Well, I don't think it hurts recruiting when you show them that MULTIPLE running backs get early playing time and THEN show them statistics that show running backs that have been the featured back for multiple seasons but have taken too many hits in college resulting in subpar performances as a pro (Ron Dayne anyone???). You sell a stud RB on: We play multiple RB's throughout the season. You'll get to see playing time early and it'll increase over your time here. By the end of your Jr. and Sr. season, you'll be experienced and have had LOTS of opportunities to showcase your talents. And the best part of all is that you WON'T have taken beating after beating--so your body will be in great shape! And while we didn't have as much of a "committee" approach as we have the past few seasons, Faulk had Mealey and Collins....Vincent and Addai split things up...Toefield and Davis split time. In fact, you'd probably have to go all the way back to Harvey Williams to find the last running back that had the position all to himself. Even the "Dalton/James gang" was split. Bottom line is that LSU doesn't have a history of using ONE running back 90% of the time. In fact, more like 95% of the time, LSU is splitting carries amongst it's RB's.
Let's see... here is the best I could do for LSU's average rushing yards per game over the years. '95 - 147.5 '96 - 211.1 '97 - 256.6 '98 - 168.5 '99 - 82.5 '00 - 131.1 '01 - 153.3 '02 - 196.9 '03 - 185.7 '04 - 193.8 '05 - 150.1 '06 - 165.8 '07 - 220.9 This year is our best year rushing in 10 years. Hmmm...
Thanks for running that down. Late 90s sucked! '99 - ughh! Like I said, I'm just wondering what NOT having a big name, break out back will do to recruiting next year and beyond. Hell, RP might be one of our top runners next year! His numbers aren't too shabby considering his PT...
Yeah, poor Rondell Mealey. He was the featured back in '99 and didn't have NEAR the team Faulk usually had. If he was on this LSU team, he'd be a stud. I still feel like he was a good, quality back that would have been a solid player in the NFL if he was given the chance. He played pretty well behind Ahman Green for a bit. Don't know what happened.
Question I would ask is his height and hands. If he is over 6' which he looks like he is, they may want to consider him for a receiver.
And...by the end of the game we have three, or four, RB's with pretty fresh legs...playing against a tired D-line. Also, DC's must hate planning for our running game " OK gents, today we're going to talk about Hester. Tomorrow we'll practice against Holiday. On Wed. we'll work on Williams. Thurs. walk through we'll discuss Scott. We'll watch some film of Murphy on the bus ride to the stadium. Oh yeah, don't forget about Ryan...If they put him in at the right time, we're screwed."
