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Most intriguing RB recruitments

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The top position storyline-wise for the 2013 recruiting cycle thus far has to be running back. It’s a deep cycle there for sure, but because of injuries and a lack of consensus among analysts and coaches about which prospects are among the best and excellent depth in the state of Florida in particular, there still a lot to be settled with regards to where many of the top prospects end up. To top it off, many high school defenses have just stopped tackling in space as there have been more eye-popping stat lines that any other high school football season in memory. 



So does this class have depth in terms of difference-makers or just guys that while excellent, aren’t the second coming of Earl Campbell and have taken advantage of the will of your average high school defender being broken early and often or could this end up being a special year where most of the highly-rated and ranked prospects are successful at the next level and beyond.

Time will tell on that. As far as where they end up playing college football, that’s going to be settled (for the most part) in three months and 19 days, but you can expect plenty of things to change between now and then.

It has already started.

In a surprising move last night, four-star running back Thomas Tyner (Beaverton, Ore./Aloha), backed out on a long-standing commitment to Oregon. The only other school he mentioned visiting was UCLA, but you can bet most of the other Pac-12 programs and others nationally, will be calling the speedster.

So with that added drama, here’s a look at the top five most intriguing running back recruitments for the Class of 2013. Hit the button- start photo feature- to take a look.

Tarean FolstonDerrick GreenGreg BryantThomas TynerAlex Collins
JC Shurburtt

    • do you see him leaving the state of FL?

      irishyoung

    • Wisconsin says hello to the Alex Collins article.

      Wolfie

    • irishyoung420 said...

      do you see him leaving the state of FL?

      If Notre Dame pushes, yes.

      JC Shurburtt ●

    • Wolfie said...

      Wisconsin says hello to the Alex Collins article.

      I never say never, but I would be surprised if he left the state of Florida, which is why I left Wisconsin out. I should mention he did visit there.

      JC Shurburtt ●

    • You said the recruitment of Matthew Thomas will come down to the Noles and Gators, I think you meant Noles and Hurricanes, we aren't recruiting him

      DPGators ●

    • DPGators said...

      You said the recruitment of Matthew Thomas will come down to the Noles and Gators, I think you meant Noles and Hurricanes, we aren't recruiting him

      I definitely meant Noles and Canes. Correcting now.

      JC Shurburtt ●

    • JC Shurburtt said...

      If Notre Dame pushes, yes.

      good stuff, thanks

      irishyoung

    • How safe is Skip Holtz at USF? Really want Folston over Clement and Muhammad.

      star69

    • star69 said...

      How safe is Skip Holtz at USF? Really want Folston over Clement and Muhammad.

      I would imagine fairly safe. That program in general has been pretty inconsistent, even under Leavitt. They win some games that make you scratch your head, then they lose some games that make you scratch your head.

      JC Shurburtt ●

    • Tyner re-commits to Oregon.

      Thomas Tyner (Thomas_Tyner) won't take any visits. He's a Duck.

      Top Oregon prep Thomas Tyner has informed Oregon he will not be taking any visits and is 100-percent committed to the program.

      oregon.247sports.com

      L Perry ●

    • Tyner again just showed his quick change of direction - back to the Ducks for good this time, or so he said. I think I believe it. What I don't believe is why he's still ranked a 4-star on 24/7 and Rivals. He had injury issues last year and dropped to 4 stars, I get that. Now he's one of, if not the best HS RB in the country per Max Preps stats. His team has up to 5 games to play if they make the state 6A finals. That could put him close to 4000 yards and 40+ TDs. Yikes!

      No offense to Alex Collins, but TT's photo should have been here...

      This post was edited by rgyle on 10/18/2012 at 5:05 PM

      rgyle ●

    • L. Perry said...

      Tyner re-commits to Oregon.

      Yes. That was quick. Also a very smart move on his part.

      JC Shurburtt ●

    • rgyle said...

      Tyner again just showed his quick change of direction - back to the Ducks for good this time, or so he said. I think I believe it. What I don't believe is why he's still ranked a 4-star on 24/7 and Rivals. He had injury issues last year and dropped to 4 stars, I get that. Now he's one of, if not the best HS RB in the country per Max Preps stats. His team has up to 5 games to play if they make the state 6A finals. That could put him close to 4000 yards and 40+ TDs. Yikes!

      No offense to Alex Collins, but TT's photo should have been here...

      You really want to compare the defenses Tyner plays against in Oregon vs the defenses in Georgia and Florida big classifications?

      Love to see Tyner play against Grayson, Mantee, Camden County, Norcross, etc. Different ball game when playing a defense like Grayson with 7-8 kids that will play at BCS Conferences next year....and they have the top player in the nation at DE and a couple more 4 stars on the same defense. Has Tyner faced any defender this year that will play in a BCS Conference much less 1 team that has 7-8 on defense. Maybe he has but the team he had the huge game against would probably lose to the top 8th grade team in ATL Metro.

      Tyner's a good RB but claiming he's the best is like saying the top 5 students in Intro Bio at the local community college are smarter than the top 5 students in Intro Bio at Harvard or Stanford because they have a higher average in their class. Real tough to put up Tyner numbers in the large classes in Georgia & Florida (Derrick Henry and Kelvin Taylor don't play large class ball so citing their stats is immaterial). Just like it's difficult to have a very high average in a weed-out course at a top 10 school because the average student in the class made a 1500 SAT and 32/33 ACT and they make those classes so hard that the average kid gets a B/B- in the class. Hard to shine when half your class was Valedictorian at their high school. Same in comparing Oregon competition to Georgia and Florida competition in high school football.

      ATL Metro alone has ~ 20-22 kids in the 2013 Class that are 4 star or higher. Not knocking Tyner but please don't use his stats as evidence that he's the best back in the nation based on the competition he plays.

      This post was edited by BamaBornDukie on 10/18/2012 at 10:03 PM

      BamaBornDukie ●

    • rgyle said...

      Tyner again just showed his quick change of direction - back to the Ducks for good this time, or so he said. I think I believe it. What I don't believe is why he's still ranked a 4-star on 24/7 and Rivals. He had injury issues last year and dropped to 4 stars, I get that. Now he's one of, if not the best HS RB in the country per Max Preps stats. His team has up to 5 games to play if they make the state 6A finals. That could put him close to 4000 yards and 40+ TDs. Yikes!

      No offense to Alex Collins, but TT's photo should have been here...

      Alex Collins is way better than Tyner, its not that close at all

      Lolz at best in the country per max preps stats, might be the dumbest way to judge a kid possible

      NoVaNoles

    • Happy to have Tyner back in the fold. Looking for a power back now. Green would be ideal but Folston would be great too.

      Happyvduck

    • Any idea what made him decommit?

      92DT

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