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Ramblin' Wreck
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The A-back and B-back look ahead threads got me to thinking about our running back depth. How did we get to where so little experience is returning? Instead of just asking the question, I thought I would investigate the answer and share it.
(I've chosen to create a new thread instead of using the look ahead threads as this is more a look back than a look forward.)
First of all, how many running backs, both A-backs and B-backs, do we typically use during a season? Normally 2 B-backs and 6 A-backs are in the rotation. That is 8 total. 2 redshirts would be 10 on the roster.
Second, how many RBs should we recruit each year? Well, 8 players over 4 years is 2 RBs/year that we should be recruiting. Or with redshirts that is 5 seasons, but 10/5 is the same as 8/4.
Then, how many RBs have we been recruiting each season?
Let's start with the class of seniors that play their final game tomorrow. The redshirt seniors are from the recruiting class of 2010. According to the archives on ramblinwreck.com, these are the 3 RB recruits:
Zenon
Hill
Perkins
Days came in as a QB and Bostic was listed as a CB, although I really think he was an athlete with position to be determined.
The 2011 RB recruiting class:
Laskey
Snoddy
Milton
Of course Laskey has played 4 seasons without a RS. Snoddy is returning at A-back. I didn't remember Milton being listed at RB, because I think he has been at CB from day 1, hasn't he?
2012 RB recruiting class:
Allen - who was listed as RB/LB. Did he ever get a shot at RB before going to LB?
Andrews came in as a QB in this class.
2013 RB class:
Wilson
Custis
All I'm going to say is ouch! The losses here hurt.
2014 RB class:
Leggett
Autry
Lynch
Of course Autry never enrolled. I'm not even sure Lynch wasn't supposed to be a WR - that is his position listed at signing day - until Wilson, Custis, and Autry all disappeared from the program.
So for the 4 classes from 2011-2014, we actually recruited 9 RBs. This is 2.25/yr so good. (Looking at 5 classes 10-14, we recruited 12 RBs or 2.4/yr.) But we lost 3 from the program and 2 to position change. That leaves 4 - Laskey, Snoddy, Leggett, Lynch. And Laskey has used his eligibility. So that leaves 3. Plus Andrews is 4 RBs returning when depth would say we would want 8 returning. Thus the need for 6 in this recruiting class instead of 2.
(I've chosen to create a new thread instead of using the look ahead threads as this is more a look back than a look forward.)
First of all, how many running backs, both A-backs and B-backs, do we typically use during a season? Normally 2 B-backs and 6 A-backs are in the rotation. That is 8 total. 2 redshirts would be 10 on the roster.
Second, how many RBs should we recruit each year? Well, 8 players over 4 years is 2 RBs/year that we should be recruiting. Or with redshirts that is 5 seasons, but 10/5 is the same as 8/4.
Then, how many RBs have we been recruiting each season?
Let's start with the class of seniors that play their final game tomorrow. The redshirt seniors are from the recruiting class of 2010. According to the archives on ramblinwreck.com, these are the 3 RB recruits:
Zenon
Hill
Perkins
Days came in as a QB and Bostic was listed as a CB, although I really think he was an athlete with position to be determined.
The 2011 RB recruiting class:
Laskey
Snoddy
Milton
Of course Laskey has played 4 seasons without a RS. Snoddy is returning at A-back. I didn't remember Milton being listed at RB, because I think he has been at CB from day 1, hasn't he?
2012 RB recruiting class:
Allen - who was listed as RB/LB. Did he ever get a shot at RB before going to LB?
Andrews came in as a QB in this class.
2013 RB class:
Wilson
Custis
All I'm going to say is ouch! The losses here hurt.
2014 RB class:
Leggett
Autry
Lynch
Of course Autry never enrolled. I'm not even sure Lynch wasn't supposed to be a WR - that is his position listed at signing day - until Wilson, Custis, and Autry all disappeared from the program.
So for the 4 classes from 2011-2014, we actually recruited 9 RBs. This is 2.25/yr so good. (Looking at 5 classes 10-14, we recruited 12 RBs or 2.4/yr.) But we lost 3 from the program and 2 to position change. That leaves 4 - Laskey, Snoddy, Leggett, Lynch. And Laskey has used his eligibility. So that leaves 3. Plus Andrews is 4 RBs returning when depth would say we would want 8 returning. Thus the need for 6 in this recruiting class instead of 2.
