College Football 2011: Projecting The Biggest RB Disappointments In 2011
Now that the Bowl Season is over, Cam Newton is gone to the pro's and Andrew Luck has ditched the Sunday dream for one more season at Stanford, we start to look forward to the 2011 season. While there certainly be some great standouts in the next season, there are sure to be disappointments at every position.
For many teams it will be at the running back position. While some guys may be undersized, others may find themselves in the wrong conference, or proving once again that they are just not good enough to make the grade. While all any player can surprise you with outstanding play, these are the college running backs more likely to disappoint us in 2011.
15. Aaron Green, RB, Nebraska
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Aaron Green was ranked by ESPN as one of the best recruits coming into the college ranks this season, so it's likely Nebraska will give him a shot to start. While it's often hard to predict his how good a young player will be, his scouting report indicates problems along the way like “our main concern and his lack of downhill power and his yards after contact production.”
Sounds like a guy who's not built for the plodding and physical defenses of the Big 10. He is also said not to have a great second gear. He could be good, but it certainly doesn't seem like it.
14. Michael Dyer, RB, Auburn
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Michael Dyer was a freshman sensation for the National Champion Auburn Tigers. He rushed for 950 yards and averaged 5.9 yards per carry, but this year he's likely to take a step back. It's not that he doesn't have skill, it's just likely that he will no longer have the benefit of being an afterthought.
He'll be playing in a tough SEC and won't have the luxury of Cam Newton to take the attention off of him. In truth, Dyer will see more guys loading up in the box to stop him instead of wondering what Cam is going to do next.
13. Knile Davis, RB, Arkansas
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Davis was a standout for Arkansas for torched defenses for 6.3 yards a carry, but his numbers are a bit deceiving. Against teams like Georgia, Auburn, and Alabama, he was unable to reach the century mark. However, against teams like Mississippi, Mississippi State and UTEP, he torched those teams.
This year, he'll be expected to equal his second half explosion against another tough SEC schedule and he wont have Ryan Mallett to throw for another 3,900 yards.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
12. Edwin Baker, RB, Michigan State
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There is no doubt that Baker was one of the main reasons that Michigan State had the kind of storybook season it did. However, Baker wasn't the only man in the backfield responsible for the Spartans surprising season. Freshman Le'Veon Bell rushed for 600 yards and turned heads for his size and power.
Now with a new offensive coordinator coming in and Bell making such an impression, it's possible that he will be splitting the carries with Baker, which is good news for Spartan fans, but bad news for Baker.
11. Andre Ellington, RB, Clemson
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What do you get when you combine an injury and half of your backfield support system on his way to the NFL? You get Andre Ellington. This Clemson running back was amassed over 600 yards in eight games while splitting carries with Jamie Harper.
Now he looks to come back from an injury and will now be the only back teams have to plan for. He might amass more yards, but he might not be as impressive doing so.
10. Cierre Wood, RB, Notre Dame
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While Brian Kelly really started to put Notre Dame on the right track last year, they are facing a daunting 2011 schedule. They play at Michigan, at Pittsburgh, and at Stanford. Then, they have home games against Boston College, USC, and Michigan State. These are teams that are going to give break Irish star, Cierre Wood real trouble.
That doesn't even include the fact that Armando Allen Jr. is gone, making Wood the feature back. And while it looks as if Notre Dame's freshman class will be good, it's uncertain how much they can help the first year.
9. Chris Polk, RB, Washington
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It's one thing to say that you are going to suffer from losing your pro prospect quarterback, it's another thing when you consider that your pro prospect quarterback (Jake Locker, if you haven't figured it out) was responsible for 20% of your total rushing yards as a team.
The issue is now no one has to worry about Locker. All they have to focus on is Chris Polk, who already dipped a bit from a breakout freshman year. Expect him to fall further.
8. James White, RB, Wisconsin
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I could be entirely wrong on this one, but if you take the left side of any team's offensive line away, how good will they be? Wisconsin is losing offensive guard John Moffitt and tackle Gabe Carimi. It's hard to lose two All-American lineman and expect the same production out of your running back, even when he's freshman sensation James White.
7.Ronnie Hillman, RB, San Diego State
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While Ronnie Hillman was a beast for SDSU last season there isn't a strong opinion that he can do it again. First he is dealing with a coaching change, and while their new head coach is an internal hire, it doesn't mean that he won't suffer a bit from the change in the program.
He is also dealing with a 175 pound frame. While that might work for some guys, that size, or lack thereof will catch up with you a some point. Expect Hillman to dip from the 17 touchdowns he had last season.
6. Jeff Demps, RB, Florida
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Many people are expecting Jeff Demps to take a step forward this year, but it's more than likely he'll regress further. First, he has injuries working against him. In an injury plagued year, he had 92 carries. Now he comes back trying to remain healthy.
And he's got to do it all in the confines of Charlie Weis' pro-style offense. With a whole new coaching staff, it's uncertain that Demps will take the big step forward a lot of the experts are predicting.
5. Chris Thompson, RB, Florida State
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A lot of people are going to point to his 147-yard performance against South Carolina in the Chick-Fil-A bowl as his coming out party. But let's keep it in perspective. While it was a very nice performance it was only the third time all season he had hit the century mark.
Thompson will be a decent back for the Seminoles, just don't expect repeat performances.
4. Adam Robinson, RB, Iowa
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Robinson went and took a step forward last season by doubling the touchdown total from his freshman year. He came into the season as the featured back in Iowa's offensive attack. However, by the end of the season, Robinson was the second back to Marcus Coker, who came back from a broken collarbone and began shredding the competition.
It should be pointed out that Robinson was booted off the team for marijuana use. However, there are many sites reporting that Robinson will, in all likelihood, be given a second chance. Even if he does comes back and fly's right, he'll still take a step back in his progress.
3. Dan Herron, RB, Ohio State
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Dan Herron is known as one of the better backs (I said “better” not “best”) in college football. He put up over 1,000 yards and and hit paydirt 16 times, but don't expect the same kind of year next year. Forget that he'll be suspended for the first five games of next season. He wasn't that great to begin with.
Keep in mind that his two signature games were against Minnesota and Michigan. Neither team was very good last year. Expect Herron to take a step back next season.
2. Bobby Rainey, RB, Western Kentucky
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Rainey was THE reason to watch Western Kentucky last season. He torched defenses for 1,649 yards and was a beast for Western Kentucky. However, he also takes quite a beating at only 196 pounds. He also took 340 carries. He got abused and played well.
All that abuse will catch up with him this season when he goes against teams like LSU and Kentucky.
1. David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech
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Everyone is looking for Wilson to take a big step forward this year. He had a good season running behind two of the best running backs in the country, but things won't be so easy for Wilson. Not only will he be losing those other guys to shoulder the load, but he'll be losing his quarterback Tyrod Taylor.
It's hard to the man when you happen to be the only target on the team. While Wilson is a talented running back, he'll struggle next season.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
