As I've stated 100 times before - it's never too early to start talking about football. With that in mind I thought we could run down CollegeFootballNews.com's preview of the best 10 players by position in each conference. And since my team still resides in the Big 12 at the moment, we might as well start close to home. Here are the 10 best running backs in the Big 12.
Preview 2010 - Big 12 Ten Best Running Backs
CollegeFootballNews.com
1. Kendall Hunter, Sr. Oklahoma State
Let’s try this again. Hunter was supposed to be on the short-list of All-America candidates last season after leading the Big 12 rushing for 1,555 yards and 16 scores, but he suffered a foot injury and was never quite right all season long. He gave it a try after missing time, and finished with 382 yards and a score, but he was hardly the same player he was expected to be. The 5-8, 197-pounder isn’t all that big and he’s not necessarily a blazer, but he comes up with big runs when he gets into the open, has good hands, and despite the injury last year, is consistently durable.
2. Daniel Thomas, Sr. Kansas State
Thomas went from being a top JUCO transfer into a possible first round draft pick. The 6-2, 228-pounder is getting a long look as one of the top next-level NFL prospects after running for 1,265 yards and 11 touchdowns averaging 5.12 yards per carry while also adding 25 catches for 257 yards. With size, speed, and workhorse ability, he’s also a passing threat after serving as a dual-threat option at NW Mississippi JC. The Wildcats were 4-1 when he ran for 100 yards or more last season, and he’ll be the focal point of the attack once again.
3. DeMarco Murray, Sr. Oklahoma No, Murray wasn’t around in the Barry Switzer era and he didn’t join Steve Owens in the Sooner backfield, but it just seems that way. The senior has always had elite talent with phenomenal athleticism and speed, but he hasn’t been able to stay healthy through a slew of bad luck injuries. He has had a bad hamstring, a dislocated kneecap, and various other dings, but he has still carved out a decent career with 2,471 yards and 35 touchdowns to go along with 86 catches for 977 yards and eight scores. If he’s right, he’s an NFL-caliber runner who could carry the offense and come up with an All-America season. He’s 6-0 and 214 pounds with 4.4 speed and tremendous quickness, and while he has tread on the tires, he could blow up if he can stay healthy.
4. Alexander Robinson, Jr. Iowa State The hope was for Robinson to go from good to terrific, and he did that going from 703 yards as a sophomore to 1,195 yards and six touchdowns as a junior averaging 5.2 yards per carry with six 100-yard days. The 5-9, 186-pounder has great speed who makes things happen on his own, and he was dangerous in the open field catching 17 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns averaging 15.4 yards per play. From time to time, he can also be used in a Wildcat formation; he threw a ten-yard touchdown pass to add even more to his versatility.
5. Roy Helu Jr., Sr. Nebraska If it’s possible for a star Nebraska running back to fly under the radar, Helu was able to do it. The 6-0, 220-pounder earned second-team All-Big 12 honors and was the team’s offensive MVP after rushing for 1,147 yards and ten touchdowns and catching 19 passes for 149 yards. When he was healthy, he was dominant with 169 yards against the tremendous Virginia Tech run defense, 156 against Kansas, and 138 against Oklahoma, but he struggled through a shoulder injury that needed a full offseason to heal up. Not afraid to run inside, he’ll pound away when needed while he also has the speed to bounce runs to the outside to crank out big plays. His biggest problem so far, besides the shoulder, has been bowl production running for -1 yard by Clemson two years ago and running three times for eight yards in the win over Arizona (when he wasn’t needed and was banged up). When healthy, he’ll be one of the Big 12’s top backs.
6. Derrick Washington, Sr. Missouri Washington followed up an All-Big 12, 1,036-yard, 17 touchdown season with 865 yards and ten scores. With great hands, a nose for the goal line, and good ball security, he’s a reliable runner who’s a proven receiver with 65 career catches for 503 yards and three scores. The 6-0, 225-pounder is a tough, shifty runner who has just enough speed to tear off yards in chunks, averaging 4.6 yards per carry after running for 5.9 yards per run in 2008. Working more as a workhorse, running it 190 times after carrying it just 177 times two years ago, he’ll be a steadying force for the offense once again, and he’ll occasionally be explosive.
Batch has been the right fit for the Texas Tech offense with 5-10, 204-pound size, tremendous quickness, and great hands making 108 career catches for 885 yards and two scores. He led the team with 884 rushing yards with three 100 yard games in the final five and ended with 14 touchdowns, and now he’s expected to be an even bigger part of the offense with a wee bit more balance. With 4.4 speed, he can crank out yards in chunks and should average well over five yards per carry.
8. Christine Michael, Soph. Texas A&M Last year’s super-recruit, Michael, showed glimpses of what all the hype was about rushing for a team-leading 844 yards and ten touchdowns including a 116-yard, two score day against Baylor and with 121 yards and two touchdowns against Texas Tech. While he’s a good receiver, catching 15 passes for 66 yards, he’s at his best getting to pound away inside and use his speed in the open field. The 5-10, 196-pounder has the tools out of central casting with size, speed, and weight room strength, and now he has to show even more pop after averaging five yards per carry.
9. Rodney Stewart, Jr. Colorado Everyone wanted 2008 super-recruit Darrell Scott to be the one to carry the Colorado out of the doldrums, but Stewart became the far better back out of that recruiting class leading the team with 622 yards two years ago, even though his season was cut short by a broken leg, and 804 yards with nine touchdowns last year. The 5-6, 175 pounder might not be all that big, but he’s extremely tough and very fast running the 100 in 10.7. He can cut on a dime and needs to be used more as a receiver as well as the main rushing option.
10. Fozzy Whittaker, Jr. Texas Whittaker suffered a knee injury two years ago and took a while to get back into the swing of things. He got a little work early on, and he carried the ball 18 times for 71 yards against Oklahoma, but he only ran 53 times all season for a paltry 212 yards with four touchdowns, and he caught 13 passes for 51 yards. The 5-10, 195-pounder was a Texas high school superstar and has yet to make a splash for the Longhorns. Now he’s healthy and now he’s ready to be a focal point of a rushing attack that will rely more on the ground game.
Can't disagree much with that list. Of course I'd like to see Roy Helu ahead of the guy from Kansas State that I've never ever heard of. Also, if anyone thinks Fozzy Whitaker is better than Rex Burkhead from Nebraska that must be a joke. To which, I say "wakka, wakka, wakka" (thrown tomato).
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