247 Ranks Top 10 BIG10 RBs, Karan Higdon #3
Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor is ranked #1, though in the article they rightfully point out Wisconsin has a great offensive line. Ohio St has 2 RBs in the list. But again, I think their offensive line has to be given credit, not just the RBs running ability. (That Ohio St offensive line was essentially built by Ed Warinner.)
I personally think Karan Higdon and LJ Scott are better RBs than their numbers show. Ed Warinner will probably make Karan Higdon a very pleasant surprise for Michigan this year.
On a side note: I am curious to see how Kurt Taylor looks in the few carries he will get this year. Jim Harbaugh likened him to Frank Gore. I saw Frank Gore play a lot. And I can see why Coach Harbaugh made the comparison. Both short. Both VERY strong. Both straight ahead, no nonsense runners. Both not really noticeable personalities. Both work very hard, all the time. I'll be looking for the few carries he may get, hopefully beginning with the Western, and SMU games.
247's Top 10 BIG10 RBs:
1. Jonathan Taylor, Wis
2. JK Dobbins, Ohio St
3. Karan Higdon, Mich
4. LJ Scott, Mich St
5. Miles Sanders, Penn St
6. Mike Weber, Ohio St
7. Ty Johnson, Maryland
8. Jeremy Larkin, NW
9. Tre Bryant Neb
10. Rodney Smith, Min
Photo: Kirthmon F Dozier, Detroit Free Press
Photo: Tony Gutierrez AP
I'm hoping the one-two punch of Higdon and Evans will take us to a great season. Please, please, please provide them some blocking.
Higdon and Evans need to step up in the big games. There gonna have 4-5 opportunities this fall. I don't care if they run for 1000 yards against Minnesota or Indiana or SMU. Show me what you got against osu and msu. They will be important to take some pressure off Paterson because he wont be able to do it all on his own. This is why the oline is the biggest key to everything. Lets see what Warriner's got. I expect big things out of the offense this fall. Higdon could have a huge season if it all comes together.
Weber and Johnson are better than Sanders, but I agree with their top four.
LOL at Taylor getting a “few carries” this year.
Why is it a lol?
He's 6th on the depth chart as of today. He will 8th or 9th when Turner, Haskins, and Barrett (if he's at TB) get going in fall ball. He's the top for candidate for scholarship guy that gets bumped from the active roster by walk-ons like Jim was talking about.
Seems like a great, hard working kid, it's just my opinion (that is somewhat corroborated by the depth chart) that he doesn't have Power 5 talent. I think it's optimistic to think he will get any carries this year - certainly no meaningful ones. I doubt he ever takes a meaningful snap here.
I figured he was at 6th string. But I still thought he'd get maybe 15 or so carries this year. I didn't know he was having such a bad showing.
With the gains in the weight room this year I believe he's a Devion Smith but faster.
Karan and ran and ran, ran so far away eh ay
Evans is better than several players on this list. We have some nice, mature talent at this position. I am looking forward to seeing these boys showing their stuff this fall.
well considering freshman evans was better than soph evans I disagree.
You mean: completely unknown "who's this #12" Evans had more success than than "looking at last year's tape, we've got to keep an eye on #12 and make sure we contain him" Evans, wow shocking?
Of course, this year's version is:
"Damn I hope they put that #12 in because, I'm already seeing #22 in my nightmares! O great here he is, we can finally take a break.......zoooom....... damn, nobody even touched him" Evans
IMO, Ty Johnson should be #3 on that list behind Taylor and Dobbins. Johnson is underrated because he plays for Maryland. He would probably be getting Heisman hype if he played at OSU or Penn State.
Impossible. Ty was lowly 3-star recruit.
Not sure how Higdon improving behind a (hopefully, man, hopefully) better line after a quite good 2017 is a "pleasant surprise." He carried the team at times last year, and with better interior blocking and a legitimate deep threat I'm hopeful that he'll get even more space this year. I mean, I guess I get what you're saying, but for me a "pleasant surprise" would be Higdon emerging as the clear-cut best back in the conference.
Which, FWIW, I don't think is outside the realm of possibility.
LJ Scott has talent but there's a reason he was having trouble seeing the field last year. He could be terrific, or he could be a wipeout again this year, depending upon what's going on upstairs.
A pleasant surprise because Ed Warinner is better than most Michigan fans know. I am expecting a clear cut improvement in the run game, an improvement that will be a pleasant surprise to most Michigan fans. It may not be that to you because you probably know more about it than 90% of fans. So it will be what you're expecting.
Sanders will be an overnight sensation. Sucks, but he is a huge talent and has the QB in place to help keep the D on their heels. He will step in and blow-up. Potentially lead the league.
Hopefully the same can be said for Shea’s effect on UM’s attack tho.
I think the offense will be top 20 this year. It will be a functional pass game spearheaded by a two headed attack in the run game. I’m going to say 11-1 with Higdon first to 1k rushing yards. Evans punches 1k rushing yards three games later. The Big 10 is about to get a wake up call from Michigan.
When the ‘ol season is done, it’s gonna be Michigan again. Michigan.
Nits really to bad we missed on four star Weber and got three star Higdon....start matter /s.
Ed Warriner hasn't coached the OSU OL since 2015 so it is a bit of wishful thinking to assume the glory days are fading for OSU's front because he is gone. Studrawa is a great OL coach and has turned out to be a better recruiter than Warriner. Considering the depth at OSU is better than it has been in 8-9 years, the RB's should continue to find big holes. Add in a QB who is a legit downfield threat and the run game will not be spending most of the game running into 9 man boxes like it has since Urban showed up. What is even scarier is OSU fans believe Master Teague is going to be better than Weber or Dobbins.
That said, Higdon should be in a much better position to have a monster season. If the OL is even slightly better he will dominate if he can keep the legs healthy. Patterson will help the situation for him as well. The ability to add some read option looks + his arm will loosen up some of the defenses.