Barrington Wade and other old Running Backs

[ukrainehawk]

Especially when we are short on running backs, I often wonder if the Hawks ever revisit the high school running back careers of guys who have taken another position direction. For example, I remember watching Barrington Wade's highlights and his statistical updates before he came. Just like Evans, over 2,000 yards in a senior campaign is pretty powerful stuff. Maybe he gets on the field for some real LB time this year. But I just watched his reels again, and he looked very athletic, powerful, field savvy, decent hands and blocking, and fast enough. We have a number of old high school running back 'stars' on the roster. Wonder if any of them ever get looked at again...

 

[Mohawkeye]

I thought Wade had some impressive RB film. If LB doesn’t work out he’d be a great FB and a good option at RB.

 

[FlickShagwell]

Kirk specifically mentioned Wade as a guy doing well at linebacker, which, if you’ve paid attention to Kirk’s pressers over the years, you know Kirk’s saying a guy’s name is a good sign for them.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

Kirk specifically mentioned Wade as a guy doing well at linebacker, which, if you’ve paid attention to Kirk’s pressers over the years, you know Kirk’s saying a guy’s name is a good sign for them.

Yep ... Wade is a guy who continues to earn mention. Perhaps yet another reason why Wallace is increasingly inclined to try to rotate guys at LB. Wade most likely will see action through special teams this year ... however, in '19, he'll likely have a better chance of seeing positional action (unless Niemann gets injured).

However, that said, I found the timing of the OP's post interesting ... because I was just thinking about the possibility of Wade seeing RB reps too (if guys got injured).

 

[SLarew]

Yep ... Wade is a guy who continues to earn mention. Perhaps yet another reason why Wallace is increasingly inclined to try to rotate guys at LB. Wade most likely will see action through special teams this year ... however, in '19, he'll likely have a better chance of seeing positional action (unless Niemann gets injured).

However, that said, I found the timing of the OP's post interesting ... because I was just thinking about the possibility of Wade seeing RB reps too (if guys got injured).

He is probably on the "list" if needed. However, Harrell was their first choice to move. I assume they willl use the four they have plus the two new freshmen this Fall rather than move another player. Of course, if injuries strike like they did in 2004, then anything goes.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

He is probably on the "list" if needed. However, Harrell was their first choice to move. I assume they willl use the four they have plus the two new freshmen this Fall rather than move another player. Of course, if injuries strike like they did in 2004, then anything goes.

I thought that Joly was a pretty good athlete for the Hawks ... I was a little surprised that he never managed to make a bigger push towards playing time. However, he didn't ... and transferred as a result.

 

[nu2u]

Especially when we are short on running backs

How are we short on RBs? By my count, Iowa will have at least 6 RBs to start the season - Young, Kelly-Martin, Bryan, Harrell, Geil, and Sampson.

It is a good deal of speculation but my guess is that Young and Kelly-Martin receive upwards of 85% of the carries and Bryan the bulk of the remainder. Harrrell, Geil and Sampson will likely be deep back-ups in the event of injuries. I wouldn't be surprised if Geil redshirts.

It is true that the bottom half of the anticipated depth chart - Harrell, Geil, and Sampson - have no college experience but the same is true for Wade. If Wade switches to RB this season it can only mean one thing IMO: Iowa suffers a string of injuries at least 3, probably 4, players deep.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

How are we short on RBs? By my count, Iowa will have at least 6 RBs to start the season - Young, Kelly-Martin, Bryan, Harrell, Geil, and Sampson.

It is a good deal of speculation but my guess is that Young and Kelly-Martin receive upwards of 85% of the carries and Bryan the bulk of the remainder. Harrrell, Geil and Sampson will likely be deep back-ups in the event of injuries. I wouldn't be surprised if Geil redshirts.

It is true that the bottom half of the anticipated depth chart - Harrell, Geil, and Sampson - have no college experience but the same is true for Wade. If Wade switches to RB this season it can only mean one thing IMO: Iowa suffers a string of injuries at least 3, probably 4, players deep.

I believe that statement has more to do with the fact that every guy on campus will be a SO or younger ... and nobody really has all that much prior game experience. Furthermore, most reports suggest that after Toren and Ivory ... there is quite a gap on the roster in terms of RB execution. Thus, if those guys go down to injury ... the quality of RB play could be pretty rocky. Of course, it sounds like Bryan's health issues during his redshirt year are responsible for slowing his development. Hopefully he makes the most of the spring-camp, summer work, and summer/fall-camp. We'll need guys like Bryan and Geil to step up.

Also, I'll be curious to see how Harrell develops. He's a guy with some legitimate speed ... and he had pretty prolific production in high school (a QB who could make a lot of yards with his legs).

 

[nu2u]

believe that statement has more to do with the fact that every guy on campus will be a SO or younger ... and nobody really has all that much prior game experience

That was part of my earlier point - Wade has zero RB carries. He made the switch to LB and is listed in the two-deeps at outside LB. He has a pretty decent shot to start at OLB - which BTW is, as others have repeatedly noted, a position with even less returning experience than RB.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

That was part of my earlier point - Wade has zero RB carries. He made the switch to LB and is listed in the two-deeps at outside LB. He has a pretty decent shot to start at OLB - which BTW is, as others have repeatedly noted, a position with even less returning experience than RB.

Welch has position flexibility at LB (spent a whole year pretty exclusively working at LEO) ... and then Niemann is the clear front-runner at LEO (presumably mentored by his older brother). Niemann saw extensive reps against both OSU and Nebraska (among others). Furthermore, Niemann saw extensive special-teams reps. Given the experience of Welch and Niemann ... I'd say that the LEO spot returns every bit as much experience as the RB spot.

Also, Wade never "moved" to LB for the Hawks. We was recruited at LB from the outset.

I agree that Wade shouldn't move to RB ... because he really is well-positioned to make an impact at LB within the next year or two. However, should the need arise (due to injuries and what-not) ... I don't think that it would be bad for him to help us out at RB in a pinch. It obviously wouldn't be ideal ... but it is a good thing that he was highly capable RB in high school.

 

[Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll]

I was looking through all the guys we recruited 3-5 years ago as running backs. We HAVE had a ton attrition. It amazes me how we can't recruit WR because of the style of offense yet we dont have a stable full of stud running backs.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

I was looking through all the guys we recruited 3-5 years ago as running backs. We HAVE had a ton attrition. It amazes me how we can't recruit WR because of the style of offense yet we dont have a stable full of stud running backs.

A number of years back ... that was one of my standard lines to complain about. Given how much we value running the ball ... and given the perception of Iowa's OL (quite apart from how the reality might depart from perception) ... you'd think that Iowa would regularly enjoy great luck recruiting RBs.

I would claim that the Hawks have done a pretty darn good job of getting and developing QB and TE talent. However, it's truly been puzzling that the Hawks have had so much trouble landing elite caliber RBs.

If you look at Marcus Coker ... he looked great behind Iowa's OL ... but looked pretty pedestrian when playing at SUNY. Iowa's Adam Robinson was a serviceable back ... certainly not an all-world back ... but he looked terrific for the Hawks when he was healthy in 2010. Albert Young obviously had a great career for the Hawks ... but that was also on legs that were severely slowed due to surgical repair.

I've wondered what an elite RB could do running behind one of Iowa's better OLs. When you look at what Daniels and Wadley did in '16 ... I think that we may have seen glimpses of that potential. However, we have yet to see that pay-off with consistency for the Hawks. What happens when it does?

We've seen past glimpses with Russell/Lewis in '02 and Greene in '08 ... will we see it with IKM in the future?

 

[Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll]

A number of years back ... that was one of my standard lines to complain about. Given how much we value running the ball ... and given the perception of Iowa's OL (quite apart from how the reality might depart from perception) ... you'd think that Iowa would regularly enjoy great luck recruiting RBs.

I would claim that the Hawks have done a pretty darn good job of getting and developing QB and TE talent. However, it's truly been puzzling that the Hawks have had so much trouble landing elite caliber RBs.

If you look at Marcus Coker ... he looked great behind Iowa's OL ... but looked pretty pedestrian when playing at SUNY. Iowa's Adam Robinson was a serviceable back ... certainly not an all-world back ... but he looked terrific for the Hawks when he was healthy in 2010. Albert Young obviously had a great career for the Hawks ... but that was also on legs that were severely slowed due to surgical repair.

I've wondered what an elite RB could do running behind one of Iowa's better OLs. When you look at what Daniels and Wadley did in '16 ... I think that we may have seen glimpses of that potential. However, we have yet to see that pay-off with consistency for the Hawks. What happens when it does?

We've seen past glimpses with Russell/Lewis in '02 and Greene in '08 ... will we see it with IKM in the future?

Jirehl brock my friend. He seems to have the wiggle of Wadley, higher top end speed, and the strength of some of our bigger backs. Duggan would have been nice, Bell would be an awesome get, Brock needs to be a hawk no excuses on the recruitting trail on that one. It sounds like its us and Iowa state. If "we" cannot land a close to home RB with our line/running tradition some serious concerns need to be raised.

 

[kceasthawk]

A number of years back ... that was one of my standard lines to complain about. Given how much we value running the ball ... and given the perception of Iowa's OL (quite apart from how the reality might depart from perception) ... you'd think that Iowa would regularly enjoy great luck recruiting RBs.

I would claim that the Hawks have done a pretty darn good job of getting and developing QB and TE talent. However, it's truly been puzzling that the Hawks have had so much trouble landing elite caliber RBs.

If you look at Marcus Coker ... he looked great behind Iowa's OL ... but looked pretty pedestrian when playing at SUNY. Iowa's Adam Robinson was a serviceable back ... certainly not an all-world back ... but he looked terrific for the Hawks when he was healthy in 2010. Albert Young obviously had a great career for the Hawks ... but that was also on legs that were severely slowed due to surgical repair.

I've wondered what an elite RB could do running behind one of Iowa's better OLs. When you look at what Daniels and Wadley did in '16 ... I think that we may have seen glimpses of that potential. However, we have yet to see that pay-off with consistency for the Hawks. What happens when it does?

We've seen past glimpses with Russell/Lewis in '02 and Greene in '08 ... will we see it with IKM in the future?

IKM seems to me to be the best combo of speed and power we've had since Jermel Lewis. Thought the same thing about Jewell Hampton, but it just wasn't meant to be........

 

[Harbinger273]

Wade will likely stay at LB for reasons mentioned in the thread. I think we will be fine for now at RB but def need to take at least 2 in Swarm19.