2009 Recruiting - Running Backs

by BSD on Feb 19, 2008 10:01 AM EST in Recruiting

Yesterday we looked at our needs at quarterback for the class of 2009. So today we’ll stay in the offensive backfield and look at our needs at running back. Here is how the projected depth chart looks for 2008.

Running Back	Class
1. Evan Royster	So
2. Stephfon Green	rFr
3. Brent Carter	So
4. Brandon Beachum	Fr
5. Joe Suhey	rFr
6. Kevin Hahn	So
6. Larry Federoff	Jr
Dan Lawlor (FB)	Sr

Despite missing out on Broderick Green and Michael Shaw the last two years we have a lot of bodies at running back. The problem is that only Royster, Green, Beachum, and maybe Carter are realistic Div I-A tailbacks. The good news is all of these guys have at least three years of eligibility left. Federoff and Hahn are walk ons and Suhey, while a scholarship player, is on the team mostly because of his last name.

We’re really young at running back but our depth isn’t great. So I’m projecting with an abundance of scholarships to hand out this year we’ll try to bring in at least two blue chip running backs. Here are the early targets Penn State is going after.

So for review, as I go through each position you’ll see this table at the end tabulating the number of scholarships I expect to be handed out at each position.

Projected 2009 Scholarship Allocation

**Top Running Back Prospects for 2009**
Name	Hometown	Size	Junior Stats
Tavon Austin	Dunbar, MD	5-8, 165	2500 yds, 40 TD
Jordan Hall	Jeannette, PA	5-9, 185, 4.5	891 yds, 20 TD
Mike Marrow	New Albany, OH	6-2, 240, 4.7	810 yds, 10 TD
Darrell Mason	Youngstown, OH	6-0, 209, 4.5	1200 yds, 21 TD
Brandon Wegher	Sioux City, IA	5-11, 187, 4.43	2334 yds, 34 TD
Jeremiah Young	Steelton, PA	5-10, 175	3344 yds, 37 TD

Position	Projected Scholarships
Quarterbacks	2
Running Backs	2
Total	4

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Comments

those are

some short cats.

I wonder if Terrelle's decision will influence Hall....and also how high he is rated after a season without a #1 qb. Not doubting but it's something to consider.

The Big Eleventh Blog

by Big 11th on Feb 19, 2008 10:57 AM EST reply actions

Runningbacks...

are typically under 6' tall so none of those guys is exceddingly short for a division 1a runningback. 5-10 through 6' are typical.

by carolinaeasy on Feb 19, 2008 11:14 AM EST reply actions

Keep in mind

These are 17 year old high school juniors. They are all probably going to grow another 1-3 inches yet and put on 20 lbs in their college career.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

Hail to the Lion!

by BSD on Feb 19, 2008 11:38 AM EST reply actions

Tavon Austin

Hey, I'm a first time poster, but I've been reading this site for a while now. This site's great and as a recent Penn State grad, I pretty much come to this website everyday.

Anyway, I work in Baltimore and have seen Tavon numerous times, including the team's run to the 1A state title (BTW, he's from "Baltimore, MD"; he goes to high school at Dunbar). He's broken the Maryland state rushing yard record, as well as the touchdowns record, with still a year left.

He's insanely quick and has great vision for a 17 year-old. He tends to break it to the outside - since he's so much faster than the other players - so a concern may be his running between the tackles.

He's also a great defensive back (had something like 6 picks and 3 fumble returns, and a couple touchdowns) and is a pretty impressive punt returner as well. His school, Dunbar, lined him up at reciever a bunch of times too and he as amazingly soft hands. I don't know if we'd keep him at running back, because he is tiny (that 160 measurement may be generous) but just getting him to our program would be a major coup. I heard that after he does his combine work, he'll be a 4-star recruit.

by JMcCracken on Feb 19, 2008 5:17 PM EST reply actions

Find His House Man

and go place a bunch of PSU Flags in the yard!

Old School... MEETS New School!

by BlueWhiteLife on Feb 20, 2008 10:52 AM EST up reply actions

I don't know,

I thought Carter looked pretty good on that last drive at Michigan State until we inexplicably decided to trust Morelli's game winning decision skills.

by Ab4PSU on Feb 20, 2008 12:14 PM EST reply actions

Somebody panicked on that drive.

It might have been Anthony, but I think it was probably the coaches, but we'll never know for sure.

For the Glory National Champions 1982, 1986, 1994,

by jesse. on Feb 20, 2008 12:46 PM EST up reply actions

Carter @ MSU

I agree Carter seemed more than capable of carrying the load at RB. He was a four star recruit out of high school, has decent size and looked good in an important game-time situation. I think you can easily say he is a capable D-1A back. Just don't know if they are going to keep him there.