doowain
Footballguy
Had the opportunity to snag him in a developmental league draft over the summer, so I've watched Alabama games closely.
Prior to the draft, I saw his high school highlights. Now, I know most top recruits pop off the screen on their high school tape, but what I saw was intriguing. Then, I saw his highlights from the Spring Game and read about how all of his teammates were raving about him. He was living up to the hype.
There was one problem though. The Alabama backfield was crowded. Their 3rd stringer could be the starter on most teams in the country. Would we have to wait until 2013 to see what this kid could do? Nope. He burst onto the scene on national television vs. a highly ranked Michigan team, rushing for 111 yards/1TD on 11 carries, showing the electric moves that were talked about all summer.
He not only leapfrogged the upperclassmen ahead of him to grab the RB2 spot, but he's outplayed starter Eddie Lacy in an almost even timeshare.
Yeldon
93 carries
649 yards
7.0 ypc
7 TD
Lacy
109 carries
596 yards
5.5 ypc
7 TD
By the end of the year, we may see him supplant Lacy as the starter. And with Lacy likely headed to the draft in 2013, it will be the TJ Yeldon show for the next couple years.
He's 6'2 216 at 18 years old. 18 YEARS OLD. Scary to think he could fill out even more. As it stands right now, he's almost a physical twin to Adrian Peterson. And, oddly enough, his game resembles him a lot too. The jump cuts and lateral movement. The acceleration/explosiveness (4.46 40)....and the power to run you over. He's a very good goalline runner. And I know it's a small sample size, but what I've seen, he's a much more polished receiver than Peterson was in college.
I know to compare him to Peterson (one of the best college RBs EVER) is bordering on blasphemy. I just really believe he is this good. And by all accounts, he's a great kid. So no knucklheadedness to worry about (hopefully).
The next Alabama RB to go in the 1st round? Top 10?
Prior to the draft, I saw his high school highlights. Now, I know most top recruits pop off the screen on their high school tape, but what I saw was intriguing. Then, I saw his highlights from the Spring Game and read about how all of his teammates were raving about him. He was living up to the hype.
There was one problem though. The Alabama backfield was crowded. Their 3rd stringer could be the starter on most teams in the country. Would we have to wait until 2013 to see what this kid could do? Nope. He burst onto the scene on national television vs. a highly ranked Michigan team, rushing for 111 yards/1TD on 11 carries, showing the electric moves that were talked about all summer.
He not only leapfrogged the upperclassmen ahead of him to grab the RB2 spot, but he's outplayed starter Eddie Lacy in an almost even timeshare.
Yeldon
93 carries
649 yards
7.0 ypc
7 TD
Lacy
109 carries
596 yards
5.5 ypc
7 TD
By the end of the year, we may see him supplant Lacy as the starter. And with Lacy likely headed to the draft in 2013, it will be the TJ Yeldon show for the next couple years.
He's 6'2 216 at 18 years old. 18 YEARS OLD. Scary to think he could fill out even more. As it stands right now, he's almost a physical twin to Adrian Peterson. And, oddly enough, his game resembles him a lot too. The jump cuts and lateral movement. The acceleration/explosiveness (4.46 40)....and the power to run you over. He's a very good goalline runner. And I know it's a small sample size, but what I've seen, he's a much more polished receiver than Peterson was in college.
I know to compare him to Peterson (one of the best college RBs EVER) is bordering on blasphemy. I just really believe he is this good. And by all accounts, he's a great kid. So no knucklheadedness to worry about (hopefully).
The next Alabama RB to go in the 1st round? Top 10?
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