a pass in the flat and made a quick cut upfield. Three months ago it would have caused concern, now it’s routine for him. Thanks for the question, Jerry.

I'll preface by saying Bush may very well bounce back 100% and show zero problems with the knee...but having been around and seen a lot of ACL injuries over the years, it's pretty common for kids to look great during workouts without pads, and without bodies flying around, and without the rigors of training camp and getting pounded on day after day and week after week...I don't think anyone will know for sure until he's been through a couple of weeks of practice and goes through a scrimmage or two...and you probably still won't know until you're a few weeks into the season.

I'm certainly not trying to be critical of this writer, but IMO, he may be setting some Bobcat fans up for disappointment if he doesn't show the explosiveness he did in 2008.

[CatMom]

Yeah, I just want to see him back on the field. I, for one, don't expect to see what we did before but anything close will only improve over last year, when our running game was close to 0.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Our backfield will be even better with 5 more games on field turf. Taiwan Jones averages two yards more per carry on turf than our shoddy grass field.

[COBBLESTONE]

Our QB is fine but the rest of our backfield is pretty much unproven.

[JohnStOnge]

McNeese's backfield situation received a serious blow when Javaris Murray injured his knee during spring practice. He was McNeese's fastest player and a threat to go all the way with every touch. Also had very good vision and football "sense."

How good the overall backfield situation will be is unknown. The probable starter, Champlain Babin, is a back I would not trade away for anybody in the SLC that I've seen play. However, those behind him are unproven. They have Marcus Wiltz, who was McNeese's most highly touted recruit in 2009 and redshirted last year and they have a transfer from Michigan State.

Had Murray remained healthy I think they'd have had the best top two in the conference. Now we'll have to see.

[CatMom]

Well, we have a great backfield but our D Line just took a serious blow. Ralston Dews (RS Soph who was back-up NG in 2009) was to replace Garrett Hood. He lost weight but added strength and really impressed during the spring. Word came down tonight that he is transferring to a JUCO for the 2010 season and will then attempt to be re-recruited next spring.

[catbob]

CJ Palmer, JR, 6'0, 225 (ish, likely less this year)
09 Stats (MSU) - 510 yards on 115 attemps (4.4 YPC) 5 TDs
More of a power back with some finesse moves tossed in here and there, entered the spring as the #1 guy, but many have been critical of his ability to be consistent. Some think he is a situational back. Was behind Demetrius Crawford as a true freshman, and senior Aaron Mason last year. Could be his first year as the true #1 guy, unless...

Orenzo Davis, JR, 5'9 185
09 Stats (JC) - 1,014 rushing yards, 152 receiving, 768 returns yards, 13 total TDs
Late JC signing this summer, many comparisons are being made to former MSU star Demetrius Crawford, thanks to a highlight reel (" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) floating around. Said to have 4.4 speed, will he be an immediate impact?

Blade Becksted, SR, 5'10 200
09 Stats (MSU) - 43 rushes, 216 yards, 3 TDs
The talented, but oft-injured downhilll runner has shown flashes over his career at MSU, but has never been higher than third string, and has only played limited minutes due to injury of guys higher on the depth chart. Was going to compete for the starting spot with Palmer, but is likely going to be 3rd string unless Palmer gets "demoted" to a 3rd down/goalline back.

Then two true freshman look to make an impact as a true freshman:

David Dash, 5'9 175
3 star on Rivals, 70 grade on ESPN. An explosive running back, carried 132 times for 1,109 yards with 10 TD runs as a senior at Miller HS... caught 31 passes for 520 yards and six touchdowns... rushed for 216 yards on 16 carries against Eisenhower, and caught six passes for 144 yards against Crenshaw... returned 12 kicks for 252 yards... scored 16 touchdowns and 98 total points.

Kerry Sloan, 5-11, 210
2 star on Rivals, 40 grade on ESPN. Rushed for 2,524 yards and 25 touchdowns at Harker Heights, including 1,265 yards on 177 carries as a senior... tore off a 90-yard run against Killeen Shoemaker... earned first team all-district and all-region honors.

MSU has finished top 2 in the Sky in rushing the last 2 years, and we have some talented but unproven guys coming in and returning.

I'd say maybe the 3rd or 4th best backfield in the Big Sky.

[Tribe4SF]

W&M is very strong here.

RB

- Jr. Jonathan Grimes 5'10" 205 / combination of speed, power and elusiveness. Rushed for 2,200 yards in first two seasons.
- Sr. Courtland Marriner 5'8" 185 / Speed king who ran a 10.4 100 in H.S. Team Captain. 1,117 career yards rushing.
- Sr.Terrence Riggins 6'2" 230 / Power back with good speed. 684 career yards rushing. Also plays FB.
- So. Mel Jones 5'9" 200 / Combo back who showed well in limited action last year.

FB

Tribe used four here in '09, and all return.

- Sr. Jimmy Hobson 5'11" 220
- So. John Ribble 6'1" 227
- Sr. Kyle O'Brien 6' 250 (DL who comes over on short yardage)
- So. TJ Ptachick 6'2" 225

Grimes named to Payton Watch List.

[CatMom]

Just thought I'd let the other SLC teams know that our staff is seeking a Medical Redshirt for Griggs. His freshman year he got hurt in the first game of the season and was unable to return. If granted we'll have him and Dillard for 2 more seasons (2010/11)

I'm loving it

[houndawg]

Deep and talented. Some good RBs got limited pt last year because of Deji Karim's return to full strength.
Lucien Walker, Stevie Strother, LaSteven McKinney (fast), Pitt xfer Shariff Harris, Richard White, who was to start in front of Karim but got hurt (again).

All-American FB John Goode (6'2", 240) carried the ball 3 times last year and had 7 receptions (4TDs). Obviously the dude is a road grader. Best lead blocker in FCS.

[free7694]

very average

Which still makes it the best in the Scott Downing era.

[guinzone]

Great article in today's Youngstown Vindicator about our five running backs, who I think are some of the best YSU has ever had. Four of them will be freshman, the fifth will be just a sophomore. Like our quarterback position, we will be loaded with depth at the RB position for the next four years:

http://www.vindy.com/news/2010/aug/08/b ... o-develop/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Theee Catrabbit]

Well 1st we got this guy..................

South Dakota State University running back Kyle Minett is one of 20 players named to the preseason watch list for the 2010 Walter Payton Award, which is awarded to the top offensive playerin the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision.
A native of Ruthton, Minn., Minett enters his senior season third among returning FCS backs and fourth on the SDSU career charts with 3,069 career rushing yards. A two-time second-team all-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection, he has posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, rushing for 1,289 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2008 and 1,304 yards and 16 TDs last season. In addition, Minett has 79 career receptions for 720 yards and seven scores.
Minett, who was named to the Associated Press All-America Third Team in 2009, is the first SDSU football player to be nominated for the Walter Payton Award,

Next we got this guy.....

Tyler Duffy
# 25
Running Back - RB
Height: 5-10 Weight: 210
Sr
Tyler provided the Jackrabbits with a strong second option at running back last season ... also saw extensive action on special teams (#2 option, spells Minnett for some rest at least every 3rd or 4th set of downs, so experienced).

Dominique Clare
# 26
Running Back - RB
Height: 5-11 Weight: 220
Dominique is part of a deep stable of running backs on the Jackrabbit roster this season (I think he was a little nicked up, but this guy has some wheels)

Mason Winterboer
# 27
Running Back - RB
Height: 5-11 Weight: 200
Redshirt Freshman
Mason rushed for a combined 26 touchdowns and nearly 2,500 yards his final two seasons at Brookings High School, earning all-state honors as a senior ... his 1,693 yards in 2008 set a Bobcat school record ... ran on the winning 4x400-meter relay at the 2007 state track and field meet ... also competed in hockey
(Young, Tough and Fast)

And last this guy is so talented and fast,we had to get him out of being a RB this year and put him in more of a WR/Slot position, just to get him on the field. Also does some Flash.
Tyrel Kool
# 2
Wide Receiver - WR
Height: 5-9 Weight: 190
Sophomore
Tyrel will be another candidate to carry the ball for the Jackrabbits in 2009(Talented and Fast, more than likely the successor to Minnet)


So two Seniors(one on the Walter Payton watch list...again) a junior, a sophomore we can pull back into the backfield if needed, and a RS Freshman who will be an eventual workhorse as well(as I understand it he was the closest of all the RS last year to having it pulled, because he was ready for the college game)
I think I feel pretty good.

[CatMom]

Son of a Bitch!!!!
Last year we lost Bush. Curry went down in Saturday's scrimmage and tore his achilles. He's gone for the season before it even starts

[houndawg]

After a torn hamstring in early '08, Sammy Biggs (6'3", 210) concentrated on track for the past two years and is the two-time and defending MVC 400 meter champ. He'll probably play WR for the Dawgs, but was a standout RB in HS. We're hoping he makes comeback like Deji Karim did, he has that kind of speed.

[bluehenbillk]

Andrew Pierce, just remember the name, redhsirt FR, Omar Cuff clone, except bigger.

[McNeese75]

Son of a Bitch!!!!
Last year we lost Bush. Curry went down in Saturday's scrimmage and tore his achilles. He's gone for the season before it even starts

Wow, you have had your share of unfortunate events this year with the departure of the two young QB's and now this. Bush is really back isn't he? I saw a lot on the website about him not being on the roster, etc but I thing that was before it was finalized.

[CatMom]

Son of a Bitch!!!!
Last year we lost Bush. Curry went down in Saturday's scrimmage and tore his achilles. He's gone for the season before it even starts

Wow, you have had your share of unfortunate events this year with the departure of the two young QB's and now this. Bush is really back isn't he? I saw a lot on the website about him not being on the roster, etc but I thing that was before it was finalized.

75,
Understatement. Yes, Bush is back. We have Bush, Imade & Reddic and we have a true freshman that was tearing it up on Saturday - Terrence Franks. He played football and ran track in HS. His 40 time is 4.3 and he ran over 100 yds in that scrimmage, I'd hate to see them not redshirt him but I suspect they were thinking about letting him play this year already. With Curry now gone they may just put him in his place.
Persons who attended the scrimmage stated Franks looks like a younger version of Bush with his speed and easy glide and gaining yardage before you know what's happened. If my scenerio wills' out we would have
Bush - Sr
Reddic - Soph
Imade - RS Freshman
Franks - Freshman
If Curry comes back next year (according to the severity of the tear) we'll still have a killer backfield.