(Note: Just curious after the thread regarding best East Ky. backs over the last 20 years). We've had some great backs from East Kentucky over the years, but IMO, high school glory is all they ever achieve, and occasionally, an education. Have any of these players ever starred for a major D1 program? Any D1 program, or any other program? The closest I can think of is Beach, and he plays for a weak D1 program, and isn't what I'd call a "star" on the team. No agenda here; just wondering what theories people have. Any thoughts on why we can't have an occasional running back go on and do something special somewhere?

(Note: Just curious after the thread regarding best East Ky. backs over the last 20 years). We've had some great backs from East Kentucky over the years, but IMO, high school glory is all they ever achieve, and occasionally, an education. Have any of these players ever starred for a major D1 program? Any D1 program, or any other program? The closest I can think of is Beach, and he plays for a weak D1 program, and isn't what I'd call a "star" on the team. No agenda here; just wondering what theories people have. Any thoughts on why we can't have an occasional running back go on and do something special somewhere?

Good question..... I dont know.

(Note: Just curious after the thread regarding best East Ky. backs over the last 20 years). We've had some great backs from East Kentucky over the years, but IMO, high school glory is all they ever achieve, and occasionally, an education. Have any of these players ever starred for a major D1 program? Any D1 program, or any other program? The closest I can think of is Beach, and he plays for a weak D1 program, and isn't what I'd call a "star" on the team. No agenda here; just wondering what theories people have. Any thoughts on why we can't have an occasional running back go on and do something special somewhere?

 

Had Juan Thomas played football instead of baseball he would have been IMO an All-American wherever he played. As for the other backs most were small backs in terms of D-1 level although some did try to play at that level. Beach should have went to Marshall of another smaller D-1 school and he would have put up big numbers. He is a D-1 talent but not SEC D-1 talent.

Who would you consider the top 5 to 7 backs from East KY over the last 20 years? Once we have a list of players we can break it down one by one and answer your question.

Had Juan Thomas played football instead of baseball he would have been IMO an All-American wherever he played. As for the other backs most were small backs in terms of D-1 level although some did try to play at that level. Beach should have went to Marshall of another smaller D-1 school and he would have put up big numbers. He is a D-1 talent but not SEC D-1 talent.

 

I'll buy that. I know West went to Marshall and apparently decided not to play. It just seems like someone, over the years, should and would have made a statement.

Who would you consider the top 5 to 7 backs from East KY over the last 20 years? Once we have a list of players we can break it down one by one and answer your question.

 

I really don't have an answer for who the top backs were, other than statistics (which to me, are not a real good indicator for a number of reasons). The real question I have is, why have none of them stood out anywhere? One would think that, just based on the odds, some mom and pop would raise a D1 starter.

Can you count Durrell White??

 

 

He was one heck of a running back for Middlesboro in 2002 (averaged about 14.0 yards per carry).

I really don't have an answer for who the top backs were, other than statistics (which to me, are not a real good indicator for a number of reasons). The real question I have is, why have none of them stood out anywhere? One would think that, just based on the odds, some mom and pop would raise a D1 starter.

I honestly don't know how many D1 running backs, have came from Eastern KY in the last 20 years.

 

Colleges at most D1 schools, scour recruiting services across the US and get the cream of the crop in size, speed, talent and potential. Not many have all these qualities from EKY, when comparing to players from 100,000 population cities.

 

Huge difference going from KHSAA football, to D1 and excelling from anywhere. I don't think it's a much "fizzle" and I do, exceptionally talented players are now their teammates.

If you want specific answers we need to consider individual players, otherwise there will be a lot of too slow, too small, too this, too that stereotypes...

Can you count Durrell White??

 

 

He was one heck of a running back for Middlesboro in 2002 (averaged about 14.0 yards per carry).

 

I don't think White fits in this thread. He was a LB who also played RB, right?

Eddie Deramus of Pikeville had D1 potential but he didn't even play his senior year of high school. He would not have played RB in college like he did in high school, but I think he was defintely a D1 player. Though David Jones is not playing RB at UK, I think he can be a special player at the college level.

I don't think it is just Eastern Ky...I don't think our state turns out a multitude of ELITE running backs...Alexander is playing in the NFL right now but I don't think you can come up with all that long a list of Ky high school running backs that have REALLY made a huge impact at the D1 level over the last 20 years... Certainly not BIG TIME D1...

I don't think White fits in this thread. He was a LB who also played RB, right?

He was a GREAT H.S running back.

 

Could have played RB in College but he was way to valuable as a LB'er.

Former Fairview runningback Chris Jennings (class of 04) is finishing up his second year at Arizona Western Junior College and has a list of D-1A offers to consider. Temple, Pitt, Arizona State, Nevada, are some to name a few....

I know in 2003 he rushed for over 2000 yards on 170 carries and scored 36 touchdowns on a Fairview team that went 11-1 that year.

Derek Homer?