My Top 8 college RB's - Impact Pro's NEXT YEAR! (1 Viewer)

[JohnnyU]

There are plenty to choose from, but this is a few who might make an impact first. I listed some juniors that I think will NOT stay in college, but I could be wrong. Knowing who these guys are will be the most important thing your dynasty team will need to know !!! I'm sure I missed a few who are better than my list, but the whole purpose of this thread is to generate dialog about the nations best RB's to COME OUT NEXT YEAR.1. RB Carnell Williams, Sr. Auburn 5-10 205It’s not inconceivable that Williams could be the number one pick in the 2005 draft. He proved that the broken leg suffered in 2002 wasn’t an issue running as well as ever despite the issues the rest of the Tigers had. He’s a workhorse with unparalleled quickness and moves when sizing up a defender one-on-one.2 RB Cedric Benson, Sr. Texas 5-11 215The light bulb went on last year for Benson as he might have been the best running back in college football over the second half of the season. He showed the power, speed and workhorse ability Longhorn fans have been waiting for. 3. RB Marion Barber III, Jr. Minnesota 5-11 210Barber got in better shape and went on a tear in 2003 as one of the best backs in the nation. He has sensation feet to get out of jams and is one of the best red zone runners in the game.4. RB Eric Shelton, Jr. Louisville 6-3 245Shelton is a scary blend of size and speed dangerous in the open field and powerful around the goal line. He had problems at the end of the year getting healthy and didn’t get nearly enough work, but he is still a prospect that can’t be ignored.5. RB Ronnie Brown, Sr. Auburn 6-1 225As good as Carnell Williams is, Brown might be an even better pro prospect. He’s a big back with a tremendous burst of speed able to hit the home-run once past the line. The other positive? Brown is an elite back without a lot of wear and tear only carrying the ball 354 times so far. By comparison, Williams ran the ball 241 times last year.6. T A McClendon Jr. North Carolina St. 5-11 216Bruising tailback who already ranks 11th in school history with 1,709 career rushing yards ... Ranks fourth in school history with 25 career rushing touchdowns and fifth with 29 total touchdowns ... Broken 179 career tackles for an additional 756 yards.7. RB Cedric Houston, Sr. Tennessee 6-0 210Houston should be a better pro than a college player. His Volunteer career hasn’t been all that bad, but he hasn’t exactly busted out yet. With his size, moves and speed, he has all the measurables the scouts love. Now he has step up his overall game a few notches.8. RB Maurice Clarett, Jr. Ohio State(?) 6-0 230There’s still the question about whether or not he’ll actually be a Buckeye, but he’ll still be a big-name player with tremendous upside and a freakish ability around the goal line whenever he finally gets his wish to be a pro. There are still major concerns about his durability and character.

 

[JohnHenry]

I believe Ronnie Brown is the best Aurburn back and will make an NFL impact. If given the chance to start next year, he will perform well next year.He is better than Cadillac.

 

[montanatorice]

living in birmingham, i see auburn up close on a daily basis although i am an alabama fani would probably rank ronnie brown ahead of carnell. can catch the ball better out of the backfield and is more durable imho. although carnell has been a stud since high school and will be a good nfl player brown has the the skills to be a feature back

 

[JohnnyU]

living in birmingham, i see auburn up close on a daily basis although i am an alabama fani would probably rank ronnie brown ahead of carnell. can catch the ball better out of the backfield and is more durable imho. although carnell has been a stud since high school and will be a good nfl player brown has the the skills to be a feature back

That's 2 Ronnie Brown supporters. Both you guys may very well be correct. I love to talk about college RB's. Knowing the right one to choose in your dynasty drafts is the life blood of most dynasty fantasy teams.

 

[mrspree15]

Caddy isn't really big, but I never see him get tackled without a fight. He has a weird combination of power and slipperyness. I really can't explain it, but I love it. I enjoy watching the man run.

 

[JohnnyU]

Another player I like in 2yrs is Reggie Bush USC - Soph 6'0 2002004: Bush, who brings flash and dash with his incredible speed and moves, figures to be a difference maker as a sophomore tailback in 2004. He might be college football's most exciting player. 2003: Bush proved to be an impact player as a first-year freshman reserve tailback in 2003. Overall in 2003 while appearing in all 13 games, he ran for 521 yards on 90 carries (5.8 avg.) with 3 TDs, had 15 receptions for 314 yards (20.9 avg.) with 4 TDs, had a team-best 18 kickoff returns for 492 yards (27.3 avg.) with a TD and returned 2 punts for 4 yards (2.0 avg.). He also recovered a fumble (on a bad punt snap). He had 24 plays of 20-plus yards in 2003 out of 115 touches (rushes of 23, 27, 58, 20, 32 and 24 yards, receptions of 28, 37, 38, 27, 30 and 36 yards, and kickoff returns of 23, 25, 30, 34, 35, 35, 20, 58, 96, 30, 24 and 28 yards). He was 10th nationally in kickoff returns (27.3, first in Pac-10). He set USC's freshman all-purpose yardage record (1,331 yards). He was the first Trojan to lead the league in kickoff returns since Anthony Davis in 1974. He was named to the 2003 Scripps/Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-American first team, Collegefootballnews.com Freshman All-American honorable mention and Rivals.com Freshman All-American honorable mention and All-Pac-10 honorable mention squads, as well as ESPN.com All-Pac-10 Co-Newcomer of the Year. He also won USC's Jack Oakie "Rise and Shine" Award (for the longest play). He had 270 all-purpose yards at Washington (132 yards on 5 receptions-the most receiving yards ever by a Trojan running back-with TDs of 60 and 37 yards, plus 81 yards on 12 rushes and 57 yards on 2 kickoff returns). Against Oregon State, he had 173 all-purpose yards (71 on 6 rushes, 48 on 3 receptions with TDs of 30 and 3 yards and 54 on 2 kickoff returns). At Notre Dame, he rushed for a game-best 89 yards on 6 carries (14.8 average), including a 58-yard cutback TD run (he was untouched), and he caught a 38-yard pass. He ran for 64 yards on 11 tries and also had a 58-yard kickoff return at Arizona. He had 54 yards on 9 carries with 2 scores (23 and 27 yards) against Hawaii, plus he caught a 28-yard pass and returned a kickoff 20 yards. Against UCLA, he had 10 yards on 6 rushes, 32 yards on 2 catches and 105 yards on 3 kickoff returns (including a 96-yard TD, USC's first scoring kickoff return since 1998) and he was named Pac-10 Special Teams Player of the Week. Against Michigan in the Rose Bowl, he had 41 yards on 8 rushes, 42 yards on 2 catches, 45 yards on 2 kickoff returns and 4 yards on 2 punt returns. He also ran for 34 yards on 6 attempts against Stanford, 27 yards on 4 carries (he also returned a kickoff 23 yards) at Arizona State, 19 yards on 6 tries against BYU (he also returned a kickoff 30 yards), 15 yards on 7 attempts against Washington State (he also had 62 yards on 3 kickoff returns and recovered a fumble on a bad punt snap that set up a USC field goal), 9 yards on 5 carries at Auburn, 7 yards on 4 carries at California (he also returned 2 kickoffs for 38 yards).HIGH SCHOOL: He was named a 2002 Parade All-American (and the top running back), USA Today All-USA first team, Super Prep All-American, Prep Star All-American, Student Sports All-American first team, Tom Lemming All-American, The Insiders.com All-American second team, Tom Lemming Super Team, Super Prep Elite 50, Prep Star Top 100 Dream Team, The Sporting News Hot 100, FOX Sports 50, Tom Lemming Top 100, Super Prep All-Farwest, Prep Star All-West, Tom Lemming All-West, Tacoma News Tribune Western 100, Orange County Register Fab 15 first team, Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West first team, Cal-Hi Sports All-State first team, All-CIF San Diego Section first team, San Diego Union-Tribune Offensive MVP and All-Grossmont South League Offensive MVP pick as a senior running back at Helix High in La Mesa (Calif.). He ran for 1,691 yards on 140 carries (12.1 avg.) with 27 TDs in 2002 despite missing 4 games with a broken wrist. Helix advanced to the CIF San Diego Section Division II finals. As a junior in 2001, he made Cal-Hi Sports All-State first team, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass first team and All-CIF San Diego Section first team Offensive MVP. He ran for 2,200-plus yards, averaged 36.4 yards per rushing touchdown, scored 204 points (on 34 TDs, including 6 on receptions and 2 on punt returns) and had 3,135 all-purpose yards in 2001. He made the Cal-Hi Sports All-State Sophomore first team in 2000. In his career, he ran for 4,995 yards (averaging 12.0 a carry) and scored 450 points. He also competed in track at Helix, placing third in the 2002 California state 100 meters final and posting bests of 10.42 in the 100 (the fastest prep time in California in 2002 and the fastest among the nation's 2002 senior footballers) and 21.06 in the 200 meters (third fastest prep in California in 2002). He placed second in the boys' 50-meter dash in 5.85 at the 2003 Los Angeles Invitational Indoor Meet. Current Trojan Travis Watkins also attended Helix.

 

[jbz]

Bush in 2006, Adrian Peterson in 2007. STUDS.

 

[caul]

What about sproles? He has looked incredible every time iv gotten a chance to see him. Maybe a little small, but reminds me alot of clinton portis.

 

[Colin Dowling]

I agree that Brown is better than Carnell.Mine...1.Benson2. Brown3. Barber4. Williams5. Peterson6. McClendon7. Shelton8. Houston9. A. Davis10. Harris11. GoreEdit: IN the right situation, Booker could be a great Pro.

 

[JohnnyU]

I agree that Brown is better than Carnell.Mine...1.Benson2. Brown3. Barber4. Williams5. Peterson6. McClendon7. Shelton8. Houston9. A. Davis10. Harris11. GoreEdit: IN the right situation, Booker could be a great Pro.

...what year is Peterson? Is he a 2005 or 2006 draftee? I guess we don't know that answer, but we can guess.

 

[imeimex]

I believe Ronnie Brown is the best Aurburn back and will make an NFL impact. If given the chance to start next year, he will perform well next year.He is better than Cadillac.

I agree while Cadillac will probably be the higher pick, I think Brown will be the better pro.

 

[JohnnyU]

What about sproles? He has looked incredible every time iv gotten a chance to see him. Maybe a little small, but reminds me alot of clinton portis.

I almost included him, but he is 5'7". The troubles of Q Griffin come to mind.

 

[mac daddy]

What about sproles? He has looked incredible every time iv gotten a chance to see him. Maybe a little small, but reminds me alot of clinton portis.

Apparently you didn't see him against my Aggies last weekend.

 

[jbz]

Caddy isn't really big, but I never see him get tackled without a fight. He has a weird combination of power and slipperyness. I really can't explain it, but I love it. I enjoy watching the man run.

me too. You can't put your finger on what his best skills are, but he just gets yards and breaks tackels. Great natural instincts and great feet. That being said, Ronnie Brown looks to be the better pro prospect with the size/speed/power ratio thing going on for him.Other college RBs to look out for:- Laurence Maroney - Barber III's "backup" (they actually split carries). Has more big play ability and seems to always get his 100 yds. - DonTrell Moore - goes unnoticed playing for New Mexico. Dinged up right now, but this guy just gets his yards despite being the only offensive threat for the Lobos- Vernand Morency - this kid is a beast. He's better then Tatum Bell, the RB he replaced.

 

[jbz]

I agree that Brown is better than Carnell.Mine...1.Benson2. Brown3. Barber4. Williams5. Peterson6. McClendon7. Shelton8. Houston9. A. Davis10. Harris11. GoreEdit: IN the right situation, Booker could be a great Pro.

...what year is Peterson? Is he a 2005 or 2006 draftee? I guess we don't know that answer, but we can guess.

Peterson is a true frosh right now. Two more years of college for him. Hope OU doesn't run him into the ground, kid is special.

 

[JohnnyU]

What about sproles? He has looked incredible every time iv gotten a chance to see him. Maybe a little small, but reminds me alot of clinton portis.

Apparently you didn't see him again my Aggies last weekend.

Yes I did, but I'm trying to formalize a list of backs who will make the most impact first and he isn't one who I would consider. That's not say that I'm not wrong about him though. I'm with you on this. Hey, I don't have the answers to next year's crop.

 

[jbz]

What about sproles? He has looked incredible every time iv gotten a chance to see him. Maybe a little small, but reminds me alot of clinton portis.

Hardly Portis like IMO. Takes tiny little steps and is compact with stubby arms and legs. Portis is a smaller back as well, but they run totally different IMO. I have a hard time seeing Sproles being a top NFL RB prospect. If people are going to knock Anthony Davis for being too small, the same should happen to Sproles.

 

[JohnnyU]

I agree that Brown is better than Carnell.Mine...1.Benson2. Brown3. Barber4. Williams5. Peterson6. McClendon7. Shelton8. Houston9. A. Davis10. Harris11. GoreEdit: IN the right situation, Booker could be a great Pro.

...what year is Peterson? Is he a 2005 or 2006 draftee? I guess we don't know that answer, but we can guess.

Peterson is a true frosh right now. Two more years of college for him. Hope OU doesn't run him into the ground, kid is special.

thanks JBZ and no doubt he will be special down the line. The NFL will come calling soon enough.

 

[LHUCKS]

The Freshman kid at Oklahoma will be far better than any of the persons mentioned in this thread.

 

[crazygutgut]

How long does Peterson have to stay in college, I remember he was wanting to go straight to the NFL?

 

[imeimex]

What is everyone's opinion of Anthony Davis for Wisconsin. While it is tough to project Wisconsin backs (is it the talent or is it the system?) he is the second all time rusher for Wisconsin, and when healthy he puts up absolutely sick numbers. One question would be that he is often injured, but the latest injury this year was a fluke eye injury so should not be considered in the same category. I think that he is a better all around back than Michael Bennett, and could be a nice surprise if he gets drafted in the right situation.

 

[LHUCKS]

How long does Peterson have to stay in college, I remember he was wanting to go straight to the NFL?

Two years...he'll win the Heisman as a Sophomore and then be gone.

 

[kevin^]

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!??! NO RYAN MOATS!?!?!?!?

 

[jurb26]

The fact that Ryan Moats name has not come up yet is disturbing. Some info:

Who is Ryan Moats? ... Running backs have a hard time getting publicity in the high flying WAC, but every once in a while one comes along and takes the league by storm. Nevada's Chance Kretschmer has been a star over the last few years and Louisiana Tech's Joe Smith ran for 1,216 yards and 16 touchdowns two years ago. Ryan Moats more than picked up the slack last year and is the league's best offensive player coming into 2004.It took a little while for him to get warmed up only rushing for 136 yards over the first four games, and then he tore off one of the best seven game runs in college football rushing for 1,127 yards and ten touchdowns all but carrying the Bulldog offense. Now he'll be the star of the offense with QB Luke McCown gone and he needs to be better than ever. Is he good enough to carry the Bulldogs to their first winning season in a few years? If he doesn't, there could be big changes as the team has slipped over the last few years going from WAC champions to two straight losing seasons. While that's a lot of pressure to put on a running back, Moats proved last year that he's good enough to handle it. Moats' best game so far was ... in last year's 44-41 loss to Hawaii. Moats ripped through the Warriors for 267 yards and two touchdowns while also catching five passes for 81 yards. His 11-yard touchdown run with just under seven minutes to go gave the Bulldogs the lead, but the defense couldn't hold. Why you should care about Ryan Moats ... He's one of the WAC's best players and will be among the nation's leading rushers. He has a great line to run behind with five starters returning all geared around paving the way for Moats. This isn't a deep Louisiana Tech offense needing Moats to carry things until the new starters and the depth come around. If he doesn't have a big season, Louisiana Tech won't be a factor in the WAC race.Positives about Moats ... Talk about your workhorses, Moats was able handle more than 30 carries in three games finishing the season with 165 carries in the final seven games. He always gets positive yards and is always moving forward with quick feet and decent power. There isn't a better blend of home-run hitting ability and strength at getting the tough yard in the WAC than Moats. He has great hands able to break big plays when he catches the ball in space.Negatives about Moats ... He has had a few injury issues and while he proved he can handle a workload for stretches, he hasn't done it for a whole year yet. While he did a decent job against LSU after the game was decided, he put up most of his yards against some of the nation's worst run defenses. A cool thing about Moats that you probably didn't know ... A tremendously productive high school back, Moats ran for 33 touchdowns and 2,646 yards averaging 9.2 yards per carry as a senior. He finished his career with 4,782 yards and 56 scores for Bishop Lynch High in Dallas.Career statistics2003: 199 carries for 1,300 yards and ten touchdowns. He also caught 27 passes for 251 yards and a score2002: 12 carries for 38 yards. Six catches for 74 yards. Thanks to Louisiana Tech for all the tidbits

link

Moats, not air attack, Tech’s top weaponChad Hartley RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL9/2/2004 10:01 pm Ryan Moats was asked to name the top three running backs in the Western Athletic Conference.“I get to include myself, right?” the junior from Louisiana Tech said with a laugh.The list would be incomplete without him.The folks in Ruston, La., have become accustomed to footballs whipping through the air at Joe Aillet Stadium with great frequency the last five years. Things will likely change this year because of Moats.“If Ryan stays healthy, he is going to get the ball,” Louisiana Tech coach Jack Bicknell said. “If he doesn’t, then someone ought to blast me because he is a fantastic player. In other years, the pass may have been the feature part. But to me, right now, Ryan Moats is the feature part. I think he is ready to have a great year.”The shifty Moats -- he’s just 5-foot-9 and 201 pounds -- jumped into the league’s upper echelon of backs last year with a sensational season. In 12 games, he gained 1,300 yards and scored 10 touchdowns. The eye-popping stat was his 6.5 yards per carry.“He is legit,” Nevada coach Chris Ault said. “No question about it. The great thing about him is that he is the ideal slashing back. He hides behind that line and comes out that back side. He is the best cut-back back in this conference. He is quick. He has all the attributes you want in a back.”And entering Monday’s game between the Bulldogs and the Wolf Pack, Moats said he feels in top form.“I had a great fall camp,” he said. “I feel like I am in good shape, like I am going to pick up where I left off last year.”But Moats isn’t going to change the way the Bulldogs do business. His success last year was based on three things: his ability, Louisiana Tech’s spread offense and Luke McCown.McCown was a four-year starter at quarterback, and Bicknell’s offense -- a one-back system that relied on the aerial attack -- opened the field up for Moats to run the ball.So while Moats may be the featured part of the offense, don’t expect the Bulldogs to play smash-mouth football with 50-plus rushing attempts a game. Even though the Bulldogs are replacing McCown at quarterback with the two-headed monster of Matt Kubik and Donald Allen, they are sticking with their same schemes.“We can’t just say, ‘Let’s rely on Ryan,’” Bicknell said. “That’s not going to work. We have to spread people out. That’s our offense. I think Ryan’s success was based on the fact that we could spread people out and do different thing.”Regardless, Moats has the Wolf Pack’s attention. Bicknell said Kubik and Allen will split time at quarterback on Monday, and since neither has ever taken a snap for Louisiana Tech, there is probably a tendency for Nevada to focus on the one proven commodity the Bulldogs have.“You could say that because he is a good back,” Pack defensive end J.J. Milan said. “And they have some new quarterbacks. He is shifty and he can run. We have to keep an eye on Moats but we just can’t forget about the pass.”For the record, Moats did include himself of the list of the three best backs in the WAC. He also included UTEP’s Howard Jackson and Nevada’s Chance Kretschmer.But don’t ask him to rank them.“Howard Jackson, I like his style,” Moats said. “And Kretschmer, he is a big guy who runs over people. I think we are all good backs. I just favor my style.”

linkThis kid is good and convinced me last year vs. LSU and UM. He was good enough to convince the La Tech coaches to completely change their O and system around him. I would keep an eye on him if your looking at RBs heading into the NFL after this year.

 

[jurb26]

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!??! NO RYAN MOATS!?!?!?!?

Beat me to it. It is absurd that it took this long to get his name in here though.

 

[Diablo]

Top NFL prospects1. Cedric Benson - hate to say it but he is very close to Ricky Williams in talent and skill set2. Ronnie Brown - power, speed, hands, only downside is that Carnell has been in his way and Caddy had a bigger name3. Carnell Williams - this is a guy who is very Portis like in skill set4. Deangelo Williams - Memphis RB who probably will come out and is the best back no one has ever heard of outside of the South5. Ryan Moats - he has run over every defense in the nation so far and only gets better though only a Junior and at a small school like Tech so he won't come out5. Marion Barber III - might be a great prospect but not even the best on his own team6. JJ Arrington - his year at Cal is pushing him up to 2nd or 3rd rd with a great size, speed ratio7. Wali Lundy - Virginia RB that is a great receiving and running threat and will probably start as a 3rd down back somewhere8. Walter Reyes - you can't argue with the stats but the competition leaves something to debate. will need a great combine to go high9. TA McClendon - probably stays in school hopefully and learns how to stay healthy10. Verand Morency - someone stated he is better than Bell, they are correct. Only holdback for the NFL is his age because he played a little baseball11. KJ Harris - same issues with age as Morency12. Lonta Hobbs - TCU guy that when healthy is a monster and he is having a great year this year as a junior Of those left off:Anthony Davis - not a NFL quality RBMaurice Drew - SophLawrence Maroney - Soph(would have been top 7)Reggie Bush - Soph(would have been top 3)Taureen Henderson - a quality guy that may only ever be a 3rd down RBDontrell Moore - still has alot to prove

 

[derek316]

Ryan Moats sure did look good against UM.

 

[jurb26]

Ryan Moats sure did look good against UM.

Your kidding me right. In 2003 he only had 3 carries but 44 yds and this year 14 for 81. If the game hadn't gotten out of hand in the 2nd quarter, he could have put up much bigger numbers as well. More importantly though he looked good even vs. a great D like theirs. Still showed explosivness even against one of the top 5 Ds in the country. He was the one player on La Tech that stood out as able to play at the same level as the UM guys and possible above it.

 

[Diablo]

For a guy from a small school going to Miami, his totals were more than many would have even expected as because Miami made him the entire focus point on defense since La Tech couldn't throw to save its life.Here are his stat breakdowns for the year from a school that is one of the lesser Division 1A programs in the WAC conferenceate Opponent Score ATT YDS TD YDS/ATT 9/6/04 Nevada W: 38-21 33 257 0 7.8 9/11/04 Louisiana-Lafayette W: 24-20 34 257 1 7.6 9/18/04 Miami L: 0-48 14 81 0 5.8 9/25/04 Tennessee L: 17-42 21 97 1 4.6 10/2/04 Fresno State W: 28-21 34 236 4 6.9 Totals/Avgs W/L record: 3-2 136 928 6 6.8 Tennessee and Fresno are no cupcakes. Fresno had held one of the best college RBs in Sproles to under 40 yds when they matched up. When Phil Fulmer, HC at Tenn, was asked his opinion he clearly stated that Moats was an outstanding RB that can play at any major BCS conference school but slipped through the cracks. I think this guy knows a little about making pro players too!!!

 

[EastBayFunk]

Adrian Peterson is the best RB in college football right now. He's as good as advertised. It's scary to think where he'll be in two years if he stays healthy and matures physically like most 18 year olds do. He has the frame and the natural skills to be a top 3 pick in the NFL draft. He runs a little high, but he has enough wiggle to be successful. He reminds me a little bit of Deuce McAllister and Chris Brown, although he's currently smaller and a bit quicker. Reggie Bush is a nice weapon, but he has some work to do before I'm ready to declare him a franchise back. His receiving ability and home run speed will make him a first round pick, but he needs to work on his running skills. He's not a great pure runner yet, but he has the physical talent needed to excel in that area. As for the best draft-eligible backs, I have yet to form strong opinions on many of these guys. Based on what I have seen/read I would rank them as follows: 1. Cadillac Williams, Auburn - For the time being he gets the nod over Brown. Cadillac has good vision and quickness. His speed is adequate, but not great. My main concern with him is his size. He's about 10 pounds lighter than what's ideal, although there have been plenty of successful undersized NFL backs. He'll probably go higher than Kevin Jones did last year, but I think he's definitely a notch below KJ as a prospect. Nevertheless, he should be a pretty good NFL ball carrier.2. Ronnie Brown, Auburn - Brown offers better size than his teammate and has arguably been the more effective of the two in college despite being the backup. He doesn't have quite the same lateral agility that Cadillac has, but his feet are quick for a big man and he has the look of a potential workhorse back. He may have more upside as a pro than Williams.3. Cedric Houston, Tennessee - Houston has been dinged up throughout his career, but he's always produced when healthy and that's what's most important. He has a very good combination of size and speed. He likely won't be chosen until the second or third round, but Tennessee has a history of developing good NFL backs and Houston looks like the next in that line. 4. Cedric Benson, Texas - Benson is having a monster year statistically, but he doesn't stand out from a physical standpoint. He doesn't have elite size or physical skills. Benson did nothing to impress me last year when I saw Texas play Washington State. To me he looks like a classic college star with limited pro potential, although I will certainly watch him play this year before cementing my opinion of him. I rank him this high because he figures to be an early pick and may in fact be quite a bit better than I currently believe him to be. 5. TA McLendon, NC State - McLendon is a classic workhorse back with enough size and versatility to potentially be an every down RB in the NFL. He's probably not going to develop into a dynamo or a home run hitter at the next level, but he has a chance to be a starter. Beyond this very early top 5, I think the following backs are worth watching:Maurice ClarettMarion Barber, MinnesotaDeAngelo Williams, Memphis (An underclassman, it's my understanding that he is almost 100% to declare for the draft)Overall it looks like a weak RB crop to me. Nevertheless, it's a good bet that 2-3 top 20 fantasy RB's will emerge from this group. I'll post much more about these guys after I get a chance to watch them play in their bowl games and throughout the season.

 

[jurb26]

For a guy from a small school going to Miami, his totals were more than many would have even expected as because Miami made him the entire focus point on defense since La Tech couldn't throw to save its life.Here are his stat breakdowns for the year from a school that is one of the lesser Division 1A programs in the WAC conferenceate Opponent Score ATT YDS TD YDS/ATT 9/6/04 Nevada W: 38-21 33 257 0 7.8 9/11/04 Louisiana-Lafayette W: 24-20 34 257 1 7.6 9/18/04 Miami L: 0-48 14 81 0 5.8 9/25/04 Tennessee L: 17-42 21 97 1 4.6 10/2/04 Fresno State W: 28-21 34 236 4 6.9 Totals/Avgs W/L record: 3-2 136 928 6 6.8 Tennessee and Fresno are no cupcakes. Fresno had held one of the best college RBs in Sproles to under 40 yds when they matched up. When Phil Fulmer, HC at Tenn, was asked his opinion he clearly stated that Moats was an outstanding RB that can play at any major BCS conference school but slipped through the cracks. I think this guy knows a little about making pro players too!!!

To add to this, Moats was able to produce a better stats vs. Tenn then both Caddy and Williams while La Tech hardly has as many players capable to play up to an SEC level on their team. Its a shame that the school this guy goes to is the only reason he has gone for the most part unoticed thus far. He is a top 5 RB right now at the college level. The only RB that I could place for sure over him would be Bush.

 

[Diablo]

Sorry, Adrian Peterson is not the best RB in college football by a longshot.Seems to me that more viewing of college games and the players should be viewed before making statements in such a manner and not just what you read.Also, for anyone still considering Maurice Clarett as a viable player in this top portion of the draft is clearly not understanding that this is a kid who had one good year, not great, and had trouble staying healthy and hasn't played in a long time. Skills disappear when you don't play and surely it will be noticable at the combines and I expect him to be a 6th or 7th rd reach for some team this upcoming year.

 

[ltaylor]

One guy that is always overlooked in my opinion is Deangelo Williams from my neck of the woods at University of Memphis. Since coming to Memphis this kid has done absolutely nothing but produce absolutely prolific numbers. He led the nation last year in all purpose yards on his way to leading the Tigers to their first bowl game since 1971. THe Tigers finished 9-3! Here are his stats over last season and the first 5 games this year: 17 Games390 Carries2182 Rushing Yards5.6 Yards per carry20 Rushing TDs44 catches526 Receiving Yards12 yards per catch4 Receiving TDsThat is a whopping 158 yards from scrimmage per game!Now that your JAW HAS HIT THE FLOOR, let me tell you what I think about him. The kid is 5'10" and about 215 pounds. He is extremely fast and very slippery. There is no one in the college game today that is harder to tackle in the open field than Deangelo. Keep in mind that this is a Memphis team that handled Ole Miss with Eli Manning last year. We also face Southern Miss and Louisville every year. So it's not like he has done it against all 1-AA schools like some of you might presume. The only knock on him is that he has not looked excellent running between the tackles. He is mainly used on misderection plays, draws, and toss type plays. Tommy West, the Tigers Coach, says that Deangelo can run well inside but he says that his light O-line can not power it down people's throats. He believes that the O-line is better when he gets them moving. The kid has never had a decent O-line to run behind. He was recruited by practically every school in the SEC because he is from Wynne, ARkansas but he wanted to play close to home. If this kid were playing in the SEC he would be a first or second round draft pick. As it is though I see him being a 3rd or 4th round pick. He has already said that he is more than likey coming out after this year, his Junior season.Logan

 

[jurb26]

My list as of now, just for college backs:1. Bush2. Moats3. C.Williams4. Benson5. Brown6. D.Williams7. Barber8. McLendon9. Houston10. Drew11. Arrington12. Maroney

 

[JohnnyU]

My list as of now, just for college backs:1. Bush2. Moats3. C.Williams4. Benson5. Brown6. D.Williams7. Barber8. McLendon9. Houston10. Drew11. Arrington12. Maroney

Nice group of RB's. How many of those will come out next year? That's what I hope to get out of this thread.

 

[JohnHenry]

alabama fan

War EAGLE Baby

 

[JohnnyU]

alabama fan

War EAGLE Baby

I'm guessing you support C Williams and Brown?

 

[jurb26]

Hard to say for sure right now, but I think that Bush, Drew, and Maroney are the only ones that will stay. Moats and McLendon would be my top choices to stay that could leave. I don't think it is very likely for Moats as by seasons end I think he will find that staying another year will make it hard for his stock to rise any more. McLendon I think will only stay if injuries riddle him again this year (which is very possible).

 

[JohnnyU]

Hard to say for sure right now, but I think that Bush, Drew, and Maroney are the only ones that will stay. Moats and McLendon would be my top choices to stay that could leave. I don't think it is very likely for Moats as by seasons end I think he will find that staying another year will make it hard for his stock to rise any more. McLendon I think will only stay if injuries riddle him again this year (which is very possible).

 

[GoCanes]

How long does Peterson have to stay in college, I remember he was wanting to go straight to the NFL?

Two years...he'll win the Heisman as a Sophomore and then be gone.

3 years

 

[CowboyFan]

Danny Ware - True Freshman - UGA - If anyone has seen a Georgia game this year, this kid makes you jump outta your seat.Not even Herschel started in the first game as a frosh (took over in the 2nd quarter & never looked back though!!!).If you watch tapes of Herschel at UGA, he looked like a man among boys, Ware already shows that type of power & speed.I know it'll be 2 years until he can go pro, but I'd bet dollars to doughnuts this kid'll be awsome at the next level.

 

[jgb95]

I think barber will surprise and be a mid first rounder next year. He won't return to MINN due to the fact that he won't want to share carries again in 2005!

 

[Mad Cow]

If we are talking about future, cannot believe Lynell Hamilton from SDSU has not been mentioned. Supposed to be very Marshall Faulk-esque in his skills. He is a soph, so 1 more year.And yes, it is looking like 2005 and 2006 will be bumper crops for NFL RB's. And there seem to be a lot of teams that need 'em.

 

[EastBayFunk]

Danny Ware - True Freshman - UGA - If anyone has seen a Georgia game this year, this kid makes you jump outta your seat.Not even Herschel started in the first game as a frosh (took over in the 2nd quarter & never looked back though!!!).If you watch tapes of Herschel at UGA, he looked like a man among boys, Ware already shows that type of power & speed.I know it'll be 2 years until he can go pro, but I'd bet dollars to doughnuts this kid'll be awsome at the next level.

Ware is pretty good, but he wouldn't be starting for Georgia if Kregg Lumpkin hadn't torn his ACL. I do think Ware has NFL potential, but I'm not ready to compare him to Herschel Walker just yet.

 

[Jules Winnfield]

I've seen Clarett mentioned a few times in this category and I'm curious. Do you think he will be in playing shape come NFL next year? What is he doing right now? Didn't he show up at conferences last year to say he wasn't going to work out for the scouts and wasn't he out of shape? I heard that he wanted to play at Grambling. Any truth to that? I don't think OSU is taking him back right?

 

[CowboyFan]

Ware is pretty good, but he wouldn't be starting for Georgia if Kregg Lumpkin hadn't torn his ACL. I do think Ware has NFL potential, but I'm not ready to compare him to Herschel Walker just yet.

What I was trying to compare was how strong Ware looks (with speed, not a slow bruiser). You would think he has been in a college weight program for 4 years. It took an injury for Herschel to get in the first game, injuries are how many young players get their shot. Ware would have gotten chances this year with or without an injury.So lets not 'compare' him to Herschel just yet. I can say his play is 'reminiscent' of Herschel so far.

 

[Ronindvm]

As an Auburn fan I love Carnell but I really feel that Ronnie is the better back. This year anyway. I thought that part of the reason the UT game went so well was that the coaching staff finally gave Ronnie a chance.Since I'm in a keeper league and the only way to get prime RB's is to draft rookies or get lucky with a backup, I'm considering taking Carnell and Ronnie as my 1st 2 picks next year if they end up on teams where they have a chance to contribute. I know its a big gamble but hey, I'm doing really badly this year without having a top 6 RB.

 

[switz]

My list as of now, just for college backs:1. Bush2. Moats3. C.Williams4. Benson5. Brown6. D.Williams7. Barber8. McLendon9. Houston10. Drew11. Arrington12. Maroney

1. Brown2. Williams3. Moats4. BensonIMO the only ones worth having on your FF squad next year, AND in that order

 

[jurb26]

My list as of now, just for college backs:1. Bush2. Moats3. C.Williams4. Benson5. Brown6. D.Williams7. Barber8. McLendon9. Houston10. Drew11. Arrington12. Maroney

1. Brown2. Williams3. Moats4. BensonIMO the only ones worth having on your FF squad next year, AND in that order

I could agree with that, depending on where they end up of course. I think your biggest difference makers though are going to be Moats and Brown.

 

[ColtsFreak]

WALI LUNDY!!!NUFF SAID