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Rivals.com has Mo as the best freshman running back in the big 10
Best of the Big Ten -- Running Backs
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Mike Wachsman
BuckeyeSports.com Staff Writer
(BuckeyeSports.com debuts a new feature, focusing on the best players in the Big Ten, designed to get fans excited and incite debate. This is purely our opinion, but we do try to use numbers to back those opinions up. On most days we'll look at the top five players at a position, though in some instances we'll expand it to 10. Today we look at the running backs.)
RUNNING BACKS
The Big Ten has long been thought of as a three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust conference, but surveying the landscape in 2005, nothing could be farther from the truth.
Associated Press
Minnesota's Laurence Maroney will be running away from the Big Ten this season.
Gone are the days when every team in the league had a punishing rushing attack. Ohio State and Michigan made a living beating opponents into submission, but even Indiana, Northwestern and Minnesota have gotten into the act in recent years.
Don't get me wrong. There's talent in the Big Ten running back corps. But there just isn't much depth.
Beyond the top four or so, it's kind of a crapshoot.
There will be debates from their faithful about what order Minnesota's Laurence Maroney and Michigan's Mike Hart belong, but beyond that there's not much else that's known.
We're going to try to sort out this mess, however, with our rundown of the top running backs in the Big Ten.
TAILBACKS
1. Laurence Maroney, Minnesota (Jr.) -- The fastest, quickest back in the conference, Maroney has the tenacity and power to bang it up inside. He can cut on a dime and get to top speed in a heartbeat. He has been nicked up in the past, and without Marion Barber there will be some questions about him handling 280-300 carries. But he's easily the best talent in the league and could flirt with a 2,000 yard year.
2004 Numbers (Carries/Yards/YPC/TD) -- 217/1,348/6.2/12
2. Mike Hart, Michigan (Soph.) -- He ran for 121 yards in his first start against San Diego State and never looked back. He put together three straight 200-yard rushing games, a school record. And he held up to the pounding despite being just 5-9. A darter with great agility and balance, Hart's low center of gravity makes him hard to bring down. He's good about picking up yards after first contact, too. He'll likely be spelled a bit this year by hotshot recruit Kevin Grady, but that doesn't diminish his talent.
2004 Numbers -- 282/1,455/5.2/9
3. Pierre Thomas, Illinois (Jr.) -- Gets loss in the abyss that is Illini football, but this kid can play. He has nifty moves that make him elusive and he prides himself on being a north-south runner. He has excellent balance and the patience and vision to wait for the holes. If Illinois gets any kind of play from its quarterback, he could be primed for a big year.
2004 Numbers -- 152/893/5.9/8
4. Jason Teague, Michigan State (Sr.) -- His eligibility situation is tenuous due to some off-field issues, but when he's playing he gives the Spartans offense a toughness that it sometimes lacks. He loves picking up the tough yards inside and has decent speed. Not truly a home run threat, Teague is at his best near the goal line. His numbers may not be huge because John L. Smith likes to employ a committee approach in the backfield, but the kid has talent.
2004 Numbers -- 150/688/4.8/8
5. Brian Calhoun, Wisconsin (Jr.) -- Put together a pair of solid seasons at Colorado before transferring to the Badgers, and he'll provide the speed element that has become a staple in Madison. The Badgers love the zone stretch, and Calhoun has the speed and shiftiness to make it work. He also has excellent hands, so he could be lined up wide on occasion. Wisconsin may have some major questions this year, but running back isn't one of them.
2004 Numbers -- Sat out the year as a transfer.
Breakout Potential -- Iowa's Albert Young, who missed last year with a knee injury. A great blend of power and size, he also has elusiveness and is Iowa's fastest back. If he's healthy, he'll put up big-time numbers.
Best Freshman -- Ohio State's Maurice Wells will have a chance to shine due to the unsettled nature of the backfield. He has a burst to the hole, is great in the open field and can catch the ball. May not be a 20-carries a game type right off the bat, but has the skill to be the Buckeyes featured option. He gets the nod over Grady, Michigan State's Javon Ringer and Northwestern's Tyrell Sutton.
FULLBACKS
1. Matt Bernstein, Wisconsin (Sr.) -- Though he's a pile-mover, Bernstein is at his best putting his head down and leading tailbacks into the hole.
2004 Numbers -- 83/300/3.6/1
2. Jason Davis, Illinois (Sr.) -- A good runner with fine balance, Davis may be called upon to block a little more under Ron Zook. He has excellent hands (41-340-2) and will be used underneath a bunch.
2004 Numbers -- 49/230/4.7/1
3. Justin Valentine, Minnesota (Soph.) -- Doesn't carry the ball a ton, but doesn't have to with Maroney around. Has a good solid frame and is a threat around the goal-line. Could be asked to shoulder a little more of the workload this season.
2004 Numbers -- 19/57/3.0/4
Tomorrow -- Receivers
Best of the Big Ten -- Running Backs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike Wachsman
BuckeyeSports.com Staff Writer
(BuckeyeSports.com debuts a new feature, focusing on the best players in the Big Ten, designed to get fans excited and incite debate. This is purely our opinion, but we do try to use numbers to back those opinions up. On most days we'll look at the top five players at a position, though in some instances we'll expand it to 10. Today we look at the running backs.)
RUNNING BACKS
The Big Ten has long been thought of as a three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust conference, but surveying the landscape in 2005, nothing could be farther from the truth.
Associated Press
Minnesota's Laurence Maroney will be running away from the Big Ten this season.
Gone are the days when every team in the league had a punishing rushing attack. Ohio State and Michigan made a living beating opponents into submission, but even Indiana, Northwestern and Minnesota have gotten into the act in recent years.
Don't get me wrong. There's talent in the Big Ten running back corps. But there just isn't much depth.
Beyond the top four or so, it's kind of a crapshoot.
There will be debates from their faithful about what order Minnesota's Laurence Maroney and Michigan's Mike Hart belong, but beyond that there's not much else that's known.
We're going to try to sort out this mess, however, with our rundown of the top running backs in the Big Ten.
TAILBACKS
1. Laurence Maroney, Minnesota (Jr.) -- The fastest, quickest back in the conference, Maroney has the tenacity and power to bang it up inside. He can cut on a dime and get to top speed in a heartbeat. He has been nicked up in the past, and without Marion Barber there will be some questions about him handling 280-300 carries. But he's easily the best talent in the league and could flirt with a 2,000 yard year.
2004 Numbers (Carries/Yards/YPC/TD) -- 217/1,348/6.2/12
2. Mike Hart, Michigan (Soph.) -- He ran for 121 yards in his first start against San Diego State and never looked back. He put together three straight 200-yard rushing games, a school record. And he held up to the pounding despite being just 5-9. A darter with great agility and balance, Hart's low center of gravity makes him hard to bring down. He's good about picking up yards after first contact, too. He'll likely be spelled a bit this year by hotshot recruit Kevin Grady, but that doesn't diminish his talent.
2004 Numbers -- 282/1,455/5.2/9
3. Pierre Thomas, Illinois (Jr.) -- Gets loss in the abyss that is Illini football, but this kid can play. He has nifty moves that make him elusive and he prides himself on being a north-south runner. He has excellent balance and the patience and vision to wait for the holes. If Illinois gets any kind of play from its quarterback, he could be primed for a big year.
2004 Numbers -- 152/893/5.9/8
4. Jason Teague, Michigan State (Sr.) -- His eligibility situation is tenuous due to some off-field issues, but when he's playing he gives the Spartans offense a toughness that it sometimes lacks. He loves picking up the tough yards inside and has decent speed. Not truly a home run threat, Teague is at his best near the goal line. His numbers may not be huge because John L. Smith likes to employ a committee approach in the backfield, but the kid has talent.
2004 Numbers -- 150/688/4.8/8
5. Brian Calhoun, Wisconsin (Jr.) -- Put together a pair of solid seasons at Colorado before transferring to the Badgers, and he'll provide the speed element that has become a staple in Madison. The Badgers love the zone stretch, and Calhoun has the speed and shiftiness to make it work. He also has excellent hands, so he could be lined up wide on occasion. Wisconsin may have some major questions this year, but running back isn't one of them.
2004 Numbers -- Sat out the year as a transfer.
Breakout Potential -- Iowa's Albert Young, who missed last year with a knee injury. A great blend of power and size, he also has elusiveness and is Iowa's fastest back. If he's healthy, he'll put up big-time numbers.
Best Freshman -- Ohio State's Maurice Wells will have a chance to shine due to the unsettled nature of the backfield. He has a burst to the hole, is great in the open field and can catch the ball. May not be a 20-carries a game type right off the bat, but has the skill to be the Buckeyes featured option. He gets the nod over Grady, Michigan State's Javon Ringer and Northwestern's Tyrell Sutton.
FULLBACKS
1. Matt Bernstein, Wisconsin (Sr.) -- Though he's a pile-mover, Bernstein is at his best putting his head down and leading tailbacks into the hole.
2004 Numbers -- 83/300/3.6/1
2. Jason Davis, Illinois (Sr.) -- A good runner with fine balance, Davis may be called upon to block a little more under Ron Zook. He has excellent hands (41-340-2) and will be used underneath a bunch.
2004 Numbers -- 49/230/4.7/1
3. Justin Valentine, Minnesota (Soph.) -- Doesn't carry the ball a ton, but doesn't have to with Maroney around. Has a good solid frame and is a threat around the goal-line. Could be asked to shoulder a little more of the workload this season.
2004 Numbers -- 19/57/3.0/4
Tomorrow -- Receivers
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