For the same reasons that they do from the northern, southern and western areas of the state.

 

1. Speed

2. Size

 

 

How many star high school RB's are there in the state this year?

How many in the state will go on to play Div-1 football?

How many will be productive college RB's?

I will address Eastern Kentucky in this post, seeing how that's what this thread is all about. I will try not to offend anyone with this post, but it is possible that I may do so, so let me apologize in advance before I began.

 

There have/has/are some great runningbacks in Eastern Kentucky. The majority of Eastern Kentucky students and football players are white with a few exceptions to some schools that have different races in them and have african american, latino, and asian players on their teams. I do not think the issue is a white and black thing. As referred to in an earlier post about slow white hillbillies. I have seen and played against some pretty fast white kids in this part of the state. Chris Hutt, Ron Blume, and Shawn Robbins comes to mind immediately. There are plenty of tailbacks in Eastern Kentucky, white or black, that are legit 4.6 kids. I think there are several reasons why some of these kids fail or fizzle at the next level.

 

1. Most of runningbacks lack the necessary quickness and foot speed to play Division 1 ball. We have some fast kids, but if you guys know the game well, you know there is a difference between 40 yd dash speed and foot and quickness speed. I have seen very few kids in this area, stop, cut on a dime and accelerate back to full speed in less than a second. This is one essential ingredient that is needed at the next level. I think Mike West, Josh Gross, and Chris Hutt had this ability but few kids in this area do.

 

2. Size. Some people argue about size all the time. I big argument is that my kid is supposedly to small to play D1 but he's bigger than the starting tailback at so and so university. Well that may be true on paper, but if you were to put the two players side by side you could see a pretty remarkable difference in body compostion, muscle, and bodyfat between a kid who supposedly could play D1 and a kid who IS a D1 prospect or player.

 

3. Muscle. I have seen few eastern ky kids who had enough muscle and strength to play D1. Some kids are weight room addicts but neglect their speed training. Some kids never hit the weight room at all but excel on friday nights. Some kids are hit and miss the weight room but excel on friday nights. College coaches look for muscle tone in a kid, how broad they are, their calves, their hand size, etc... I think we are still behind in Eastern KY in weight training our kids. Most if not all schools have some type of weight program now, but the structure and attendance of the programs are not always that great. I think we are improving in that area, but there still needs to be a greater emphasis placed on it. Some schools now, have full time strength coaches in Ohio and Lexington and Louisville.

 

4. Competition. I know there are some great football schools in Eastern Ky. Too many to list, however I think that some of our great players, don't really have to push themselves all that hard to excel versus their competition. A kid who is a great player in Eastern Ky may only be an average player in a larger scale. The level of play week to week does not require that player to continually push himself and make him better.

 

These are only my observations, but we have produced some great players who have/are producing at the next level.

Whoa now, Thats a mighty big generalization there.

 

It seems to me that some folks on here focus primarily on recent years, the local players they have been able to see, and/or things they have HEARD or READ. As much as I love HS football and try to get round to see games in other areas (AND States!) I dont see anywhere close to a decent percentage of the good backs in the country. I think we need to realize there is a lot more to the issue than what some of us on here might call "a success" or "a big-time back"

 

FIRST is academics. If players wait until they start getting noticed in their Jr / SR years to get their grades in line - its probably too late. (too many other comparable players who DO have their academics in line)

 

SECOND is a balance. Anyone whose seen what major D1 athletes(in about any sport) have to juggle with the sport and then try to have time to do their studies - Its insane & not fair(in my humble opinion). I have encouraged many a student & family to focus on small schools wher they can get an education and "enjoy" playing the game they love.

 

THIRD is injuries. No one is immune from a major injury or series of injuries (no matter their HS level of competiton). I saw Carlos Snow (CAPE) play several times and he was considered #1 or #2 with Emmit Smith coming out of HS. Snow hurt his hip @ OSU and Smith is going to the Hall of Fame. Who knows?

 

FOURTH is fate/luck (hometown folks often call it "he was done wrong")

Sometimes the combination of coaches, schools, timing, other players, etc. just bumps someone out of the chance to be a major contributor.

 

Ill just throw in my opnion on Ashland's:

Arlis Beach - has fought through a zillion injuries and rehabbed in order to be a contributor for a team that needs him AND has done pretty well when they have given him a chance. I venture to say a lot of other kids would not have stuck it out in the situaton UK is in? Thats pretty big-time to me. :thumb:

 

Chris Hutt - played on special teams as a freshman for Marshalls National Championship team and blew out his knee. Rehabbed and blew out another knee the next year. As bad as wanted & tried to get back, I am glad he did not do so. Its better to be able to pickup your grand kids than to try and extend some glory another year or 2 :walk:

 

P.S. I remember watching Trinity shut down S.Alexander & Boone Co in the finals his Sr year. After the game their were several quotes in the paper that their were plenty of backs in the Louisville area better than Alexander. That just goes to show that you never know - huh :confused:

 

Cheers, Woody Jr

:confused: Say what? Holy cow.. Way more then I want to read. I'll stick with my original post. Inferior talent as far as football players in the part of the state. :ylsuper:

Could someone name ANY back from any part of the state (not named Shaun Alexander)

Who has Been an impact at a major D1 school in the last 20 years?

Craig Yeast...he was a flanker in college but was a QB and RB in high school...I think he make a bit of an impact at a D1. Set a few records as I recall.

 

"I'm bound for Ogalala."

I will address Eastern Kentucky in this post, seeing how that's what this thread is all about. I will try not to offend anyone with this post, but it is possible that I may do so, so let me apologize in advance before I began.

 

There have/has/are some great runningbacks in Eastern Kentucky. The majority of Eastern Kentucky students and football players are white with a few exceptions to some schools that have different races in them and have african american, latino, and asian players on their teams. I do not think the issue is a white and black thing. As referred to in an earlier post about slow white hillbillies. I have seen and played against some pretty fast white kids in this part of the state. Chris Hutt, Ron Blume, and Shawn Robbins comes to mind immediately. There are plenty of tailbacks in Eastern Kentucky, white or black, that are legit 4.6 kids. I think there are several reasons why some of these kids fail or fizzle at the next level.

 

1. Most of runningbacks lack the necessary quickness and foot speed to play Division 1 ball. We have some fast kids, but if you guys know the game well, you know there is a difference between 40 yd dash speed and foot and quickness speed. I have seen very few kids in this area, stop, cut on a dime and accelerate back to full speed in less than a second. This is one essential ingredient that is needed at the next level. I think Mike West, Josh Gross, and Chris Hutt had this ability but few kids in this area do.

 

2. Size. Some people argue about size all the time. I big argument is that my kid is supposedly to small to play D1 but he's bigger than the starting tailback at so and so university. Well that may be true on paper, but if you were to put the two players side by side you could see a pretty remarkable difference in body compostion, muscle, and bodyfat between a kid who supposedly could play D1 and a kid who IS a D1 prospect or player.

 

3. Muscle. I have seen few eastern ky kids who had enough muscle and strength to play D1. Some kids are weight room addicts but neglect their speed training. Some kids never hit the weight room at all but excel on friday nights. Some kids are hit and miss the weight room but excel on friday nights. College coaches look for muscle tone in a kid, how broad they are, their calves, their hand size, etc... I think we are still behind in Eastern KY in weight training our kids. Most if not all schools have some type of weight program now, but the structure and attendance of the programs are not always that great. I think we are improving in that area, but there still needs to be a greater emphasis placed on it. Some schools now, have full time strength coaches in Ohio and Lexington and Louisville.

 

 

Good point, football is a "secondary" sport in most E Ky schools. Tradition, and 'level of play", make a difference.

People keep posting about players that ran a 4.6 forty in high school. That is wonderful, and they probably did well, however, look at the players who make an impact at the D-1A level. Those players are running sub 4.6 in the forty, and have the size to compliment the speed. A good example of a running back with 4.6 speed is Jerome Bettis. People like that only come around once in a while.

Very true

 

I think most of our kids lack one thing or the other.

Speed but no size.

Size but no speed.

Size and Speed but no lateral/quickness speed.

Size,Speed, Quickness, but no grades.

 

There have been some nice backs though.

Arliss Beach (4yrs at UK)

Marc Washington (4yrs at Princeton)

Dontae Wright (3yrs so far at Miami of OH)although he's playing defense.

 

I'm sure I'll leave some off so I'll stop there.

 

When one does come around and is a true legit D1 player, the college coaches will find them and they will have a successful career. I think sometimes we get alot of fans from Eastern KY hyping their player up as a D1 candidate, but in reality they are nowhere near being D1 or even D2 for that matter. Is it because most in Eastern Ky don't know what a D1 player looks and plays like? I've heard that comment before from people in the west and central part of the state. I would have to agree with them sometimes.

 

For you Bell Co. fans, Imagine Shawn Robbins at 210lbs his senior year. WOW!! I believe he would have had college coaches fighting for him. He was/is a dandy runningback. Hope he's doing well in Texas.

Corey Reeves from Corbin lettered 4 years and started 3 years while playing TE for UK(turned down both UT & Penn State thinking that Bill Curry would turn UK around) in the mid-nineties. Corey played some RB his senior year in high school, but he was mainly a TE & LB. He is the last RB from Corbin since Greg Taylor(all-american LB at Western in the mid-eighties) and Steve Bird(all-american WR at EKU in the early eighties) to have outstanding college careers, although they were at other positions.

I want to clear something up. If a young man had an outstanding career in high school, and did not live up to the hype surrounding him at the next level it does not mean the young man did not succeed. Success is most frequently inaccuartely measured. For instance, if Arliss Beach graduates with a degree and has a great career outside of football, he has been successful. To be successful does not mean to be an All-American on the football field. Being successful is getting the best life has to offer, and being happy. If one is happy with his/her situation then he/she has succeeded in life. I have the upmost respect for those young adults who have went to the next level of football. Whether those young men were stand out players, or they contributed on special teams does not matter. His achievments in the class room, and in the real world makes him a successful young man.

Could someone name ANY back from any part of the state (not named Shaun Alexander)

Who has Been an impact at a major D1 school in the last 20 years?

 

Eric Shelton.

Eric Shelton.

 

Artose Pinner (SEC Player of the Year)

Derek Homer

I want to clear something up. If a young man had an outstanding career in high school, and did not live up to the hype surrounding him at the next level it does not mean the young man did not succeed. Success is most frequently inaccuartely measured. For instance, if Arliss Beach graduates with a degree and has a great career outside of football, he has been successful. To be successful does not mean to be an All-American on the football field. Being successful is getting the best life has to offer, and being happy. If one is happy with his/her situation then he/she has succeeded in life. I have the upmost respect for those young adults who have went to the next level of football. Whether those young men were stand out players, or they contributed on special teams does not matter. His achievments in the class room, and in the real world makes him a successful young man.

 

:thumb: :thumb: :thumb: