On Thanksgiving, Brian Westbrook helped rejuvenate an Eagles offense that had been struggling the last couple of weeks in a 48-20 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Westbrook rushed 22 times for 110 yards and recorded four touchdowns, two rushing and two receiving.
In a tight battle for the NFC South title, DeAngelo Williams helped the Carolina Panthers win on the road 35-31 over Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. DeAngelo helped lead the way by rushing 21 times for 72 yards and four touchdowns.
Two star running backs on two different teams, each fighting for a playoff spot in the NFC. Both players scoring four touchdowns in Week 14.
When Westbrook scored four touchdowns against the Cardinals on Thursday, I thought he would be the top running back statistically in the NFL. It's not everyday we get to see a running back score four times in one day (unless your name is Ronnie Brown).
Looks like I spoke too soon.
Williams nearly matched Westbrook's statistics for Week 14 in the Panthers comeback win against the Packers.
Williams has emerged as one of the top running back threats in the NFL this season. The more I thought about it, the more he reminded me of Eagles running back Brian Westbrook.
Small Division I College
Most star running backs in the NFL are known for attending a big name school. Adrian Peterson attended Oklahoma University. Clinton Portis attended University of Miami.
DeAngelo Williams was drafted the 27th overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers after attending the University of Memphis. They play with teams such as Houston and University of Central Florida in Conference USA.
Memphis may never get the national recognition as teams in the SEC or the Big 12, but Williams helped put Memphis on the map for football.
While attending Memphis, Williams set NCAA Div. I-A records for most career all-purpose yards with 7,573. He also set the record for most career 100-yard rushing games with 34. He ranks fourth on the all-time rushing list with 6,026 yards.
Brian Westbrook found himself in a similar situation at Villanova University. Villanova's football program currently plays Division I-AA in the Colonial Athletic Association.
At Villanova, Westbrook set the NCAA all-time record for career all-purpose yards with 9,512. He also broke 41 school records, 13 Atlantic 10 records, and five NCAA records.
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid first heard about Westbrook after reading numerous articles in Philadelphia newspapers. In the 2002 NFL Draft, Reid and the Eagles drafted Westbrook in the third round.
Both running backs have established their careers in the NFL after attending small Div. I schools to play football. Both running backs proved that it doesn't take a big name Division I school to be successful in the NFL.
Small Guys Can Play Football!
Most athletes in professional sports are tall. Back in the day when I was involved in sports, I even struggled playing because all of the kids I played against were at least six feet tall. When you are only 5'9", it can be difficult to play against the bigger guys.
For guys such as Williams and Westbrook, being small has its advantages.
Williams stands at 5'9". Westbrook stands at 5'10". Over the last couple of seasons, these guys have shown the rest of the league that small guys can play football.
Their height and speed can be a headache for opposing defenses. Being small allows them to move around the field easier and squeeze through smaller holes on the field.
These two star running backs play against defenses that have athletes who are usually at least six feet tall. Thanks to these guys, it gives small people such as myself hope that height doesn't matter in sports. Anything is possible if you work hard enough for it.
Triple-Threat
Most teams are lucky enough to have a running back that can be a threat running the ball. Other teams, such as the San Diego Chargers, are lucky enough to have a running back that can be a threat running and catching the ball.
When a team has a running back that can run, catch, and return kick offs, they are lucky enough to have a player who is a triple-threat.
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