I know it is very early to tell, as UFMs guy hasnt played a down, and Sabans is in the NFL right now. But one thing i think is awesome, Saban went out of his normal recruiting trail, to recruit a kid in Michigan. A kid who was not ranked all that high at the beginning of the process but by the end was one of the top RBs in his class. Mark Ingram. Saban went out and got the RB HE wanted and the one he felt comfortable moving his team forward behind. Ingram won a hiesman in his true sophmore campaign and the rest is history. Bama is the class of college football for now, and in Sabans first class, Mark Ingram is the name that will always stick out. He was the #12 RB in his class according to ESPN.
On to Urbans guy. Urban went out of the normal recruiting trail, to Missouri, to recruit his running back, maybe his Mark Ingram. A kid who was not ranked all that high at the beginning of the process but by the end was one of the top RBs in his class. Ezekial Elliott is the number 11 RB in his class and has a higher grade than Ingram did. Not saying that he is going to win a heisman or christening him the beginning to our dynasty, but its something to think about. As a head coach he went out and got his guy, just as Saban did, that he felt was best for his system. We are trusting EE to carry the rock for this team for his time here and Urban is putting a lot of faith in him. Cant wait to cheer him on from the shoe for the next 4 years!
Interesting take. I dont think EE will get the rushing workload Ingram did, and I dont think anyone other than a quarterback can win the Heisman in UFM's offense. That being said, EE can impact the game in more way's than Ingram can, and that is why many people see him as a pefect fit for the offense. Very excited for Elliot's arrival on campus too.
I'm as excited for EZE as I have been for anyone we've brought in. Dude seems to be a hardcore Buckeye (even more than some of the in state guys we've brought in for 2013...I especially loved when he talked about how he didn't want to be friends with any ttun commits...he's ultra competitive) and is a very hard worker from what I've seen. He wasn't high on the recruiting radar to start with because he wasn't all over the camp circuit but he just became too good to ignore in the midwest recruiting region. The camps he did attend he dominated. He is the kind of kid that looks like he's going to work his ass off and prove his worth.
This right here, is a big thing for me. I'm Buckeye, Buck Wishagain attitude. This is a hang up I had w/ Green personally. He says he was a fan of tOSU and now is favored to end up at scum. I understand you wanna go where you are going to have the best opportunity, but if I grew up a fan of tOSU and that wasn't an option, then I would likely look to a different school. Ofc then there is always the "slighted" approach and wants to show us what he missed, but given the DL and LB recruits tOSU is getting, I don't think running against that sounds fun personally. I am a fan of EE and look forward to seeing him on the field.
Bama is pretty loaded at RB right now... I think, even without Lacy, they have 6 or 7 RBS all 4 or 5 stars, with about 3/4 of them being 5 stars depending on where you look. Not sure why so many RBs would wanna go and ride the pine their. Gonna be hard taking the job from Yeldon but Saban does like using 2 backs.
look at Lacy and riding the pine, its pretty clear that 1 year as a top RB at Bama will get you great exposure and production leading to an obvious rise in your NFL stock...Hyde had a similar experience this year with Meyer, I think thats what Rod Smith and the others feel will happen at OSU...just need a year to show your stuff and youre good to go...doesnt have to be a couple years or be a starter as a freshman type of situation to get noticed
That's true but Lacy has been ballin' since his freshmen year, he just didn't show up out of nowhere and dominate...
FR - 56 atts 406 yds 7.3 ypc 6 TD
So- 95 att, 674 yds, 7.1 ypc 7 TD
Last season - 204 attempts, 1322 yds, 6.5 ypc, 17 TDs
But then again it's not too hard running behind Bamas OL.
^^^ Also, this allows less wear and tear on the body for a RB. Lacy has more miles on the tread having played behind Richardson.
really good point.
I love EE and Meyer's offense can definitely be dynamic with a back like him. That said, I really hope this year changed Meyer's mind on power backs in the system. Carlos Hyde, Rod Smith, and even Dunn looked very good running his offense. That type of toughness and brute force from a back is real important to winning games in the BIG in November when weather conditions are not optimal.
I believe Urban addressed using power backs and not interest in keeping away from them. Also I don't recall who it was exactly, but there was STRONG exclamation from the staff about just how much Hyde's type running made them realize how absolutely terrifyingly good this kind of player is in this system. I wish I could recall exactly, but there was a massive "wow" factor written about concerning Hyde type running in this offense and how the power game immensly diversified the options.
It isn't that Meyer didn't want power backs at UF, he just didn't get any that worked out. Moody, a stud recruit who started at USC, played for Meyer in 08 and 09 I believe, but had problems understanding the spread. He was 6', 215 or so if I recall, so he would fit that mold
EzE can catch the ball as well as run it very well too. He's a complete package and should be a big time threat for OSU. The days of having a stable full of Beanie's is over (unless they can catch the ball well). I was thinking D. Green would be perfect until I saw all of EzE's highlights from last year and especially this year. The kid is going to be something special for OSU....bank that for sure. Not sure if he'll be as good as Mark Ingram...but he'll be good.
"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you."
"I love football. I think it is most wonderful game in world and I despise to lose."
Woody Hayes 1913 - 1987
I wonder if Saban going to Michigan had to do with once being the MSU coach and the connections that came with it.
Oooh never thought of that. Also coached in toledo and cleveland. Good stuff.
Good post. I'm a huge Zeke fan & look forward to what he'll do for the next few years. As good a recruit as you could ever get IMHO.
The world is full of kings & queens who'll blind your eyes & steal your dreams - it's heaven & hell - Ronnie James Dio.