JC running back recruits

[Confident Carl]

Arkeel needs some help at running back. Unless Ron Johnson can kick it up a notch, perhaps UCONN can pick up a top JC running back. This link lists some good JC backs.

http://www.scout.com/junior-college-football/story/1608343-weekly-top-performers-running-backs

 

[RedStickHusky]

what about this kid that was supposedly kicking ass in the scout team scrimmage this week?

 

[J187Money]

what about this kid that was supposedly kicking ass in the scout team scrimmage this week?

I don't have any eligibility left.

 

[RedStickHusky]

I don't have any eligibility left.

For you we could probably SEC it.... let them take away the wins 10 years later....

 

[noeynox]

Arkeel needs some help at running back. Unless Ron Johnson can kick it up a notch, perhaps UCONN can pick up a top JC running back. This link lists some good JC backs.

http://www.scout.com/junior-college-football/story/1608343-weekly-top-performers-running-backs

Doubt we go this route, but like you I think we need more than one productive back going forward. Maybe the guys here take a step forward. Don't remember a RB in last year's class, and don't think we have one currently committed either.

 

[Colt house75]

Good article. Might need to look elsewhere.
But don't give up on RJ yet....still very young. Showed too much promise
at times and had results in frosh year. IMO, needs play selections inside.
We also still have Josh Marriner coming back.

 

[DoctorWho85]

To me RJ needs to be able to see the hole better. If he can do this him and Newsome can be a real thunder and lightning duo. If he doesn't improve on this, he's going to turn into Trent Richardson.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

To me RJ needs to be able to see the hole better. If he can do this him and Newsome can be a real thunder and lightning duo. If he doesn't improve on this, he's going to turn into Trent Richardson.

Um I would sell my left nut for him to turn into Trent Richardson.

 

[DoctorWho85]

Um I would sell my left nut for him to turn into Trent Richardson.

Which Trent? The Alabama star that would get huge holes that Stevie Wonder couldn't miss? Or the Browns/Colts bust that has no vision and averages something like 2.3 yards per carry?

 

[Dooley]

I'm not giving up on RonJon. Yes, 2015 has been a major disappointment. But in our program's history, that's the way our RB situation seems to roll. One guy takes off, the other kind of struggles. In the following year, the depth chart flips. Granted, that occurred under Edsall - different regime. But I still think RonJon has talent and drive and just needs to hit Coach Balis' program aggressively this offseason.

 

[DoctorWho85]

I'm not giving up on RonJon. Yes, 2015 has been a major disappointment. But in our program's history, that's the way our RB situation seems to roll. One guy takes off, the other kind of struggles. In the following year, the depth chart flips. Granted, that occurred under Edsall - different regime. But I still think RonJon has talent and drive and just needs to hit Coach Balis' program aggressively this offseason.

I think a lot of his issues are coachable and some is play calling. I think the coaches need to drill it into him that he's not a bounce it to the outside type of back. He's big and can be very punishing if he plays to his strengths. Coaches need to also stop trying to run him outside the tackles most of the time. He's needs to be a north and south runner and the coaches need to call plays that will take advantage of this.

 

[Dooley]

If we're going to search the JC or 5th Year Grad lists for position depth, I'd rather it be to beef up both lines. I think we have enough talent as-is at RB.

 

[ktuck911]

we need to make a splash in recruiting is what we need guys... plain and simple... It's time... We've been in the FBS for more than a decade now... I know we don't look at the star rankings.... but reality is some kids are 3 or 4 stars for a reason.. and some 2 stars (or lower) for a reason, for the most part... JUCO would be great, but we never got down like that here.. we should push hard for a 3 star or higher big back '5'11/6'0 200-230 plus pounder who knows how to get N/S in a hurry and holds on to the football as well as being a willing blocker...

As for today, with 2 games left in this season, we go with Max DeLorenzo... he, IMO, provides the help Arkel needs back there to get us that opportunity to get to a bowl game

 

[Srqhusky]

Nothing wrong with our backs they just need holes

 

[uconndogs]

I don't have any eligibility left.

I do!

I'm small, slow and would want to avoid just about all contact, but outside of that............bring it on!

 

[UConnJim]

As it stands now, the RB depth chart for next year: 1 R-JR, 2 JRs, so 3 in the Junior class. Thus, I don't think you will see a JC RB in this class, but I would expect 2 RBs in this class. Remember, freshmen can contribute at the skilled positions, but really can't on the OL and DL. Also, I don't think JC players is a strategy that Diaco wants to employ. I think he recognizes UConn is a development program and we need 4 and 5 year players.

 

[weyuo]

If we're going to search the JC or 5th Year Grad lists for position depth, I'd rather it be to beef up both lines. I think we have enough talent as-is at RB.

Yeah I think the priority right now needs to be the offensive line first, D-line second. I wouldn't give up on Ron Johnson yet either.... or Josh Marriner for that matter. The O line needs to improve and all three backs can flourish. Might be nice if they could bring in a true fullback. I'm a little surprised Delorenzo wasn't converted to FB this year but I think if the future offensive plan is two TE's then there's not much room left for a true full time FB.

 

[weyuo]

As it stands now, the RB depth chart for next year: 1 R-JR, 2 JRs, so 3 in the Junior class. Thus, I don't think you will see a JC RB in this class, but I would expect 2 RBs in this class. Remember, freshmen can contribute at the skilled positions, but really can't on the OL and DL. Also, I don't think JC players is a strategy that Diaco wants to employ. I think he recognizes UConn is a development program and we need 4 and 5 year players.

But if he could steal one or two worthy JC O-linemen he'd be foolish not to.

 

[Dooley]

As it stands now, the RB depth chart for next year: 1 R-JR, 2 JRs, so 3 in the Junior class. Thus, I don't think you will see a JC RB in this class, but I would expect 2 RBs in this class. Remember, freshmen can contribute at the skilled positions, but really can't on the OL and DL. Also, I don't think JC players is a strategy that Diaco wants to employ. I think he recognizes UConn is a development program and we need 4 and 5 year players.

Agreed. I don't mind using JC/5th Year Transfers to plug in temporary holes along the OL/DL (ex - a 2016 pass rusher), but I do mind continuously using it to put lipstick on a positional pig. We need to continue to develop longer term depth on our 2-deep...something we have been doing in the past few years. I hate to use them as an example because I don't want to turn this thread into a BC vs UConn thread, but look at New England's other team. They went 5th Year route for Addazio's first few seasons on offense (Murphy and Shak) and didn't develop any longer term talent. Now, they are one of the worst offenses in the country. I'd rather we take our lumps, like we did in 2014, to establish a solid 2-deep than to apply scotch tape to a gushing hole on the roster.

 

[Confident Carl]

Glad to see that most see the potential in RJ and also Josh Mariner. We also have Jason Thompson from Shelton High who lead the team in rushing in the spring game. Also wonder if a speedster (4.59/40) like Hergy Mayala at 6'2, 200 lbs could be converted to runnning back seeing that we have an abundance of wide outs in 2016. Justing thinking outside the box a little.

 

[Stainmaster]

I believe current WR commit Keyion Dixon has a little experience playing RB.

 

[businesslawyer]

Yeah I think the priority right now needs to be the offensive line first, D-line second. I wouldn't give up on Ron Johnson yet either.... or Josh Marriner for that matter. The O line needs to improve and all three backs can flourish. Might be nice if they could bring in a true fullback. I'm a little surprised Delorenzo wasn't converted to FB this year but I think if the future offensive plan is two TE's then there's not much room left for a true full time FB.

We need at least one TB in this year's class to be groomed for after our current crop leaves. I wouldn't mind 2 hoping that 1 is good.

If we go the JC/Grad Student route, the first priority is a friggin pash rusher, the second would be a LT and the third would be a stud in the middle of the OL (although we might be fine there with another year of experience and weight training). I wouldn't expect to go that route for a backup TB.

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

Nothing wrong with our backs they just need holes

Don't we all.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Nothing wrong with our backs they just need holes

All RB's can use better blocking and the OLine is part of the problem.

The RB's do have to get better.

One of RJ's problems is that he hasn't developed in to a good pass blocker so teams know it's a run and bring everyone. If by chance UConn throws the defense has more men in the box than UConn and RJ doesn't pick up the blitz very well.

Arkeel has gotten very good this year at squaring up on blitzers. At a minimum the blitzers are slowed up enough by going around or trying to go through. Throw in Newsome's ability in the flat and the RB wheel routes and the defense can't pin their ears back when he's in the game.

Marriner has taken RJ's and Max's snaps the past two games. I'll be interested to see what he gets against Houston.