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| -Class of 2006 Top 200 - Running Backs |
By Christopher Lyke
Texas HS Football Chief Editor
A good running game is just about the ultimate recipe to having a very successful season and program. And like the quarterback position, running backs have become a hot commodity in recruiting. Who are the backs that the world has their eyes on? Who are the sleeper backs? And who is ready to make the next step to the next level now?
Easier asked than answered when you have a wide variety of backs to chose from. Quality backs come at a dime a dozen across the country so getting noticed as a running back is a much more challenging task than at the quarterback spot. A back not only has to find a way to run through the complex defensive formations, but many have to possess the skills for blocking as an extended lineman out of the backfield.
Some of the higher profile backs in the state include Longview's Vondrell McGee, Cuero's Latrael Cooper, Baron Batch of Midland and Jamaal Evans of Irving. In terms of college commitments at an early date, the Texas Longhorns have been active at the running back position with the high profile backs. McGee, Hebron's Derke Robinson and Coppell's Emmanuel Moody have already given the verbal to the Longhorns.
And Texas isn't the only one on the hot trail of commits from backs. Texas A&M has gained a trio themselves in Midland Lee's Trent Hines, Wharton's Piere Fleurinor and Cuero's Latrael Cooper. Even Houston, TCU and Texas Tech have verbals from in state running backs to date. It's could be safe to say that the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, LSU and Arkansas, just to name a few are not too far behind when it comes to eyeing the Lone Star state's top running back prospects.
Many of the uncommitted backs are key sleeper backs that could find their way into the up and coming programs and well established programs across the country such as SMU, TCU, New Mexico State, Louisiana Tech, Missouri, Colorado and others. These programs could be looking at players such as Jamal Organ of Brownwood or a Marc Malone of Ennis.
A key sleeper that nobody is talking about could be Zach Collins of the Class 2A UC Randolph Ro-Hawks. Collins has already amassed a 2,000+ yard season on top of a very productive sophomore season. In his junior year, Collins not only ran the ball but also was one of the most productive backs inside the red zone. He has the speed and size that most scouts could be on the look out for.
Another name to watch could be that of Casey Kociuba of Liberty Hill. Kociuba is part of the Liberty Hill rushing attack that has not just one 2,000 yard rusher, but two. The Panthers combined for over 7,000 yards rushing in 2004 and Kociuba and teammate Matt Escamilla are a big part of that. Kociuba, the quicker of the two, should be the ultimate sleeper for a I-AA program or middle of the road I-A program.
Kociuba, McGee, Collins, Donte Bean and Keith Toston are the prototypical backs in Texas that could be key and ready to made the next step now. Onething is for certain, there is an endless supply of backs out there. |
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RUNNING BACKS TO WATCH (RANDOM ORDER) |
| Name |
School |
HT |
WT |
40 |
|
| Vondrell McGee |
Longview |
5'10 |
190 |
4.4 |
|
| Zach Collins |
UC Randolph |
5'10 |
180 |
4.4 |
|
| Latael Cooper |
Cuero |
6'2 |
215 |
4.4 |
|
| Casey Kociuba |
Liberty Hill |
6'2 |
190 |
4.6 |
|
| Jerald Turner |
EP Andress |
5'11 |
185 |
4.5 |
|
| Baron Batch |
Midland |
5'10 |
185 |
4.5 |
|
| Derke Robinson |
Hebron |
6'0 |
205 |
4.5 |
|
| Toddrick Pendland |
Newton |
5'9 |
170 |
4.5 |
|
| Trent Hines |
Midland Lee |
6'3 |
200 |
4.6 |
|
| Jamaal Evans |
Irving |
5'8 |
200 |
4.5 |
|
| Donte Bean |
North Garland |
5'10 |
185 |
4.4 |
|
| Keith Toston |
Angleton |
6'1 |
195 |
4.4 |
|
| Emmanuel Moody |
Coppell |
6'0 |
200 |
4.4 |
|
| Dimitri Nance |
Euless Trinity |
5'10 |
197 |
4.6 |
|
| Mon Williams |
Mesquite Horn |
6'1 |
195 |
4.5 |
|
| Donald Buckram |
Copperas Cove |
5'11 |
160 |
4.4 |
|
| Michael Goodson |
Klein Collins |
6'0 |
200 |
4.4 |
|
| Matt Dornak |
Austin Westlake |
5'10 |
175 |
4.5 |
|
| David Watkins |
Irving Nimitz |
6'0 |
190 |
4.5 |
|
| Broderick Franklin |
Paris North Lamar |
5'9 |
190 |
4.5 |
|
| Marc Malone |
Ennis |
5'10 |
195 |
4.5 |
|
| Jamall Organ |
Brownwood |
5'10 |
185 |
4.4 |
|
| Jackie Robinson |
Marshall |
6'0 |
205 |
4.7 |
|
| Nathan Guillory |
Houston Kashmere |
5'7 |
175 |
4.4 |
|
| Chris Johnson |
Round Rock |
5'11 |
200 |
4.3 |
|
| Dale Armand |
Bridge City |
5'11 |
175 |
4.6 |
|
| Jason Williams |
Tyler Lee |
6'1 |
200 |
4.5 |
|
| Brock Town |
Spearman |
6'1 |
200 |
4.8 |
|
| Antwan Cobb |
Pflugerville |
6'1 |
210 |
4.5 |
|
| Jessie Harrison |
Omaha Paul Pewitt |
5'10 |
203 |
4.6 |
|
| Torian Wilkins |
Brookshire Royal |
5'10 |
185 |
4.4 |
|
| Jeff Butler |
Karnes City |
6'1 |
185 |
4.5 |
|
| Josh Barbee |
Haskell |
6'1 |
185 |
4.7 |
|
| Travis Landrum |
Chilton |
6'2 |
230 |
4.8 |
|
| Demarcus Lang |
Scurry Rosser |
6'3 |
200 |
4.5 |
|
| Ryan Adkins |
Roscoe Highland |
5'10 |
150 |
4.4 |
|
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