I'd say in no order:

Mike West (Lawrence County)

Arliss Beach (Ashland)

Chris Hutt (Ashland)

Jaun Thomas (Ashland)

Scott Russell (Evarts)

 

There are about 10-15 that are also special that could be argued but that would be my top 5 right off my head.

 

West got jerked around and got the shaft at Marshall.

Beach is at UK.

Hutt got hurt his Freshman year at Marshall.

Thomas went the baseball route. He played first base and got stuck behind Frank Thomas at Chicago in Frank's prime. He finally asked to be traded when he started DHing and he went to Seattle. Edgar Martinez and John Olaraud both made the All Star team there as firstbaseman and DH. He had some bad luck!

Scott Russell I don't have a clue about?

 

What a biased opinon. You don't think Jon Chapman from Breathitt and Coleman from Pikeville are on that list?? You are crazy if you don't.

Because hardly any of the backs have been 6'2 220 lbs.

 

Chris Jennings from Fairview was that big in H.S.

He was a GREAT H.S running back.

 

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

 

But Durrell plays weak in college he could not have ran the ball in the SEC. He acts like he is scared of contact. As a running back in SE KY he was a freak of nature some teams didnt have lineman his size, and their backs did not have Durrells speed. He has been a bust at UK.

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.

 

 

Yeah but isnt he playing LB at the college level not running back?

How come nobody told Emmitt Smith or Barry Sanders they were too small to play division I. Neither of them were over 5'10"....Yes they weighed 210 in the Pros, but I am betting that neither weighed over 180 there Sr of HS.

Yeah but isnt he playing LB at the college level not running back?

 

No, he's the starting tailback for his team.

What a biased opinon. You don't think Jon Chapman from Breathitt and Coleman from Pikeville are on that list?? You are crazy if you don't.

 

I'm not even from Ashland :laugh: They are actually one of our biggest rivals. Like I said there are quite a bit of guys that can be argued but that was the top five off my head. Belfry's duo from last year could definatly be argued too. Gross had a great career at Russell as did Jennings at Fairview. Meadows, Abshire and Roberts are about as good as they come at LC. Joplin is another great back from Pikeville. I agree that Chapman was a great back. I got to coach against him. I never saw Coleman so I'll take your word. Which two you going to pull off that list since you know it all and it's so easy to pick the top five?

With the way Shaun Alexander is playing for the Seahawks, he has to be the most successful running back to ever come from Kentucky. Bush may be decent in the NFL, but there is no way he will be the player that Alexander is.

 

As far as EKY goes, there have been many great running backs. Two of the best I have seen are the Belfry backs - David Jones and Doug Howard. Both of these players play defense in college. Howard went to Pikeville College, so he wouldn't be counted anyway.

 

Size is not the big factor to the lack of success that former EKY running backs have had. The most important factor is speed. Barry Sanders was a mere 5'8-5'9, but he was so very fast. LaDainian Tomlinson is 5'10, his speed compares to Sanders. The bottom line is, slow, white hillbillies just aren't made for great success at the next level, unless they are lineman, of course. Occasionally, a QB from EKY will find success, too.

I'm not even from Ashland :laugh: They are actually one of our biggest rivals. Like I said there are quite a bit of guys that can be argued but that was the top five off my head. Belfry's duo from last year could definatly be argued too. Gross had a great career at Russell as did Jennings at Fairview. Meadows, Abshire and Roberts are about as good as they come at LC. Joplin is another great back from Pikeville. I agree that Chapman was a great back. I got to coach against him. I never saw Coleman so I'll take your word. Which two you going to pull off that list since you know it all and it's so easy to pick the top five?

 

My top 5 would be:

 

Brent Coleman- Pikeville

David Jones- Belfry

Arliss Beach- Ashland

Jon Chapman- Breathitt County

Scott Russell- Evarts (Mr. Football)

My top 5 would be:

 

Brent Coleman- Pikeville

David Jones- Belfry

Arliss Beach- Ashland

Jon Chapman- Breathitt County

Scott Russell- Evarts (Mr. Football)

 

Do you get out much? I'm guessing you never saw Thomas who is arguably the best athlete to ever play in Eastern KY. I'm also guessing you never saw Hutt who many would argue is #1 back ever in Eastern KY. How in the world can you leave West off the list? He is arguably the best back ever in Eastern KY too. Go back and look at the KHSAA record books. He is around the top in most rushing category's ever. 3 straight 2,000+ seasons!

Jon Chapman got a scholarship to UK and played very well for their JV team as a true freshman. But alas, he withdrew from school early into his first semester. I don't know the reason, but I believe had he stayed he could have had a decent career at UK. He wouldn't have been a star, IMO, but he could have been a solid contributor somewhere.

There have been so many good rb's in EKY the past 15-20 years.

Jus to name a few:

Arliss Beach - Ashland

Juan Thomas-Ashland

Chris Hutt-Ashland

David Jones - Belfry

Doug Howard - Belfry

Josh Gross - Russell

Mike West-Lawrence County

Scott Russell - Evarts

Jon Chatman - Breathitt

Shawn Robbins - Bell County

Brent Coleman - Pikeville

Josh and Jason Nichols- Ashland

 

But like i said, there have been plenty more, but for one reason or another, most have never made it big d-1 for one reason or another.

Here's one: Marc Washington (Ashland 90-92) played for Princeton and set Ivy League records while he was there. Ivy League schools are classified DI AA. I think that is making a mark.

 

I don't know of any others not already mentioned.

With the way Shaun Alexander is playing for the Seahawks, he has to be the most successful running back to ever come from Kentucky. Bush may be decent in the NFL, but there is no way he will be the player that Alexander is.

 

As far as EKY goes, there have been many great running backs. Two of the best I have seen are the Belfry backs - David Jones and Doug Howard. Both of these players play defense in college. Howard went to Pikeville College, so he wouldn't be counted anyway.

 

Size is not the big factor to the lack of success that former EKY running backs have had. The most important factor is speed. Barry Sanders was a mere 5'8-5'9, but he was so very fast. LaDainian Tomlinson is 5'10, his speed compares to Sanders. The bottom line is, slow, white hillbillies just aren't made for great success at the next level, unless they are lineman, of course. Occasionally, a QB from EKY will find success, too.

 

I'm surprised no one took offense to this. Slow, white hillbillies? :laugh:

Here's one: Marc Washington (Ashland 90-92) played for Princeton and set Ivy League records while he was there. Ivy League schools are classified DI AA. I think that is making a mark.

 

I don't know of any others not already mentioned.

 

:thumb: I agree Graybeard! Marc left his mark on the Ivy in a big way! he set new records and he graduated with 3 degrees!