Denard Robinson - fast?
Hmmm ... maybe 10.44 isn't so fast. With the world record being 9.69 seconds, I wondered if the second fastest high-schooler couldn't come closer than 0.75 seconds. I found the high school record book (as of last summer) at USA Today:
All-time high school 100 meters performances:
10.01 Jeff Demps, South Lake (Groveland, Fla.), 2008
10.08 J-Mee Samuels, Mt. Tabor (Winston-Salem, N.C.), 2005
10.12 Demps, 2008
10.13 Derrick Florence, Ball (Galveston, Texas), 1986
10.15 Henry Neal, Greenville (Texas), 1990
10.16 Houston McTear, Baker (Florida), 1976
10.17 Demps, 2008
10.17 Derrick Florence, 1986
10.18 Roy Martin, Roosevelt (Dallas), 1985
10.19 Demps, 2008
Top wind-aided performances:
10.03 Demps, 2008
10.05 Samuels, 2005
10.07 Samuels, 2004 and 2005
http://blogs.usatoday.com/preprally/2008/06/demps-smashes-r.html
Is it reasonable to think that he is the second fastest this year, but 0.43 seconds off the record? I'm asking, because I really don't know.
It's still early in the season, so the times everywhere will be getting faster as the season goes. And not every year is the record broken. That kid who broke it might have it for a while, as that time is really good even for college. To answer your question, 10.44 is really fucking fast. I don't think anyone from Michigan has ever run that.
Also, if you looks at the dates on that list, guys that fast only come around once every 10 or 20 years.
March 31st, 2009 at 11:58 PM ^
I concur. If Florida recruits are all about speed how can the fastest kid in Florida not be considered fast?
10.44 is BLAZING fast for a high school kid. 2nd of all, you're comparing him to people who have/had world class speed. When you start talking about high school kids running 10.1, you're talking about potential Olympic athletes.
Finally, I'd like to talk real quickly about Tate vs Denard in the speed category. It is completely insane to assert that Tate is anywhere near as close as Denard. I think 40 times are not only less accurate than a 100 time (less room for human error) but a 40 also depends more on how well you get off the start than the 100 does. Now this isn't to say that Tate doesn't run as well as Denard, because he may well be more ellusive (which I seem to have heard). However, as opposed to what a certain poster in another thread keeps saying, Tate Forcier DOES NOT have near the pure straight line speed of Denard.
In this decade, there are only two runners, Samuels and Demps, responsible for the times in your post. Since Robinson seemed to refer to the wind as something that slowed him down, one could infer that the wind created resistance for him, whether it was a cross-wind or it was in his face. And he still has time to run that 10.3 that is is stated goal.
At any rate, we'll find out how fast he is in a few months.
dude....ANOTHER DENARD SPEED THREAD
I'm hoping he's fast enough for the eventual move to WR, should that happen.
Denard is fast enough to play any position in any sport. Period. And I highly doubt a move to WR, unless he really can't grasp the playbook AND we have a QB in the class of 2010 who catches on quickly.
I think he moves to WR. That sorta speed is better suited for that position anyway.
You think increasing our depth at a position in which we have a lot is more important than increasing our depth at a position in which we have virtually none?
maybe next or the year after, especially if he gets beaten out by the young gun Devin Gardner
It's going to take A LOT of quarterback recruits before Robinson can switch positions. Even with Gardner in the fold next year, Robinson would probably be ahead of Sheridan and Cone (if they get fifth years). Toss in another QB in the 2010 class and that gives us 4 scholarship QB's who were recruited for this offense. That's not a lot.
What about hockey? I hear it's based more on the speed of the horse you're riding...
(haloscan joke)
At any world competition right now, that would probably get you 2nd place. There were people in the finals of the 100 at the Olympics who ran slower than 10.01. In short, 10.44 is still incredibly fast, and if he can break into the 10.3's he might have a future as a pro sprinter if football doesn't work out. He does have the body of a 100m specialist.
The dreadlocks were holding him back.
nah man, dreads make you faster
Well Kelly Baraka ran a 10.56 and that didn't help us
March 31st, 2009 at 11:34 PM ^
MORE kelly baraka references? dude was recruited 7 years ago. leave him alone.
March 31st, 2009 at 11:50 PM ^
Thats more recent than Macualey Culkin's acting career
March 31st, 2009 at 11:58 PM ^
uhmm...home alone never goes out of style. what the hell is wrong with you
I was just giving an example on how a player with great speed didn't help our team. Just so people don't get too excited the Shoelace the Nard Dawg before he takes a snap.
as long as we're clear that home alone never goes out of style...
and mr baraka didnt help the team because he was kicked off the team before he saw the field. as someone closer to the situation, he was a young kid who f-ed up. now he'll tell you that he had a great opportunity and messed it all up. either way, lets cut him some slack
Nobody can take sarcasm. His name is like a running joke here and thats why it is referenced during recruiting. I can say I am "closer" to his situation because I lived in his same neighborhood and went to the same school. I am not saying he is a bad person. Its just a joke.
Also, Home Alone is my favorite Christmas movie and I love that it is always on tv on Thanksgiving.
This 100 meter time really doesn't translate onto the football field in any way other than that Denard is fast. Look at Xavier Carter in 2004, 5 star #22 player in the country according to rivals. He ran a 10.38 100 and now runs a 10 flat. The only play I remember him ever making at LSU was when he fielded a kickoff at the the 1 yard line and took a knee thinking he was in the endzone.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:06 PM ^
I think his 400 m times are even more impressive. I don't think he was even that committed to football in the first place and wanted to make a career out of track instead.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:39 PM ^
Have people not noticed that the #1 high-school 100-dash runner in history, according to this list, plays running back for Florida?
March 31st, 2009 at 10:53 PM ^
I thought it was obvious.
March 31st, 2009 at 11:14 PM ^
I have been coaching track for 9 years and have never witnessed anything faster than 10.76 (Some dude from Country Day) in person. 10.44 is ridiculous fast. The MHSAA all time record is 10.44.
March 31st, 2009 at 11:18 PM ^
a downer, but were any of those names listed any good at FOOTBALL?
March 31st, 2009 at 11:26 PM ^
david cone ran a 10.21 100 and he can rap way better than tate or denard. why aren't we starting him
we should start him for his sick ass rap...
http://umlove.blogspot.com/2009/03/coner-is-bomb-yo.html
He misses too much practice time when he has to make publicity appearances in Scotland as the Loch Ness Monster.
Anyone think we might use Robinson in a kick return role like LSU uses their ludicrously fast guy, Trindon Holliday?
Not if he's our starting/backup QB.
Dude on my track team ran the 100 in 10.9 yesterday and he slowed down 10 meters before the finish line because he didn't know where the finish line was. It was his first time ever running the 100.
I know Trindon Holliday (LSU) ran a 10.02 at one point. I think Florida State has a guy that ran a sub-10.0 100 at one point. And as someone mentioned, Jeff Demps on that list plays for Florida.