Sophomore sensations?
Friday, February 10, 2012
There were two freshmen who ran for 1,000 yards last season and another who totaled more than 2,000 all-purpose yards. Each has a different level of familiarity on the college football landscape. De’Anthony Thomas is practically a household name after piling up 2,235 AP yards (18 touchdowns) at Oregon. In Chapel Hill, the Tar Heels got a huge boost from the emergence of Giovani Bernard, who was the leading rusher among freshmen with 1,253 yards. Then there is Lyle McCombs. The only other of the nation’s freshmen RBs to rush for 1,000 yards in 2011, he is largely unknown outside Connecticut as the Huskies won only five games.
Including the fine trio noted above, here is an alphabetical list of the last season’s top freshmen running backs and what could be ahead for their sophomore seasons.
(*redshirt freshman last season)
Giovani Bernard, North Carolina*
2011: 1,253 yards, 5.2 YPC, 13 TDs
The first Tar Heel to rush for 1,000 yards in 14 years and the first to have five consecutive 100-yard efforts in 27 years, Bernard could be on his way to being most prolific running back in UNC history. In addition to the ability to explode through the line, Bernard (5-10, 205) is also a fine receiver catching 45 passes for 362 yards last season. The national spotlight could find Bernard in 2012. After all, under new coach Larry Fedora, the Tar Heels return QB Bryn Renner and all five starters on the line.
Dionza Bradford, UNLV
2011: 615 yards, 4.6 YPC, 3 TDs
Few things went well in Vegas last season, but Bradford was one of the bright spots. Injuries and general ineffectiveness hampered him in the early and latter portions of 2011. In between, Bradford had three 100-yard outings in a four-week stretch while displaying a talent level that could translate into a very promising next couple of years. At 6-1 and 210 pounds, he is a powerful and fast runner that is not lacking for size.
Malcolm Brown, Texas
2011: 742 yards, 4.3 YPC, 5 TDs
After seven games Brown had 635 yards and all five of his rushing touchdowns. He had three 100-yard games in a five-week stretch, including 19-135-2 versus Oklahoma State. Then turf toe took over and what might have been the best season among the nation’s freshmen running backs was derailed. Brown, a 6-foot, 215-pound bull who can wear down a defense, played in only three of the Hook ‘ems final six games. Limited in those outings, he totaled just 107 yards on 41 carries. Texas fans are looking forward to what they hope will be a healthy backfield of Brown and fellow classman Joe Bergeron next season.
Jawon Chisholm, Akron*
2011: 961 yards, 4.4 YPC, 5 TDs
Playing for a team that went 2-22 the past two seasons does not lend itself to individual accolades. The fact of the matter is Chisholm will be the third-leading rusher among returning MAC running backs following a season in which he topped 100 yards four times. It was an all-or-none type of year as he accumulated 573 yards in the four contests he reached the century mark. In the other eight games, Chisholm had 388 yards with a high of 76. He is a big back (6-1, 193) with very good speed and, along with new coach Terry Bowden, gives the Zips faithful more than a little hope for the next couple of years.
Isaiah Crowell, Georgia
2011: 850 yards, 4.6 YPC, 5 TDs
Injuries, especially in the second half of the season, and immaturity kept Crowell from joining Herschel Walker as the only Bulldogs to rush for 1,000 yards as a freshman. Disciplinary issues resulted in a one-game suspension and ankle injuries either kept Crowell out of lineup or extremely limited his contributions in few other games. He has also had trouble holding onto the ball at times. Still, Crowell had four 100-yard games, all against SEC foes. That is why coach Mark Richt and his staff believe a year of maturity could make a huge difference for Crowell as UGA seeks bigger and better in 2012.
Jahwan Edwards, Ball State
2011: 786 yards, 4.4 YPC, 11 TDs
Going against Edwards, who packs 232 pounds on a 5-10 frame, was an unpleasant experience for opposing defenses last season. He only had a few runs that were in excess of 15 yards, but he churned out tough yards while chewing up clock and moving the chains. Edwards had a pair of 100-yard games and scored at least one TD in eight of 12 contests. The two times he reached the century mark were the only games he had more 16 totes. Depending if a true compliment emerges, Edwards should get the ball a few more times on a per-game basis.
Devonta Freeman, Florida State
2011: 579 yards, 4.8 YPC, 8 TDs
The Seminoles have not had a 1,000-yard rusher since Warrick Dunn in 1996. That seems rather remarkable in and of itself let alone for a FSU program that has since enjoyed several 10-win seasons. Freeman, who can get it done between the tackles or with his speed around end, is on his way to snapping that streak. Bothered by back problems late in the season, he had double digits in carries just six times. Two of those games resulted in back-to-back 100-yard outings, something that a Florida State freshman RB last accomplished in 1988. Who was that running back? Answer at the end of this column.
Rickey Galvin, Washington State*
2011: 602 yards, 5.3 YPC, 5 TDs
Galvin’s college career started with the 2010 opener at Oklahoma State. His first season as a Cougar ended after about four minutes in that game at Stillwater after suffering a broken arm on his first carry. He battled back last season to lead the Cougars in rushing and also had 28 receptions for 242 yards. Pac-12 fans will see more and more of the 5-foot-8, 170-pounder, who has great speed and can scoot between tackles.
Dustin Garrison, West Virginia
2011: 742 yards, 5.5 YPC, 6 TDs
While the Mountaineers did not miss him against Clemson, it was too bad that Garrison could not cap his fine freshman season by displaying his skill set in the Orange Bowl. He sprained his MCL and ACL in practice leading up to the game and is enduring a rehab process that should render him at or near full health for fall workouts in August. WVU fans certainly hope so. After seeing very little action in the first three weeks, Garrison got his first start against LSU (10-46-1, 4 rec.) before exploding versus Bowling Green in Week 5 with 291 yards and 2 touchdowns on 32 carries. The effort would turn out to be the second-best yardage total by a FBS running back last season. Garrison (24 receptions) did not run for as many as 90 yards in any game for the duration of the schedule and only twice had more than 13 totes. Still, the 5-8, 165-pounder was a nice contributor on a team that won the Big East.
Lyle McCombs, Connecticut*
2011: 1151 yards, 4.2 YPC, 7 TDs
Once McCombs cleared up some off-field issues, he moved right into the vacancy at tailback and never looked back. While he had only three rushing touchdowns after opening with four against Fordham, McCombs would at one point have a stretch of four 100-yard games in five weeks. He reached the century mark six times and many more should be on the way for the 5-8, 172-pound McCombs, who thrives on a busy workload.
Kevin Parks, Virginia*
2011: 709 yards, 4.7 YPC, 9 TDs
The Cavaliers jumped from 77th to 52nd in rushing in no small part to Parks. Though an ankle injury cost him one game and slowed him in a couple of others, Parks had big efforts against some of the ACC’s better opponents in helping lead the resurgent Cavs to an 8-4 regular season. Parks’ effort has UV fans looking forward to what the North Carolina state high school record holder for career rushing yards can do next season when he again teams with senior-to-be Perry Jones.
Anthon Samuel, Bowling Green
2011: 844 yards, 5.9 YPC, 5 TDs
Samuel’s numbers are all the more impressive when you consider that he missed three games due to injury. In the nine games he played – and not all at 100 percent – Samuel topped 100 yards five times, including at Miami (Ohio) where he raced 96 yards for a TD. The MAC Freshman of the Year wants to put more weight his 5-11 frame. He was listed at 183 during the season and if a little more heft can help keep him on the field for a full season, than there is no telling what kind of sophomore year Samuel can have.
De’Anthony Thomas, Oregon
2011: 595 yards, 10.8 YPC, 7 TDs
As impressive – especially the hefty YPC – as the rushing figures were, it’s not the half of it. Thomas’ total of 18 touchdowns led all freshmen and his 2,235 all-purpose rank second for a single season at Oregon. Two of his TDs came on kick returns, an area in which he led the Pac-12 with an average of 27.3. With LaMichael James off to the NFL, Thomas will get more work toting the pigskin as a sophomore, but it may not be at the expense of the other fine things he can do when the pigskin is in his grasp. Thomas will likely be on the fringes of the early-season Heisman conversation.
There were two freshmen who ran for 1,000 yards last season and another who totaled more than 2,000 all-purpose yards. Each has a different level of familiarity on the college football landscape. De’Anthony Thomas is practically a household name after piling up 2,235 AP yards (18 touchdowns) at Oregon. In Chapel Hill, the Tar Heels got a huge boost from the emergence of Giovani Bernard, who was the leading rusher among freshmen with 1,253 yards. Then there is Lyle McCombs. The only other of the nation’s freshmen RBs to rush for 1,000 yards in 2011, he is largely unknown outside Connecticut as the Huskies won only five games.
Including the fine trio noted above, here is an alphabetical list of the last season’s top freshmen running backs and what could be ahead for their sophomore seasons.
(*redshirt freshman last season)
Giovani Bernard, North Carolina*
2011: 1,253 yards, 5.2 YPC, 13 TDs
The first Tar Heel to rush for 1,000 yards in 14 years and the first to have five consecutive 100-yard efforts in 27 years, Bernard could be on his way to being most prolific running back in UNC history. In addition to the ability to explode through the line, Bernard (5-10, 205) is also a fine receiver catching 45 passes for 362 yards last season. The national spotlight could find Bernard in 2012. After all, under new coach Larry Fedora, the Tar Heels return QB Bryn Renner and all five starters on the line.
Dionza Bradford, UNLV
2011: 615 yards, 4.6 YPC, 3 TDs
Few things went well in Vegas last season, but Bradford was one of the bright spots. Injuries and general ineffectiveness hampered him in the early and latter portions of 2011. In between, Bradford had three 100-yard outings in a four-week stretch while displaying a talent level that could translate into a very promising next couple of years. At 6-1 and 210 pounds, he is a powerful and fast runner that is not lacking for size.
Malcolm Brown, Texas
2011: 742 yards, 4.3 YPC, 5 TDs
After seven games Brown had 635 yards and all five of his rushing touchdowns. He had three 100-yard games in a five-week stretch, including 19-135-2 versus Oklahoma State. Then turf toe took over and what might have been the best season among the nation’s freshmen running backs was derailed. Brown, a 6-foot, 215-pound bull who can wear down a defense, played in only three of the Hook ‘ems final six games. Limited in those outings, he totaled just 107 yards on 41 carries. Texas fans are looking forward to what they hope will be a healthy backfield of Brown and fellow classman Joe Bergeron next season.
Jawon Chisholm, Akron*
2011: 961 yards, 4.4 YPC, 5 TDs
Playing for a team that went 2-22 the past two seasons does not lend itself to individual accolades. The fact of the matter is Chisholm will be the third-leading rusher among returning MAC running backs following a season in which he topped 100 yards four times. It was an all-or-none type of year as he accumulated 573 yards in the four contests he reached the century mark. In the other eight games, Chisholm had 388 yards with a high of 76. He is a big back (6-1, 193) with very good speed and, along with new coach Terry Bowden, gives the Zips faithful more than a little hope for the next couple of years.
Isaiah Crowell, Georgia
2011: 850 yards, 4.6 YPC, 5 TDs
Injuries, especially in the second half of the season, and immaturity kept Crowell from joining Herschel Walker as the only Bulldogs to rush for 1,000 yards as a freshman. Disciplinary issues resulted in a one-game suspension and ankle injuries either kept Crowell out of lineup or extremely limited his contributions in few other games. He has also had trouble holding onto the ball at times. Still, Crowell had four 100-yard games, all against SEC foes. That is why coach Mark Richt and his staff believe a year of maturity could make a huge difference for Crowell as UGA seeks bigger and better in 2012.
Jahwan Edwards, Ball State
2011: 786 yards, 4.4 YPC, 11 TDs
Going against Edwards, who packs 232 pounds on a 5-10 frame, was an unpleasant experience for opposing defenses last season. He only had a few runs that were in excess of 15 yards, but he churned out tough yards while chewing up clock and moving the chains. Edwards had a pair of 100-yard games and scored at least one TD in eight of 12 contests. The two times he reached the century mark were the only games he had more 16 totes. Depending if a true compliment emerges, Edwards should get the ball a few more times on a per-game basis.
Devonta Freeman, Florida State
2011: 579 yards, 4.8 YPC, 8 TDs
The Seminoles have not had a 1,000-yard rusher since Warrick Dunn in 1996. That seems rather remarkable in and of itself let alone for a FSU program that has since enjoyed several 10-win seasons. Freeman, who can get it done between the tackles or with his speed around end, is on his way to snapping that streak. Bothered by back problems late in the season, he had double digits in carries just six times. Two of those games resulted in back-to-back 100-yard outings, something that a Florida State freshman RB last accomplished in 1988. Who was that running back? Answer at the end of this column.
Rickey Galvin, Washington State*
2011: 602 yards, 5.3 YPC, 5 TDs
Galvin’s college career started with the 2010 opener at Oklahoma State. His first season as a Cougar ended after about four minutes in that game at Stillwater after suffering a broken arm on his first carry. He battled back last season to lead the Cougars in rushing and also had 28 receptions for 242 yards. Pac-12 fans will see more and more of the 5-foot-8, 170-pounder, who has great speed and can scoot between tackles.
Dustin Garrison, West Virginia
2011: 742 yards, 5.5 YPC, 6 TDs
While the Mountaineers did not miss him against Clemson, it was too bad that Garrison could not cap his fine freshman season by displaying his skill set in the Orange Bowl. He sprained his MCL and ACL in practice leading up to the game and is enduring a rehab process that should render him at or near full health for fall workouts in August. WVU fans certainly hope so. After seeing very little action in the first three weeks, Garrison got his first start against LSU (10-46-1, 4 rec.) before exploding versus Bowling Green in Week 5 with 291 yards and 2 touchdowns on 32 carries. The effort would turn out to be the second-best yardage total by a FBS running back last season. Garrison (24 receptions) did not run for as many as 90 yards in any game for the duration of the schedule and only twice had more than 13 totes. Still, the 5-8, 165-pounder was a nice contributor on a team that won the Big East.
Lyle McCombs, Connecticut*
2011: 1151 yards, 4.2 YPC, 7 TDs
Once McCombs cleared up some off-field issues, he moved right into the vacancy at tailback and never looked back. While he had only three rushing touchdowns after opening with four against Fordham, McCombs would at one point have a stretch of four 100-yard games in five weeks. He reached the century mark six times and many more should be on the way for the 5-8, 172-pound McCombs, who thrives on a busy workload.
Kevin Parks, Virginia*
2011: 709 yards, 4.7 YPC, 9 TDs
The Cavaliers jumped from 77th to 52nd in rushing in no small part to Parks. Though an ankle injury cost him one game and slowed him in a couple of others, Parks had big efforts against some of the ACC’s better opponents in helping lead the resurgent Cavs to an 8-4 regular season. Parks’ effort has UV fans looking forward to what the North Carolina state high school record holder for career rushing yards can do next season when he again teams with senior-to-be Perry Jones.
Anthon Samuel, Bowling Green
2011: 844 yards, 5.9 YPC, 5 TDs
Samuel’s numbers are all the more impressive when you consider that he missed three games due to injury. In the nine games he played – and not all at 100 percent – Samuel topped 100 yards five times, including at Miami (Ohio) where he raced 96 yards for a TD. The MAC Freshman of the Year wants to put more weight his 5-11 frame. He was listed at 183 during the season and if a little more heft can help keep him on the field for a full season, than there is no telling what kind of sophomore year Samuel can have.
De’Anthony Thomas, Oregon
2011: 595 yards, 10.8 YPC, 7 TDs
As impressive – especially the hefty YPC – as the rushing figures were, it’s not the half of it. Thomas’ total of 18 touchdowns led all freshmen and his 2,235 all-purpose rank second for a single season at Oregon. Two of his TDs came on kick returns, an area in which he led the Pac-12 with an average of 27.3. With LaMichael James off to the NFL, Thomas will get more work toting the pigskin as a sophomore, but it may not be at the expense of the other fine things he can do when the pigskin is in his grasp. Thomas will likely be on the fringes of the early-season Heisman conversation.
