2013 Running Backs

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RoyalGopher

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With our O-Line's incredible potential, I think we can all agree that landing a quality running back in the class of 2013 would be huge. Here's a list of all our targets that we could realistically get.

THE TOP TARGETS
- Berkley Edwards is the #9 All-Purpose Running Back and the #13 player from Michigan according to Rivals. Cal, Iowa, and Minnesota are currently his only BCS offers, but Edwards has already visited Wisconsin and could soon pick up an offer from the BADgers. 8/12 UPDATE - TOP FOUR ARE CAL, IOWA, MINNESOTA, AND NOTRE DAME AND TAKING OFFICIAL VISITS AT CAL, IOWA, AND MINNESOTA IN SEPTEMBER
- Jacky Marcellus- COMMITTED TO WEST VIRGINIA

SECOND TIER BUT STILL VERY GOOD
- Sherman Badie of New Orleans has an offer from Minnesota as well as five offers from schools in a non-BCS conference. Badie is a tough downhill runner that could definitely pick up a few more BCS offers before the end of the upcoming football season.
- Chris Davis of Ohio just finished recovering from a knee injury from last season, but still has offers from Minnesota, Cincinnati, and Eastern Illinois. His offer list will undoubtedly grow if he is able to show coaches that his knee is fully recovered. Davis is ranked the #11 All-Purpose Running Back and the #34 prospect from Ohio by Rivals.
- Kareem Hunt has offers from Minnesota, Cincinnati, Pitt, and 6 MAC schools.

THE LOCALS
- Bridge Tusler of Osseo is probably the first guy we'll offer if we end up missing on all the guys above. Tusler has the character, leadership, and work-ethic of an ideal Kill recruit. With a lot of big, strong, underclassmen running backs on board, Kill might be looking for a speedster from the class of 2013; Tusler fits the bill here, as well. Currently, his only offer is from North Dakota, but I would be shocked if he didn't end up getting FBS offers. Coach Reeves apparently wants to offer Tusler, but Kill is holding back due to the lack of scholarships.
My recruiting coordinator, Rob Reeves, is saying that he wants to offer me, but Coach Kill makes the decisions and Coach Kill is really picky. He wants to make sure that he gets the best and I totally respect that. Rob really wants to offer me and he is almost harassing the coaches and saying that we need to offer this kid or else he is not going to be there. Coach Kill is making the last decision. I’ll wait. I want to be a Gopher, so nothing has changed my mind from that perspective.
Click to expand...
- Michael Sales from Champlin Park has yet to pick up an offer, but I'd be surprised if he doesn't receive an offer from at least an FCS school.

FULLBACKS
- Harold Atkinson is ranked the #2 fullback in the country and #20 prospect from South Carolina by Rivals. He has offers from NC State, Indiana, and Minnesota. 8/12 UPDATE - PICKED UP AN OFFER FROM KENTUCKY, TOP TWO ARE MINNESOTA AND GEORGIA TECH
 

Good summary RoyalGopher. Would agree that with our offensive line recruiting the past two years, it should be a huge selling point for any running back considering a place to play.

Regarding local prospects, Tusler indeed appears to be the top in-state RB with offers from North Dakota and South Dakota. Great athlete as evidence by his dunk over a 6'6 center in basketball. Was a solid defensive back and punt/kick returner for Osseo as well. The only question would be his speed.

Regarding Michael Sales, as he rushed for a 169 yards against top-ranked Wayzata defense last year, I had him pegged as one of the top running backs in the state as well. The lack of FCS offers and recruiting interest would seem to indicate there are other issues. At 6'2 195 he definitely has some good size.

Disterhaupt put up some guady numbers last year with 14.1 ypc but that would be against 2A schools.
 

Marcellus is my choice, however I give a thumbs up for any kid from Florida.
 

That Edwards kid looks like a stud. I'd love if Kill could reel him but otherwise I'd be more than happy with Tusler.

I have family up in the Moose Lake area so Disterhaupt would be an interesting pick but I don't know too much about him. Preferred walk on maybe?
 

Ben Nelsen said:
That Edwards kid looks like a stud. I'd love if Kill could reel him but otherwise I'd be more than happy with Tusler.

I have family up in the Moose Lake area so Disterhaupt would be an interesting pick but I don't know too much about him. Preferred walk on maybe?
Click to expand...

I'm kind of a HS football nerd and one of the things that is tough is that I almost never make outstate to watch some of these kids play. I'd love it if someone who has seen this kids play could give a write up. Not to sound TC snobby, but especially by someone who may have seen some upper level HS football as well. I don't mean that in a snobby way, it's just that I've heard about a ton of outstate kids who were "better than anyone in the Twin Cities" who simply were not Big 10 caliber football players. That isn't to say that there aren't a lot of kids out there who probably could play who don't get a chance, etc.
 


Bob_Loblaw said:
I'm kind of a HS football nerd and one of the things that is tough is that I almost never make outstate to watch some of these kids play. I'd love it if someone who has seen this kids play could give a write up. Not to sound TC snobby, but especially by someone who may have seen some upper level HS football as well. I don't mean that in a snobby way, it's just that I've heard about a ton of outstate kids who were "better than anyone in the Twin Cities" who simply were not Big 10 caliber football players. That isn't to say that there aren't a lot of kids out there who probably could play who don't get a chance, etc.
Click to expand...

You have to admit though to have Marcellus would be a steal...
 


RoyalGopher said:
Updates:

- Berkeley Edwards now lists his top four (in no order) as Cal, Iowa, Minnesota, and Notre Dame (no offer).

- West Virginia is leading for Jacky Marcellus. Minnesota is still in his top 5.

- Harold Atkinson picked up an offer from Kentucky, and lists us in his top two.
Click to expand...

The odds are with Minnesota for Jacky Marcellus now. West Virginia already has 3 RB verbals and Cincy has just got number 2 (both having similar skills sets as Marcellus). So I am guessing neither will be going after another RB.
 

Berkley Edwards update:
On 247, he lists his top four in no order as Cal, Iowa, Minnesota, and Notre Dame (only team who hasn't offered). No schools in his top four have a running back committed for the class of 2013.

LucasTrickleGI Lucas Trickle
RT @SWiltfong247: Speedy 2013 RB Berkley Edwards schedules Notre Dame visit, will take officials to Cal, Iowa and Minnesota next month

BGI_JasonSapp Jason Sapp
RT @SWiltfong247: 2013 RB Berkley Edwards schedules #NotreDame visit, will take officials to Cal, Iowa & Minnesota ($) http://t.co/ynKspTvs

247_Big_Ten Big Ten Conference
Berkley Edwards is one of Iowa's top RB targets, and camped at one of the nation's elite programs on Tuesday. Click inside for his thoughts on the camp and on the Hawkeyes.
 



I don't know if this is old news, but Jacky Marcellus committed to West Virginia. They now have five RB commits in this class.
 


Harold Atkinson lists his top two as Minnesota and Georgia Tech, who he doesn't have an offer from. He's picked up an offer from Kentucky since my last post.
 

RoyalGopher said:
Harold Atkinson lists his top two as Minnesota and Georgia Tech, who he doesn't have an offer from. He's picked up an offer from Kentucky since my last post.
Click to expand...

When someone lists a school from which they don't have an offer, I have to believe they are the favorite. If GT offers, I believe he commits.
 



SJUgopher said:
When someone lists a school from which they don't have an offer, I have to believe they are the favorite. If GT offers, I believe he commits.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Probably his favorite team growing up. I don't think GTech will offer Atkinson, though; they already have two RB commits. Maybe GTech would be interested in taking him as a linebacker. Atkinson's 247 page has him listed as an outside linebacker as well as a running back, and Georgia Tech currently doesn't have a committed linebacker.
 


Weak schedule can't hide talent of Willoughby South's Kareem Hunt: Tim Warsinskey's Take

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Willoughby South tailback Kareem Hunt arguably is the best high school football player in Ohio. He arguably is the area's leading candidate for Mr. Football.

Arguably. So, let's argue.

His stats are crazy. In five games, all victories, Hunt has rushed for 1,296 yards and 21 touchdowns on just 106 carries. He's averaging 12.2 yards per carry. He has 24 total TDs, including kickoff returns of 88 and 98 yards.
My favorite stat is his average touchdown run: 26.5 yards.

This is nothing new for Hunt and South. Last year, he ran for 2,289 yards and 37 touchdowns. He's coming off a 335-yard, six-touchdown game last week.

And there's the argument. South played University School last week, a Division III team with a 1-4 record.

South is a Division I team in Region 1, the playoff home of perennial powers St. Ignatius, St. Edward and Mentor. For a team seeking its fourth Division I playoff berth since 2008, and first victory in that span, South's schedule is mediocre, at best.

South's league, the Premier Athletic Conference, includes five Dvision II and III teams, plus Division I Riverside and Eastlake North. South's nonleague opponents are Division III Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, Division I Mayfield and Division II West Geauga, all of which are 3-2 after losing to South. This is not the kind of schedule a team with elite talent should be playing.

Kareem Hunt game-by-game 2012
Listed by opponent, carries-yards-TDs ￾
NDCL: 23-124-1 ￾
Mayfield: 28-310-4 ￾
West Geauga: 21-240-6 ￾
Geneva: 12-287-4 ￾
University: 22-335-6 ￾
Totals: 106-1,296-21 ￾
Receiving: 6 rec., 161 yards, 1 TD. Kickoffs: 3, 204 yards, 2 TDs.
-- Tim Warsinskey

Hunt hears the knock that he's piling up stats against inferior teams and answers this way: "I feel kind of disrespected," he said. "We can run for a lot of yards against any team. Our offensive line does a great job. I think those guys are starting to get it."

South is in a Catch-22. Playing down against smaller opponents in the PAC limits its playoff points, so with little margin for error, its main priority in nonleague games is getting victories.

Yet, South needs to play power programs so players can see how high the bar really is. Mayfield and NDCL are fine teams, but they are not St. Edward or St. Ignatius, and if South goes 9-1, there's a good chance it will face either in a regional quarterfinal. Even a 10-0 mark could put it on the road against an Austintown-Fitch or a Cleveland Heights.

The best team on South's schedule is Friday's home opponent, Division II Chardon (5-0), which is ranked third in the state poll. It's a good opportunity to see how Hunt stacks up.

"I do understand the point," Rebels coach Matt Duffy said. "Kareem can only play against the teams we have on our schedule. I think the best thing is to come out and watch him play."

It's good advice. Hunt proved a significant point in last year's playoffs when he rushed for 231 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-12 loss to Solon. There's no question he's a elite player. He has a good offensive line, led by bookend tackles Thomas Venclauskas (Northwestern recruit) and Kyle Ritz, who has an offer from Toledo.

Hunt possesses legitimate speed (10.93 seconds in the 100-meter dash) and athleticism (6-4 high jump). He's big enough (5-11, 205) and powerful enough (295-pound bench press, though more people rave about his leg strength) to receive offers from Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and most of the Mid-American Conference. He could be a dominant MAC player, or a productive Big Ten back.

His greatest asset is an uncanny ability to take a wide-angle, slow-motion view of South's zone blocking, find an opening and burst through it.

"He doesn't force the action," veteran NDCL coach Byron Morgan said. "He'll take what teams give him and do his damage. He sees the field very well. He sees his blocks and knows where the defense is coming from. One of the most important things you can have in addition to speed is vision, and he has great vision."

Here's the bottom line. While South's schedule is in need of a reality check, and the stats might seem unreal, Hunt is the real deal. There's no argument there.

[video]http://www.cleveland.com/timstake/index.ssf/2012/09/weak_schedule_cant_talent_of_w.html[/video]
 

we need a break away back, and Hunt is not it. He may be Gary Russell with grades, but he will not make long gains in the BigTen.
Unfortunately, if Bridge Tussler's issue is speed, he will not be the right guy either.
 

Berkley Edwards has taken all his official visits, and a decision is near.

247_Big_Ten Big Ten Conference
Chelsea (Mich.) High running back Berkley Edwards gets a better feel for Iowa during this past weekend's official visit, which was perhaps his last trip of the process.

ToddWorly247 Todd Worly
Chelsea RB Berkley Edwards nearing end of process via @swiltfong247 #Iowa #Hawkeyes

SWiltfong247 Steve Wiltfong
Chelsea (MI) High RB Berkley Edwards got a better feel for Iowa following this weekend's official visit.
 


corcoran1 said:
we need a break away back, and Hunt is not it. He may be Gary Russell with grades, but he will not make long gains in the BigTen.
Unfortunately, if Bridge Tussler's issue is speed, he will not be the right guy either.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I agree. However, I think it's going to be hard for us to land a guy with elite speed who is also not small. We do have Maye who is a speed guy. I have always thought that it would make sense for us to make Marcus Jones into a RB. He just seems like a guy who is best with the ball in his hands.
 

Marcus jones is too small to play RB. I think slot WR is a perfect fit for him.
 

2 other local guys are Ashanti Payne and Billy Kellogg out of Robbinsdale Cooper. They share carries and both went over the 1100 yard mark in the regular season.
 

tpbeight said:
Marcus jones is too small to play RB. I think slot WR is a perfect fit for him.
Click to expand...


I don't think he's too small to get 5-10 touches a game at RB. I'm not compariing him to Sproles, but he's larger than Sproles was at KState. Ideally, with kickoffs and receptions, we'd like to see him get about 5-10 touches a game, I just don't see why those touches can't ever be out of the backfield (he already has taken a few end arounds).
 

Bob_Loblaw said:
I don't think he's too small to get 5-10 touches a game at RB. I'm not compariing him to Sproles, but he's larger than Sproles was at KState. Ideally, with kickoffs and receptions, we'd like to see him get about 5-10 touches a game, I just don't see why those touches can't ever be out of the backfield (he already has taken a few end arounds).
Click to expand...

I assume the issue is there are not consistently holes good enough to ensure he or Mayes actually get to the linebackers clean. Neither of them can bounce of a Dlineman very well, or maybe at all. I assume it is the same reason Cobb and Gillum are not playing, i.e. Kirkwood may not ever get a breakaway run, but he gets something with pretty lousy blocking which the other guys don't seem to be able to do.
 

Updates:
- Chris Davis has 71 carries for 335 yards and 7 touchdowns, and 23 receptions for 446 yards and 3 touchdowns. Obviously, his knee must be weaker than before. As a sophomore, he had 66 carries for 652 yards and 7 touchdowns, and 15 receptions for 345 yards and 7 touchdowns. I'm not sure if our offer to Davis still stands, or if they ever really was an offer (despite it being reported on Rivals).
- Sherman Badie, playing for the top-ranked team in Louisiana, has 46 carries for 259 yards and 8 touchdowns this year.
- Kareem Hunt has 166 carries for 1930 yards and 31 touchdowns (11.6 ypc); he's averaging 22.6 points per game. You would think he's playing against tiny schools, but his schools enrollment is 1369, and I would assume they play schools of their own size.
- Not including the most recent Eden Prarie game, Bridge Tusler has ran the ball 184 times for 1043 yards and 15 touchdowns (5.7 ypc). He also has 15 receptions for 189 yards and 3 touchdowns, as well as 24 tackles and 8 interceptions. I think Rob Reeves wanted to offer Tusler right away, but Kill said no. I haven't seen Tusler play, but based on what I've heard/read, I wouldn't at all be disappointed if we ended up offering a scholarship to him.

PWO Candidates...
- Michael Sales - Champlin Park (6A) - 157 carries for 1006 yards (6.4 ypc) and 14 touchdowns
- Jake Disterhaupt - Moose Lake-Willow River (2A) - 115 carries for 1310 yards (11.3 ypc) and 13 touchdowns, 11.3 ypc, 12 receptions for 303 yards and 4 touchdowns
- Birk Olson (FB) - Monticello (5A) - 79 carries for 510 yards (6.5 ypc) and 5 touchdowns, 67 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles
 

I started this thread a while back about a kid in Illinois who converted from Linebacker to Fullback. So far this season Kyle Norberg has rushed for 1,513 yards on 137 carries (10.4 avg) with 20 TD's. Cary Grove is in the Fox Valley Conference, the same conference as Crystal Lake South (the first team Gopher commit Chris Streveler faced this year). Cary Grove is ranked #1 in 6A, with their second playoff game coming today (Saturday Nov 3) at 1:00 against #8 Chicago St. Patrick (and the winner of that game faces my old high school, GO TIGERS!!!)

So far he only seems to be getting MAC offers, though no specific schools are named. Probably didn't help his recruiting profile that his first ever game at Fullback was just over 2 months ago (Aug 24th). His old profile says he only runs a 4.91 40, but the link above (MAC offers) says he's down to 4.6.
 

Bob_Loblaw said:
I'm kind of a HS football nerd and one of the things that is tough is that I almost never make outstate to watch some of these kids play. I'd love it if someone who has seen this kids play could give a write up. Not to sound TC snobby, but especially by someone who may have seen some upper level HS football as well. I don't mean that in a snobby way, it's just that I've heard about a ton of outstate kids who were "better than anyone in the Twin Cities" who simply were not Big 10 caliber football players. That isn't to say that there aren't a lot of kids out there who probably could play who don't get a chance, etc.
Click to expand...

I've seen Disterhaupt play and the kid is a good athelete no question, but he seems to be more of a FCS type player. I would say he's more like a 4.6 or 4.7 fourty guy and doesn't seem very fluid, runs almost stiff and not real shifty (doesn't need to be)with the level he plays against. I'm not trying to take anything away from him, he is a great high school back and would make a great walk on but he isn't a Big ten caliber running back.
 




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