Running backs sans Mo

inWV

All-Conference
Sep 22, 2007
14,191
4,839
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Mills we've seen. Cross your fingers that he stays healthy. Came on in the back half of the season. He can catch as well as run.
Rahmir we've seen. Nothing eye popping, but the sample size was pretty small in terms of carries.
Thompkins - HS film looked really impressive. Described by his HS coach as the best player on a powerhouse team. Did the last knee injury impair his ability long term?
Morrison - incredible HS productivity. Vision looked good on some plays in his highlight film.
Scott III - better wrap the legs on this kid. Looks like he has great strength and balance and does not go down easy.
 
Jan 24, 2004
56,371
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Our best RB is a reciever. Our second best RB is a quarterback.
Mills isn't a receiver. We have 2 studs coming N to help out as well. Rahmir just needs weight and Thompkins just needs healed. Wandale will get less carries to avoid punishment. Will be way better off than at the end of last year. We will be fine.
 
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9and4_rivals188421

All-Conference
Dec 4, 2013
4,216
1,686
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Frost's comments about Scott's physical maturity lead me to believe he'll have the best shot, along with Johnson, because of his experience in the system. I could see:
  1. Mills
  2. Scott/Johnson
  3. E'erbody else
 

PrimetimeSker

All-American
Aug 28, 2019
5,302
7,013
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We'll have options behind Mills next year for RB. One game you could see a lot of rahmir, the next you could see a lot of thompkins or Scott. We'll likely see a "hot hand" approach next year. But there are plentiful of options. Which is never a bad thing. I really like the RB room next year.
 

Husker4real_rivals373787

All-Conference
Nov 25, 2017
3,118
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To me the best case scenario is that someone emerges as the clear #1, rather than having to wait 2 quarters each game to figure out which guy is the hot hand.
 

Headcard

Heisman
Feb 2, 2005
192,509
20,878
113
To me the best case scenario is that someone emerges as the clear #1, rather than having to wait 2 quarters each game to figure out which guy is the hot hand.
I think Mills is the clear #1. Also the QB will get around 10 carries and Wandale will get 5-10 carries. The question is who can step up and be the #2 back, so Wandale doesn’t have to do that, in addition to the touches he gets from his “Duck” position.
 
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zamzman

Junior
Jul 1, 2004
2,638
213
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Morrison/Scott/Nixon will add a lot to the RB room when they arrive. And hopefully Johnson and Thomkins will get bigger and stronger (and healthier).

I think our offense improved a lot when we started relying on Mills rather than Washington or even Wandale. I like the bigger backs. I'm excited about Scott and Morrison for next year, and I think Nixon will have a chance to fill in some of the role that Wandale had. I hope Wandale stays at WR/Slot/Returner. He played too much at tailback last season, and he got worn down. We need him on the field.

As for Washington, if I hadn't said it before, it's addition by subtraction.
 
Oct 12, 2016
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Mills we've seen. Cross your fingers that he stays healthy. Came on in the back half of the season. He can catch as well as run.
Rahmir we've seen. Nothing eye popping, but the sample size was pretty small in terms of carries.
Thompkins - HS film looked really impressive. Described by his HS coach as the best player on a powerhouse team. Did the last knee injury impair his ability long term?
Morrison - incredible HS productivity. Vision looked good on some plays in his highlight film.
Scott III - better wrap the legs on this kid. Looks like he has great strength and balance and does not go down easy.

Thompkins is the interesting one imo, if he's 100% healed, watch out for this kid.
 

Captain Nick

All-Conference
Jul 22, 2008
1,038
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I love the optimism guys, I really do. But the fact of the matter is we have one RB who has had fumble issues and alot of guys who have barely or never seen the field. I don't care if their HS film is amazing. Prove it at the college level alittle and I'll feel better.

And all this talk about Mo and "addition by subtraction" is ludicrous. It's subtraction by subtraction. Granted, you never knew if he was going to be there from week to week but there isn't one player on this roster with the game breaking speed Mo had. Personally, I would have rather seen the young man get it together and become a great teammate and solid contributor but that's a moot point now I guess. For a team that hasn't been to a bowl game in three years I don't think we're in any position to have our most talented players constantly leaving the program become the norm.
 
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NorthwoodHusker

Sophomore
Jun 20, 2019
3,526
156
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I love the optimism guys, I really do. But the fact of the matter is we have one RB who has had fumble issues and alot of guys who have barely or never seen the field. I don't care if their HS film is amazing. Prove it at the college level alittle and I'll feel better.

And all this talk about Mo and "addition by subtraction" is ludicrous. It's subtraction by subtraction. Granted, you never knew if he was going to be there from week to week but there isn't one player on this roster with the game breaking speed Mo had. Personally, I would have rather seen the young man get it together and become a great teammate and solid contributor but that's a moot point now I guess. For a team that hasn't been to a bowl game in three years I don't think we're in any position to have our most talented players constantly leaving the program become the norm.
Why recruit? If frosh at the easiest position to start at cant be done?
If it were a OT, or a center.... I could see this, but it doesnt take that long, and from everything I've heard, Scott is ready to plug in,we have more depth at duckr, we he a years with SnC under his belt Ahmir.

We were third in the Big this year in rushing,everyones returning plus some immediate help plus Thompkins may be ready at some point, plus our O line is older, stronger and will be better game one.
 

HominidHusker

Senior
Jun 25, 2018
3,727
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“On paper” we have about as much talent as ever at RB (recent history).

Guys just need to step up.
 

NikkiSixx_rivals269993

All-Conference
Sep 14, 2013
9,783
2,445
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Mills came on toward the end, but we don't really have a proven superstar back there yet.

I like Scott's chances to be #2..

I don't see anyone else on the roster that excites me after that. To me, the room could use a big upgrade still.

(I'm not including Wandale in that group, and he really had a great first year, but see him as more a receiver.)
 
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Dean Pope

All-Conference
Oct 11, 2001
13,288
1,055
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I think Mills is the clear #1. Also the QB will get around 10 carries and Wandale will get 5-10 carries. The question is who can step up and be the #2 back, so Wandale doesn’t have to do that, in addition to the touches he gets from his “Duck” position.
The staff doesn't view Mills as a three down back. Most of the time, Frost wants a back in the game who can do it all. It's easier to call plays that way. That said, if no one else emerges then Mills could be the primary back. But I think they are going to try to find someone else and keep Mills as a role player. I could see him playing more FB too when they bring Wandale into the backfield. Mills is a pretty good straight ahead, inside runner.
 

Dean Pope

All-Conference
Oct 11, 2001
13,288
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If he’s not healthy by fall, it’s unlikely he ever will be.
I agree. It will be important for him to be healthy this fall and stay healthy. It will also be interesting to see if he regains his speed & power. But at this point, just being 100% and getting on the field would be good enough. Then maybe after a full year of good health & conditioning, he could show what he can really do in 2021.
 

HominidHusker

Senior
Jun 25, 2018
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Just re-watched Rhamir Johnson’s hudl film and he’s smooth. We know he’s got the speed. First half of film shows him not getting touched, but second half shows him finding small creases and squeezing through, using blocks to set up runs, avoiding contact and running through contact.

He’s a 4 star back that is “sometimes” being written off for not making a splash year one.
Who can replace Mo? Rhamir is a similar back on the field and much better kid off the field.

I’m excited to see what he can do to make our Thunder/Lightning combo backfield a reality.

 

dinglefritz

Heisman
Jan 14, 2011
51,595
13,020
78
Just re-watched Rhamir Johnson’s hudl film and he’s smooth. We know he’s got the speed. First half of film shows him not getting touched, but second half shows him finding small creases and squeezing through, using blocks to set up runs, avoiding contact and running through contact.

He’s a 4 star back that is “sometimes” being written off for not making a splash year one.
Who can replace Mo? Rhamir is a similar back on the field and much better kid off the field.

I’m excited to see what he can do to make our Thunder/Lightning combo backfield a reality.


Willis MacGahee came back from bilateral ACL repairs to be a very effective back. Johnson can do it too. We are going to have lots of optoions at RB and DuckR.
 

HominidHusker

Senior
Jun 25, 2018
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Willis MacGahee came back from bilateral ACL repairs to be a very effective back. Johnson can do it too. We are going to have lots of optoions at RB and DuckR.
Ronald Thompkins is the one with multiple knee injuries. Johnson has been healthy as far as I know.
 

huskerssalts

All-Conference
Oct 6, 2014
7,213
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Willis MacGahee came back from bilateral ACL repairs to be a very effective back. Johnson can do it too. We are going to have lots of optoions at RB and DuckR.

yep and Willis MacGahee’s knee injury was horrible and he DID return in the NFL of all places and didn’t miss a step. Ronald Thompkins can more then do the same. WestCoastCornhusker2 is dead on. Thompkins would have probably been a high 4 star recruit and playing in the SEC had he not gotten hurt. He was said to be the best player on a team that had a few 5 star players on it per the Head Coach if the team. He’s that type of talent.

My early guess for the 2020 season for RB:

1) D Mills
2) R Johnson/R Thompkins/W Robinson
3) M Scott 3 and S Morrison (but both will redshirt and should to separate the RBs apart and assuming no injuries happen to force burning them).

D. Mills will be our main back and the co 2s will split time giving Mills breathers. Frost will go with the hottest hand of the Co 2s.
 
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