Devy Notes: Running Back Sidekicks

Bruce Matson

Naturally, we like to concentrate on the team’s top running back but that doesn’t mean there isn’t another on the roster. Usually, the premier power five schools have one or two athletic specimens waiting in the wings ready to take over as the lead back. Some of these teams like to mix in their younger prospects in part of a committee. Other teams prefer to ride their lead back and just utilize their younger running backs prospects whenever needed.

A MASTER OF TALENT

The Ohio State Buckeyes are set to steamroll the Big Ten for another season. JK Dobbins, one of the top running backs in the nation, is expected to be the team’s lead back. He has two straight 1,000-yard seasons. While sharing the backfield with Mike Weber last year, he still managed to own a 17.55 percent market share of the team’s offensive production.

Where there’s thunder there’s lightning. Even though the Buckeyes lost Weber to the NFL, they still have another talented running back waiting in the wings. We saw a glimpse of him last year, but Master Teague is going to be a force to be reckoned with due to his blend of power and speed. He has home run hitting speed and is a threat to score from anywhere on the football field.

When needed, he’s able to turn on the power and run people over. At 5-foot-11 and 222 pounds, Teague already has feature back size. Combine his sheer mass with his explosive output once he hits the hole, and you have a running back who can apply enough inertia to put holes through defensive backs.

Dobbins is a very talented running back and I still think he’s one of the best in the nation. Teague is a special athlete. Don’t be surprised if he’s the Buckeye’s running back to own out of this backfield by the end of the season. His potential is unlimited and he could finish his career as the best running back in the country.

In three years, Demario McCall has just 431 yards rushing. That’s plenty of time for him to prove himself and he hasn’t been able to break out. A calf injury slowed him down during spring-ball. Healthy or not, I highly doubt that he will be able to keep up with Teague.

Marcus Crowley might be a name you want to write down. He’s a four-star prospect who could work into the mix in the next few years. Don’t put too much stock into him right now. After all, it’s going to be the Dobbins and Teague show.

BROOKS WAS HERE

The Oklahoma Sooners are another team with a one-two punch at running back. Trey Sermon seems to be everybody’s favorite. He’s a very explosive runner and his agility allows him to slip past defenders. Sermon is very light on his feet and his short-area quickness and his ability to move laterally makes him a nightmare to tackle in the open field. Most notably, what you will see from him is power. He finishes his runs and is not afraid to bulldoze the opposition.

The talent runs deep in Oklahoma and Sermon isn’t the only back on the roster who can tote the rock. Kennedy Brooks finished last season with 1,056 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging 8.9 yards per carry. He had five 100-yard games and four multi-touchdown games. Brooks owned a 13.94 percent market share of the offensive production.

His yard per carry rate finished in the 99th percentile among running back prospects. On top of that, 34 percent of his touches went for eight yards or more. The stats don’t lie, he’s a very efficient runner. He has a good approach to the line of scrimmage and his vision allows him to quickly find the running lane. Excellent vision combined with his decisiveness allows him to maximize his output on just about every run. Once he hits the hole, he runs like he’s been shot out of a cannon. Brooks is dangerous in open space.

TJ Pledger is a player to keep an eye on. He’s an all-purpose back who can run effectively between the tackles. The coaching staff believes he has all the tools. Don’t be surprised if he gets worked into the mix this season. He should be on everyone’s radar by the end of the year.

Newcomers Marcus Major and JUCO transfer Rhamondre Stevenson are also on the team. If the injury bug bites some of the top backs on the roster like it did last year, then these two backs could receive some work.

A key thing to note is that the team is currently retooling the offensive line which could affect the running lanes for Sermon and Brooks. The team will also go through a transition process at quarterback since Kyler Murray has left for the NFL. Jalen Hurts shows a lot of promise but we have to wait and see how he adapts to the new offensive system.

DO YOU SMELL WHAT THE BULLDOGS ARE COOK’N?

D’Andre Swift is comfortably ranked within the top three running backs in the nation. Some people have him as the top back and others have him ranked below Travis Etienne and Jonathan Taylor. Nonetheless, he’s a blue-chip running back prospect who has the potential to take the NFL by storm. He has all the tools to be a feature back at the next level. His receiving prowess and his ability to blow by the defense once he sees daylight will make him an easy top pick in rookie drafts next year.

Things get a little bit interesting when we look past Swift on the depth chart. Four-star running back James Cook flashed some talent last year, rushing for 284 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 6.9 yards per carry. He’s Dalvin Cook‘s younger brother. He’s super explosive and he runs like he has firecrackers in his legs once he hits the open field.

Although Cook doesn’t have three-down back size, he has plenty of time to add some mass to his frame. If anything, he could be an explosive satellite back at the next level. Depending on who you ask, he’s flying under the radar in a lot of devy leagues. He should definitely climb the rankings by the end of the season.

Zamir White was a decorated five-star recruit who suffered some misfortune when he tore his left ACL last off-season. This was his second ACL injury. The previous tear was in his right knee. He could possibly take over the reins as the team’s all-world running back once Swift departs for the NFL. White has special written all over him. His blend of size, speed and explosiveness will make him one of the top running backs in college football. We just need to see him transition these traits to the field.

Senior running back Brian Herrien will get some work this year. He’s not flashy or exciting but he is a dependable runner and will get what’s blocked plus a little more. The key takeaway from his game is that he hits the hole hard and he’s aggressive with the ball in his hands. With only 923 yards in three seasons, it’s hard to imagine him becoming a functional fantasy asset when he hits the NFL.

Kenny McIntosh might be the x-factor on this depth chart in a couple of years. He’s a four-star freshman who demonstrates excellent contact balance. McIntosh also runs with some wiggle when he’s operating through the hole. He’s a player to keep an eye on.

bruce matson