I wrote a story for today's newspaper about how Auburn's running back situation in the future seems to be set up nicely with running backs Mario Fannin, Eric Smith, Onterio McCalebb and five-star commit Michael Dyer in the plans. Here's how it starts:
AUBURN, Ala. — Forget the limos, the tree rolling, the smooth-talking coaches: Auburn’s best recruiting tool for prospective running backs might be Ben Tate’s on-field performance this season.
More specifically, the senior tailback’s 1,142 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
“When you have running backs out there trying to decide where to go, and you have a guy on your team that’s hit 1,000 yards in nine games, in this league that’s hard to do,” Auburn head coach Gene Chizik said. “I think the proof is there.”
It doesn’t look like that success will stop with Tate. The Tigers appear to have players lined up for the future at running back, with Mario Fannin emerging as a viable tailback option, Eric Smith thriving in the versatile H-back role and Onterio McCalebb, when healthy, the speed threat who adds another dimension.
That’s not to mention Little Rock, Ark., recruit Michael Dyer, a five-star back who committed to Auburn last Friday, or freshman Dontae Aycock, who redshirted this year.
“If you want to rush for 1,000 yards in this offense, you know you will have the opportunity to do it,” Chizik said. “Because we’re going to run the ball.”
1 comment:
And he is a good kid with a great father !!
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