Comparing Harris & Samuels
First off, I am not a football coach. All I know about these kids is what I read on the internet and what I see in their video highlights. I know we are all excited about the potential to land the overall ranked top RB recruit in Harris. But, I'm curious what the general consensus is on who is the better back?
Obviously Harris is the higher ranked back, but looking at their films, Samuels appears to be the faster, more elusive, and the bigger play threat. Now, I'm sure if you're a fast, elisuve, big play threat that lends more to a great highlight film. And, if your qualities are strength, size, balance, vision, etc. you may not jump out on a highligh real tape to the same degree.
FWIW Samuels is listed around 5'10" ish 190ish lbs and Harris is listed as 6'2"ish 225ish lbs. Harris is obviously the bigger back, but Samuels is by no means a slouch as he is quite a well built athlete. Right now we have Samuels verbally committed and are hoping to land Harris. But, I'm not sure we will be able to hold onto Samuels if we land Harris. Maybe others have a better handle on that than I do.
But, I guess I'm really curious to figure out what it is that makes Harris so highly ranked, and so much more so than Samuels. What that does not show up on film that warrants that? And, if you could only have one, which one do you perfer?
December 22nd, 2016 at 11:54 AM ^
Hmm not sure where you're getting that Samuels is stronger. He is basically just outrunning and running over inferior athletes throughout his entire highlight tape. The comptetiion he plays against... not so much.
Harris is much bigger, more powerful, just as fast (or close), and looks more college ready in my eyes. He has insane balance and speed; which is a deadly combo and why he's the #1 playing in the country.
December 22nd, 2016 at 12:12 PM ^
I not read good. Do bettr teh nex time.
December 22nd, 2016 at 12:19 PM ^
December 22nd, 2016 at 12:49 PM ^
just as fast (or close),
Nah - that is the one big difference.
Samuels has a laser time 4.45 40 yard dash.
The fastest non-hand timed number I've seen for Harris is 4.66.
December 22nd, 2016 at 12:53 PM ^
I appreciate your input, but I think many people mis-use the word power, when what they actually mean is strength. Strength is force production. Power is just as closely related to speed as it is to strength. So, when someone is able to run over another player and produce a lot of force, that is more in line with strength. When someone is explosive, can accelerate quickly, jump really high, etc. that is more in line with power. So, I would say that Samuels is the more powerful back and Harris is the stronger back based on what little I know of each of them.
December 22nd, 2016 at 9:15 AM ^
December 22nd, 2016 at 9:24 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 22nd, 2016 at 9:31 AM ^
Better than Derrick Green???? jk
Seriously, I think Harris might be better compared to AJ Dillon than Samuels.
December 22nd, 2016 at 12:13 PM ^
Why would we compare him to a dude going to Boston College?
December 22nd, 2016 at 9:29 AM ^
Compare Harris to Walker...Everyone seems to forget we still have last years number 1 recruit just hanging around on campus. Next years 4 headed monster will probably look more like:Evans, Walker, Higdon, Harris/Issac, seeing as the coaching staff for one reason or another does not trust Issac. Now that would be a stacked back field
December 22nd, 2016 at 9:38 AM ^
That backfield is just disgusting. How does one line up a defense against that? If the OL can stand up, Speight might not throw enough to register in the national rankings...
December 22nd, 2016 at 9:55 AM ^
December 22nd, 2016 at 10:22 AM ^
Lets get some All_BIG Rbs accolads first, before we use words like 'disgusting'... for I've heard these type of superlatives, when we got Green, then Isaac... we didn't even have a third string all-BIG Rb this year....
December 22nd, 2016 at 10:42 AM ^
The part about the o-line was the most telling part. We can have a stacked backfield, but if we can't block, it won't matter.
December 22nd, 2016 at 9:39 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 22nd, 2016 at 12:47 PM ^
Last year's #1 recruit, Rashan Gary, isn't a running back. /s
They seemed to trust Isaac a good deal this year, he had almost 500 yards at over 5.5 yards a clip. And more than double the amount of carries he had last year.
It'll be an interesting RB group next year though, depending on who stays/commits and if anyone can separate themselves. Regardless, whoever is back there it's the OL that is going to be the difference in whether the run game takes the next step.
December 22nd, 2016 at 3:10 PM ^
I think he meant last year's #1 RB which Walker was for a while before he dropped. He finished at #6 in the 247 Composite
December 22nd, 2016 at 9:32 AM ^
Why not both?
December 22nd, 2016 at 10:24 AM ^
Indeed; a nice pair!
December 22nd, 2016 at 12:59 PM ^
December 22nd, 2016 at 9:34 AM ^
December 22nd, 2016 at 9:42 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 22nd, 2016 at 9:51 AM ^
Wow, that is great to know... Thought OSU was still in contention honestly. Doubt Bama has a chance, but maybe they are pursuing very hard knowing that Harris is bound to flip? ;)
December 22nd, 2016 at 9:54 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 22nd, 2016 at 9:57 AM ^
Looks like people think Akers is going to choose Florida State
December 22nd, 2016 at 10:22 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 22nd, 2016 at 9:43 AM ^
December 22nd, 2016 at 9:43 AM ^
December 22nd, 2016 at 10:26 AM ^
December 22nd, 2016 at 9:36 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 22nd, 2016 at 9:53 AM ^
Leonard Fournette and Adrian Peterson would like a word with you.
December 22nd, 2016 at 10:21 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 22nd, 2016 at 6:16 PM ^
Harris looks good, really good. But saying he is a better prospect than Fournette and "best in a decade or two" is absurd and just inaccurate. Which leads to unrealistic expectations.
Fournette was the once in a decade type size/talent/athlete that could have jumped straight from high school to the NFL.
Harris is more of the could be a dynamic freshman contributor type. 247 doesn't even have Harris as the #1 back anymore.
Would love to have him, but he's not at the level you're making him out to be,
December 22nd, 2016 at 11:49 AM ^
I'd put Derrick Henry in there also. His HS tape is frightening.
His worst year was as a HS freshman - 2,465 yards and 26 touchdowns.
His senior year he rushed for 4,261 yards and 55 touchdowns - 9.2 yards per carry and 327.8 yards per game.
December 22nd, 2016 at 12:03 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 22nd, 2016 at 9:41 AM ^
I had similar thoughts until I saw this. Remember this guy is 220lbs doing this.
December 22nd, 2016 at 9:51 AM ^
He may be breat but this is just a video of moses getting 2 hands on him when having a bunch of space to make moves in.
December 22nd, 2016 at 10:25 AM ^
Moses is the #1 lb and he is able to make him miss.....and he's a power back. In that setting Harris should have no chance.
He's Adrian Peterson.
December 22nd, 2016 at 10:10 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 22nd, 2016 at 10:26 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 22nd, 2016 at 11:07 AM ^
I found that "epic showdown" to be fairly useless in determining how good Harris is. Better to watch his real game film and see a bit of Marshawn Lynch.
December 22nd, 2016 at 12:56 PM ^
December 22nd, 2016 at 9:50 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 22nd, 2016 at 9:52 AM ^
Samuels looks great, but more like your typical dominant back exploiting physically inferior competition. Harris, on the other hand, looks like a truly elite talent. His film reminds of Marcus Dupree or Adrian Peterson, where he just looks like a monster gliding past his competition. I think he's as close to a sure thing as an RB recruit gets.
December 22nd, 2016 at 10:11 AM ^
December 22nd, 2016 at 9:55 AM ^
That said, just watching tape, Samuels can appear to be a more explosive runner, and, his measurables suggest that is true. But athleticism is just one component of being an effective RB.
If you watch highlights of all the top backs (4 star and better) they all look ridiculously good. Harris has put together the other attributes that seem to indicate greatness at the college level.
Honestly, to my eye, Cam Akers looks like the better talent. But Harris has achieved success against top competition and done it using the skills hat should translate to college greatness. Akers, Samuels, and others are more athletic, but will that lead to college success?
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 22nd, 2016 at 10:18 AM ^
December 22nd, 2016 at 10:19 AM ^
December 22nd, 2016 at 10:32 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad