Per Steve Lorenz Twitter: Christian Turner emerging as 3rd RB?
Steve Lorenz posted a link on Twitter from Zack Shaw who speculates that Christian Turner might be the 3rd RB on the depth chart heading into the season. Looks to be turning heads in practice, with Runyan Jr giving him high praise.
This is the first time I’ve heard his name being mentioned. Of course, it’s all speculation at this point, but we’ve been waiting for a 3rd RB and with this latest news, he might be the guy. Also added 15 pounds of muscle while maintaining his explosiveness.
If someone could embed the link, that’d be appreciative.
August 15th, 2018 at 11:01 AM ^
RB really is one of those spots you can contribute right away if you've got the talent so this isn't entirely surprising.
August 15th, 2018 at 11:07 AM ^
Some players can and some can't. A guy like Chris Evans comes in and runs for 7 ypc as a freshman and was turning heads from day 1 in practice. Meanwhile, Higdon struggled as a freshman gaining only 1.7 ypc, and was even behind Evans as a sophomore. But junior year, while everyone figured Evans was the #1 back Higdon pushed passed him.
Turner was a guy that the staff was high on and some recruiting guys were saying don't worry about the big gap between Evans/Higdon and the rest of the RBs in spring practice.
August 15th, 2018 at 11:08 AM ^
Right, I guess what I was saying is that it's probably the easiest spot for a freshman to come in and contribute.
August 15th, 2018 at 11:11 AM ^
It is, just saying that not contributing as a freshman at RB isn't a sign that a recruit is a bust either which some here are wont to do.
August 15th, 2018 at 11:15 AM ^
Completely agree. Not what I was trying to say at all, my apologies if I wasn't clear.
August 15th, 2018 at 11:11 AM ^
Correct.
Mike Hart. Adrian Peterson. Jonathan Taylor. I can't think of any other position where kids straight out of high school have had even close to such an instant impact on the game.
August 15th, 2018 at 2:41 PM ^
Jake Fromm & Tua Tagavailoa would like a word...
August 15th, 2018 at 3:01 PM ^
Jake Fromm was the caretaker of an ultra-talented offense featuring Nick Chubb and Sonny Michel and a fantastic OL, with a great defense.
He grew as the season went along, but he was able to win while playing in a vanilla passing scheme. Chad Henne's freshman season is a good analogue. Tua played, basically, for a half.
Nice players with an impact, but the RBs Larry mentioned came into college football and were dominant players playing as well as anyone in the country (in Peterson's case, he should have won the Heisman) from the very beginning. And those are hardly the only examples.
August 15th, 2018 at 4:59 PM ^
14th game of the season second half isn't exactly "instant".
August 15th, 2018 at 3:23 PM ^
Fournette was considered a heisman finalist most of his freshman year
August 15th, 2018 at 11:48 AM ^
I think it comes from the learning curve. If we stick strictly to offense, QBs have to learn the whole playbook, WRs/TEs have to learn blocking schemes and route trees (although there can be some contribution in special packages, see: McDoom, Eddie), OLs need to learn all of the blocking schemes (and most need to learn actual pass protection), whereas RBs struggling with pass protection or catching the ball can follow holes and contribute with runs. It seems like the position is simultaneously the position with the lowest difference in play between high school and college and where cracks can be papered over by simply handing them the ball and telling them to follow blocks.
August 15th, 2018 at 11:59 AM ^
Blocking, inlcluding making the right read to pick up the blitz, and ball security are two musts that true Freshman must excel at to see the field. Holding onto that ball has to be a big adjustment when going from HS to B1G football.
I also think there will be a few guys that will get some snaps during the season to see who really solidifies that 3rd RB spot.
August 16th, 2018 at 12:04 PM ^
I fully agree with your points. However, for change of pace backs/spell backs, which the 3rd RB tends to be, these are less important. Although it becomes easier to key on the defense if a 1-dimensional player comes in, having a 3rd RB come in for a down to run up the gut doesn't require those same reads (I will admit to not addressing ball security)
August 15th, 2018 at 11:50 AM ^
I'd be careful to try to extract any useful data from such a low sample size - 11 carries/19 yards for Higdon compared to Evans' 88 carries/614 yards as a freshman. Higdon also was coming off of some knee issues I believe. Samuels had similar YPC last year and it's pretty useless data considering they were all snaps with the game in hand with backup O-line.
August 15th, 2018 at 11:01 AM ^
As long as he can blocky the runny/catchy stuff will take care of itself.
August 15th, 2018 at 11:36 AM ^
I absolutely love reading about Runyan going toe to toe with Hutchinson. I mean besides the fact it makes me feel old as shit.
August 16th, 2018 at 9:09 AM ^
Yes! Does Sam Sword or Jarrett Irons have a kid? We need to bring back badass names.
August 15th, 2018 at 11:04 AM ^
Does this mean Kurt Taylor is just being written off?
August 15th, 2018 at 11:06 AM ^
No, just that he's being out performed at this point in time.
August 15th, 2018 at 12:13 PM ^
Taylor wasn't really even that good in HS, so not sure why he'd succeed here
August 15th, 2018 at 11:47 AM ^
But... But Mineral King said Kurt Taylor would play
August 15th, 2018 at 12:32 PM ^
How big is Taylor? He seems more fit as a FB
August 15th, 2018 at 3:07 PM ^
5'8", 194 lbs per the interwebz
August 15th, 2018 at 11:06 AM ^
What does this mean for O'Maury? Had high hopes for him....
August 15th, 2018 at 11:09 AM ^
He's a sophomore, who had almost the same stats his freshman year as Higdon did in 2015. And he was coming from NM football, so there was a big jump up. He may still be good, but it's too early to know.
August 15th, 2018 at 11:09 AM ^
Going from New Mexico high school defenses to the Big 10 might be a bridge too far, despite his excellent SPARQ numbers.
August 15th, 2018 at 11:19 AM ^
Probably way to early to tell that though. Higdon (and potentially Evans) will be gone next year leaving the RB race wide open.
August 15th, 2018 at 12:18 PM ^
True that.... could you imagine a QB coming from New Mexico and contributing at TE? I sure can't
August 15th, 2018 at 12:52 PM ^
A QB coming from New Mexico and contributing at TE his freshman year? I can't see anyone imagining that. And I bet it's never happened.
August 15th, 2018 at 1:07 PM ^
The snark only works if said qb from nm stayed at qb at Michigan and had same success as potential at te. Your analogy fails.
August 15th, 2018 at 1:29 PM ^
Shouldn't it be harder to come from the competition level in NM and be successful at MI if that move is combined with a position switch?
August 15th, 2018 at 11:25 AM ^
Getting late early for him. If he is indeed behind Turner now then he'd likely be no higher than 3rd on the depth his junior year. That is the year Charbonnet and Gray come in who I am very high on. I believe Charbonnet will be 2nd on the depth chart by his first game.
I always found O'Maury really intriguing as a safety prospect, comparable to Dymonte Thomas, but he is on the short side there. Maybe he can bloom late.
August 15th, 2018 at 12:33 PM ^
The depth chart opens up next year, especially if Evans leaves early (please don't). Even if he gets jumped by a freshman, there's still going to be a lot of scraps to go around, especially if he can find a niche for himself.
August 15th, 2018 at 11:30 AM ^
Still pulling for him and the all-biceps team! :)
August 15th, 2018 at 2:52 PM ^
As happens so often to guys with freakazoid physiques, he hasn't stayed healthy.
Hopefully that passes & his astonishing speed, strength & agility will be seen in the M backfield soon!
August 15th, 2018 at 12:12 PM ^
"Could ultimately emerge."
That means he's in the mix. I think we're a ways off from knowing who RB3 will be.
BTW, isn't it nice that the RB slot that we're really unsure about is the third stringer? Other than Tackle (which is pretty crucial, mind you) we have a great stack of talent everywhere this year.
August 15th, 2018 at 11:10 AM ^
Nice to have Higdon and Evans in front of you to take some pressure off. Third back should be able to do well this year.
August 15th, 2018 at 11:21 AM ^
with 2 really good freshman coming in next year
August 15th, 2018 at 12:33 PM ^
I’m excited for Gray
August 15th, 2018 at 11:32 AM ^
It would be nice to get some leads this year against the bottom half of the league to get some of the younger guys some experience.
August 15th, 2018 at 11:29 AM ^
i wasnt high on taylor at all, and i guess this validates it.
August 15th, 2018 at 11:52 AM ^
Not high on Taylor? You must be more of a Sativa type of guy. Its ok buddy, keep searching. There is a perfect strain for everybody.
August 15th, 2018 at 12:33 PM ^
Saliva > Indica
August 15th, 2018 at 1:36 PM ^
Indica>Sativa>Saliva
August 15th, 2018 at 1:38 PM ^
All depends on the time of day or atmosphere. :)
August 15th, 2018 at 1:55 PM ^
indica just makes me so sleepy ahah its nice at night though
August 15th, 2018 at 2:19 PM ^
Hybrid. Because I like to be philosophical and talkative while glued to the couch.
August 15th, 2018 at 11:55 AM ^
You should be the RB's coach.