DeLeon Eskridge; #4 all-time freshman RB

[Go Gophers Rah]

Here are the top 5 freshman running backs in U of M history:

1. Darrell Thompson 1,376
2. Laurence Maroney 1,121
3. Marion Barber III, 742
4. DeLeon Eskridge 652
5. Ricky Foggie 647

Not bad company! With 91 or more yards, he will move to #3 all time.
I know that many don't view him as our RB of the future, but I sure see a lot of upside if he can bulk up and gain more experience.

Go Gophers!

 

[Schnoodler]

We tend to forget that freshmen getting significant playing time is a sign of a very good player. But for some reason we tend to lable them quite the opposite because their results are mediocre.

Good post as this clearly shows Eskridge is in some very good company and perhaps we should be celebrating his contribution more than we have.

 

[runner616]

Surprising

That puts his production into a new perspective. I wasn't all that enthused with what I saw of him on the field, but it's important to remember that he is only a freshmen. It may take him some time to develop into a top big ten back. I think our running game looks to be in good shape with deleon having a year under his belt, bennet returning, and adding lipscomb into the mix.

 

[KD6-3.7]

-------quote---------
I know that many don't view him as our RB of the future, but I sure see a lot of upside if he can bulk up and gain more experience.

Go Gophers!
------quote--------

he had some flashes--the TD run in the illinois game. i hope you are right, i like the way he runs, but IMO he is a little gun shy running between the tackles.

 

[grunkiejr]

Context

Good statistics but there should be some context for the numbers.

I was only 5 or 6 in Thompson's freshman year but I believe he came in and started from day one which helps his statistics.

When Maroney came in as a freshman in 2003 we had MBIII, Tapeh, and Terry Jackson II (rushed for 1000 yards in 2002). Maroney took over the #2 job and had an amazing freshman campaign. Considering he shared carries his production is astounding but he had an amazing line in front of him (the Gophers ranked #2 in rushing/game that season, #1 amongst BCS schools). Maroney managed 1121 yards on 162 carries, a 6.9 yard average.

MBIII won the #2 spot at RB as a freshman in 2001 with Tellis Redmon clearly the #1 back. Barber managed to accumulate 742 yards on only 118 carries, a 6.3 yard average. His line was definitely superior to the 2008 Gopher line.

DeLeon Eskridge won #1 the running back job in week three after having the #1 RB go down injured and having the other returning RB unable to return to form after a knee injury. His 652 yards were accumulated with 170 carries, a 3.8 yard average. The offense he ran out of was less running back friendly than what MBIII or Maroney had and the line was so much weaker the comparison is completely unfair.

The important question to ask is how would production have been different if you put Eskridge in the 2001 or 2003 offense. I have a hard time believing that Eskridge would have beat out Terry Jackson II like Maroney was able to do. However, in that offense I'm sure Eskridge still would have been able to average 5 yards a carry. Maroney and Barber both hit a hole faster than Eskridge, and both are unusually quick. Maroney has a gear that Eskridge can't hit and Barber has the best balance I've ever seen in a RB. To say that Eskridge doesn't have something that both of them had isn't much of an insult considering one is a pro-bowler and the other was a first round draft pick. Eskridge probably came in more similar to Amir Pinnix but was asked to carry the load as a true freshman because we lacked depth at RB.

 

[magpie]

You forgot one part... Foggie was 5th, and he was a quarterback.

 

[Nine]

Weber

Weber ran for over 600 yards as a frosh last year as well.

 

[FiveStarFan]

Im not so sure a lot of the guys that didnt make that list didnt have as CUPCAKE of a sched as we did this year!

 

[grunkiejr]

You forgot one part... Foggie was 5th, and he was a quarterback.

I know. I didn't even know what to say about that.

1) He was a mofo QB and he almost rushed for as many yards
2) Sacks net against rushing yards in NCAA (it nets against passing in the NFL)

I was too young to remember. Did the Gophers run an option offense under Holtz?

 

[harrys ghost]

Yes, Holtz ran the option.

Froggie was a great option quarterback. Ended up the starter as a true freshman. As I recall the only reason he came here was that Holtz promised to give him a shot at QB. He did not start the first game. Holtz put him in as the offense was not moving at all. He had success immediately.