Looking for Options at RB

Peter Ariz
Peter Ariz
3 min read
Miami currently has one pure running back committed with Alex Collins. While some believe Ray Lewis III is also a running back, I project him on the defensive side of the ball. Collins has been rumored to be looking around a little bit, especially at Wisconsin. He will most likely wind up in the class, but the coaches have to keep their options open just in case. With 2012 signee Danny Dillard still not enrolled in school, that may be another reason the coaches have to search for another back.

Looking at the current roster, Senior Mike James, Junior Eduardo Clements, and Freshman Duke Johnson are the only running backs on scholarship. Sophomore Dallas Crawford is also in the picture, but will be utilized in the slot as well. That leaves 2-3 scholarship running backs on the roster for the 2013 season depending on if Collins sticks. Even if he does stay committed, there have been rumblings about possible grades issues, so that is just another incentive for the staff to be on the lookout.

Possible Options

AJ Turman- A big back from Orlando, Turman fits the mold of a workhorse back. He's a downhill runner with deceptive speed. Turman is supposed to visit Coral gables within the next few weeks.

TJ Johnson- A versatile threat offensively, Johnson is not necessarily a true running back. He is on the smaller side at 5'7, 160, but is explosive and quick. I'm not sure that he is the type of back that Miami is looking to pair with Duke in the future, but his talent can't be ignored. West Virginia is hot on his trail.

Tarean Folston- Hailing from Cocoa Beach, Folston is a balanced back who has excelled in the running attack at Cocoa High School. He has the ability to carry the load. Camped at Miami in early June, but USF is in the picture big time. Don't think his offer is committable at the moment.

Tony Pittman- The first out of state name on the list (Hampton, Virginia), Pittman recently claimed he received a Miami offer. He is a name that has recently gained steam on the recruiting trail. At 5'11, 200 he seems like another back who is more of a workhorse. He will be somebody to monitor throughout his senior season.

Derrick Henry- The former UGA commit is one of the biggest prospects in the state of Florida and the entire country. He is a physical specimen (6'3, 235), which is why most have projected that he is better suited at a position other than running back. The staff has recently been picking up conversations with him and he may be a prospect who the coaches decide to bring in at the position he wants to play, and then if it doesn't work out, they can move him later.

Running back is a position where names often emerge out of nowhere, look at Danny Dillard from last year for example. I would not be surprised to see this happen again this year.
 

Comments (17)

Turman would be a good option if Collins leaves. You'd need a bigger body to complement Duke, and AJ is a tough runner.
 
Folston's highlights were really impressive.

Pete and D$, if you were to bring in another back who would your choice be out of the above listed?

Thanks
 
Just watched Turman's highlights and as a perceived "bigger" back he definitely has some speed to him.

Impressive Highlights as well.
 
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Turman & Folston are the best options! Folston is the quicker of the two and has a lot of room to get bigger.
P.S. Folston is from Cocoa, not the Cocoa Beach. It's the hood not the tourist attraction. Folston's father also played in the NFL briefly.
 
What about that back out of VA that has us in his top 13 (ridiculous). He is a big power back. not sure how high we are on the top 13 but any thoughts on the chances of landing that type of back?

Also with Henry, what are the chances? He is a big SOB who would bang in between the tackles. We need to have a Stephen McGuire type back to compliment our shifty, smaller backs. A good one two punch
 
Re: Henry

How many 6'3 backs are out there dominating in CFB -or the NFL?

I just don't see how that dude will continue to tote the rock, especially if he continues to grow.

A move to another position seems likely to me.

Note: Wasn't Wilder a BIG, highly touted "running back" also. Didn't really work out for him.

The only really tall running back that comes to mind is Adrian Peterson -something tells me he is the exception and not the norm though.
 
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I'm hoping Collins sticks and we take 1 more from that list. How much interest does Henry have in us?
 
Are we still in it for Mizell?

I've said multiple times that Mizzell will be a Cav, as for Green I'm not quite sure, going out of state is a good possibility, perhaps to Michigan, who knows.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py9A9K5YIbw

Running downhill and running in a straight line are two different things. That's a 4 minute video of highlights and you'll only see him stick his foot in the ground and explode upfield a few times. The rest of the time it's a seemingly good athlete running in straight lines away from the defense and toward the endzone. I haven't seen anything other than that video, but he's not near the RB prospect that Alex Collins has shown to be, and I'd place him somewhere around (maybe slightly below, for right now) a guy like Damien Berry (who had better balance) in terms of comparison.
 
Re: Henry

How many 6'3 backs are out there dominating in CFB -or the NFL?

I just don't see how that dude will continue to tote the rock, especially if he continues to grow.

A move to another position seems likely to me.

Note: Wasn't Wilder a BIG, highly touted "running back" also. Didn't really work out for him.

The only really tall running back that comes to mind is Adrian Peterson -something tells me he is the exception and not the norm though.

The classic examples are Eddie George and ****erson. A current example is Matt Forte.

You have to be a really special athlete and RB to be over 6' 1" and still get that appropriate pad level and balance. I'm highly skeptical of 6' 3" RBs.
 
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we need collins bad and then another stud in 2014. Dillard is not the answer and i would not mind if he didnt make it in
 
Get henry power back wont need to have him carry it 25+ with collins and duke but he will help us not getting stopped at the 1 4 straight times (KSU)
 
Jacobs, steven jackson, marion barber, John clay from wisky, and Ben Tate come to mind. Ronnie brown is a big boy too
 
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Re: Henry

How many 6'3 backs are out there dominating in CFB -or the NFL?

I just don't see how that dude will continue to tote the rock, especially if he continues to grow.

A move to another position seems likely to me.

Note: Wasn't Wilder a BIG, highly touted "running back" also. Didn't really work out for him.

The only really tall running back that comes to mind is Adrian Peterson -something tells me he is the exception and not the norm though.

The classic examples are Eddie George and ****erson. A current example is Matt Forte.

You have to be a really special athlete and RB to be over 6' 1" and still get that appropriate pad level and balance. I'm highly skeptical of 6' 3" RBs.

I'm skeptical of them being called 6'3" runners in the first place...George and ****erson are the only guys that I can really recall being a legit 6'3" or above that were good...Brandon Jacobs is 6'4" but he's not on that level. I recall Stephen Jackson, Matt Forte, and Fred Taylor all being 6'3" in college but shrinking before getting to the NFL. But, all ended up being 6'1"-6'2".

I have my doubts ol D-Henry is some 16 year old 6'3" RB...but if he is...he won't be a RB for much longer.
 
Re: Henry

How many 6'3 backs are out there dominating in CFB -or the NFL?

I just don't see how that dude will continue to tote the rock, especially if he continues to grow.

A move to another position seems likely to me.

Note: Wasn't Wilder a BIG, highly touted "running back" also. Didn't really work out for him.

The only really tall running back that comes to mind is Adrian Peterson -something tells me he is the exception and not the norm though.

The classic examples are Eddie George and ****erson. A current example is Matt Forte.

You have to be a really special athlete and RB to be over 6' 1" and still get that appropriate pad level and balance. I'm highly skeptical of 6' 3" RBs.


And you should be...

The ****erson's of the world are clearly the exception, and far from the norm.

While there are some exceptions out there -some have been mentioned already- it is not the norm. A move to TE (assuming he could block), or LB may be on the horizon -jmo.
 
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