"And sorry, I haven't seen anything from Whaley, and given the fact he has been hurt since before he even got here, how can he be counted on to stay healthy when he starts actually getting hit?"
Given that his only serious injury was being shot in the leg, why should we assume that he won't stay healthy?
He is a very good athlete, and as a change of pace back as Grunkie has suggested, he gives us a unique threat out of the backfield. After seeing the highlights of his play in the spring game, you could see that he has a great combination of speed, hands and elusiveness.
That's not to say that we shouldn't go after ANOTHER guy who has those same skills -- but if both Bennett and Whaley stay healthy (with Eskridge as a solid backup), and the OL is able to be consistent, our running game will be just fine.
Here's a potentially fun and dangerous offensive package as a change of pace to give opposing DC's headaches:
QB: Gray
RB: Whaley
WR: Decker, Allen, Carpenter, Stoudemire
With that group on the field, we've got six guys who could potentially score whenever they touch the ball (although Decker is least likely to score by breaking tackles and just running away from the D). They could even start Whaley out in the backfield, and then put him in motion out as a 5th WR, and probably get at least one mismatch against a LB/S to expose.
Ah, it's fun to dream...
And I'm not saying they shouldn't recruit Grant & Huff because we have Whaley. I'm saying once they land one of them (if we're lucky enough) there are other areas to focus on.[/QUOTE]
This is my last post on this topic, but apparently I have not been clear on my point - it's not just injuries that remove a player from a lineup; it could be any number of things. You don't know what is going to happen week to week, much less year to year. Thus, if two top (talent we can't pass up) running backs want to come here that warrant scholarships and we have as many scholarships available as we apparently do, you take them!
It doesn't appear that we need a Quarterback next year (Weber, Grey, and Alipate return), but we've already recruited one (Parrish). Since Weber was a freshman starter at the time, and we had Clint Brewster coming, should we not have recruited M. Grey? If we hadn't, we'd be looking at a true freshman as our number 2 QB right now.
It wouldn't appear that we need more O linemen for next year given what we have coming back and the freshmen that are already here, but we've already recruited three more and are trying to get a certain one other (I think he plays for a private school in St. Paul). Or, since we already have these other linemen, should we not recruit this other certain person? Of course you do! Talent is talent and you take it when you can get it.
Correct me if I'm wrong, the Gophers did not "pass" on Ward because he was a smallish back like Whaley or Bennett, but rather because it didn't appear he would qualify, isn't that right?
I hope Whaley turns out great, but c'mon - with as many schollies we have, I think we would make room for another great running back (if in fact the coaches believe both these guys are great) if that guy wanted to come here. And before we anoint Whaley as being someone who provides a whole new dynamic to the offense, can we at least see it in a game (much less a season)?
For the last time - I HOPE IT HAPPENS, but I haven't even seen him play a D1 game (and neither has anybody else) so I for one am not ready to confidently say it will.
Recruit talent, and take it when its willing and able!