Well, my old school newspaper, West Virginia University's Daily Athenaeum, is 1-for-2 on football-related scoops.I reported here last week that the DA had been told by a source that WVU running back Steve Slaton was coming back for his senior season.
Today, ESPN's Joe Schad, talking to Slaton and his parents, reports that Slaton in fact headed to the NFL draft.
While I will surely miss Slaton at WVU—he provided some of the most electrifying moments I've seen in 20 years of following WVU football—I can understand his decision.
He saw his carries go to freshman sensation Noel Devine in the second half of the season. He was injured early on in the Fiesta Bowl and sat out the rest of the game. Outside of Darren McFadden, there is no other premier back in this year's draft.
Today's Must Reads
Slaton said the NFL evaluators projected him as a second-round pick.
I had hoped for a WVU backfield of Slaton, Devine, and Pat White next year. But now, White's roomie and best buddy is heading to the NFL. I wish him well.
The way I see it, Slaton was a gift. He came in as a completely unheralded back in the class headlined by can't-miss back Jason Gwaltney. After Gwaltney found the buffet line more than the classroom, he dropped out of school (twice) and Slaton came out of nowhere.
Slaton's eye-popping performance in the 2006 Sugar Bowl (MVP) was memorable—not just one but two 52-yard-touchdown runs—as was his 2006 campaign, with more than 1,700 rushing yards.
I'll always remember the 2006 offensive line sliding to one side of the field, with Slaton prowling parallel behind it, head down, then, seeing the opening, flowing through it like water, and out-sprinting everyone on his way to the end zone.
Like all Mountaineer fans, I'd worried about Slaton's fumbles in big games (South Florida, Louisville), and wondered if he might be injury-prone (hammy in Fiesta Bowl).
And I was as mystified as anyone about the drop-off in his performance this season, but eventually came to believe it was more the fault of the youthful offensive line and the play calling of Rich Rodriguez and offensive coordinator Calvin McGee.
So the Steve Slaton Era ends at WVU. No more "Super Steve" on the Mountaineer Field JumboTron. No more 65-yard-breakaways. And, more importantly, fans now have one less seemingly-swell young man to root for.
Slaton, like White and many others on the team, is an easy guy to cheer. He seems well-raised by his parents, doesn't show off (though he could), and carries himself humbly and modestly.
All Mountaineer fans should wish him a long and healthy career in the NFL.
comments (13) write a comment »
write a new comment
7 months ago
Frank, hoping you, as a native West Virginian, sports writer and veteran journalist, will consider addressing Terry Foster and the Detroit News. On Sunday they published his column where he asked, "Will the people of West Virginia stop acting like stupid hicks?" over some fans' reaction to Rodriguez going to Michigan. They later edited it out of their online version with no explanation or apology, as though it never existed. But the slur was out there, the damage done...and this from a columnist who only days earlier had criticized the Golf Channel's on-air commentator's lynching remark as racist. Thanks for all your great work!
from 7 months ago
Anonymous (if infact that is you real name)
I have had an ongoing dialouge with Terry Foster and actual Spoke with the Sports editor of the Detroit News yesterday.
Mr. Foster has since apologized and we should move on now.
R. Hayhurst
7 months ago
He shoulda stayed. Unfinished business at WVU plus he isn't NFL ready. I thought he would compete for the Heisman for sure this year but the guy can't stay on the field. He is soft and brittle. I know he would have lost carries, and maybe some pub, to Devine next year, but he, Devine, and White would have destroyed fools en route to a BCS title berth. Then Slaton could have a platform to shine on. I see him going between #35 and #50 overall and being a nice 2nd back on a good team. Kind of a disappointing end to what looked like a sparkling career.....
7 months ago
This guy would be a nice pickup for the Cowboys after they get rid of Julius Jones in the offseason.
7 months ago
Hopefully Slaton can stay on the field more in the NFL than he could at WVU. When healthy, he was one of the best backs in college football, and if not the best certainly the most electrifying. Will be interesting to see where he goes in the draft.
7 months ago
Yeah, I hope Slaton finds a good spot on an NFL roster for a solid career. Like Frank said, he's the type of guy that I just like to root for (as long as he's not running all over my team). Think Devine will be able to carry the full load, or will they use a little bit of Jock Sanders back there too? But then again, with Pat White being your QB, he takes some of the load off Devine's shoulders as well. Then again with Schmidt gone they have to replace him too. So, is it going to be even more spread out and focused on the run, or what? I'd be curious to hear your outlook for '08. There are certainly a lot of questions.
-R.H.
7 months ago
Sorry people, but Steve Slaton is extremely overrated. A runningback with his size can't make it in the NFL. There are other postions that you could play in the NFL and be undersized but running back is not one of them. Steve Slaton is not as good as Reggie Bush was and Reggie Bush hasn't had much success in the NFL. We saw in a game this year that he got hit so hard because he was trying to do the stuff he did when he played at USC which is run back and forth across the field that he had to crawl off the field. Steve Slaton would have to do that kind of stuff to make it in the NFL because obviously he can't run between the tackles and it doesn't work. I don't see Steve Slaton getting drafted until at least the second round.
from 7 months ago
I agree that his size may be something that could "hurt" his draft status, but in a league where Darren Sproles has made a living, there is hope for a guy like Steve Slaton.
from 7 months ago
Fortunately for Steve people like you have doubted his ability, at WVU he was the 3rd RB, but when he was given his opportunity he made it count. So keep thinking Steve can't make it, I for one will watch as he does similar things for the NFL that he did for the Mountaineers.
7 months ago
Geoff,
I don't think slaton will be a great nfl player. That being said look at guy's like Jones-Drew, Marshall Faulk, warrick dunn, and you can't say that he doesn't have the chance. As for Bush, you can that the coaching stuff for killing that guy. He isn't being put into the right situations.
7 months ago
If the love and appreciation that WVU fans have for Super Steve helps, I know that he will do great in the NFL. He has tremendous ability that was stuffed by Rodriguez and the offensive play caller. I hope someone turns him loose to do his thing. GOOD LUCK STEVE! We love you.
7 months ago
Great story and I too will miss "Super Steve," one of the most exciting players to play at WVU. Fortunately the cupboard is not bare will Noel waiting for his chance. Steve should be remembered as being one the "architects" taking WVU to a new and exciting level...to be continued
Semper Fi
5 months ago
Steve Slaton will be greatly missed. But I am interested in seeing how good divine will be.
write a new comment