Tandem RBs in OU’s future
But while their run has been great, it shouldn’t be the end of tandem running backs in Norman.
The Sooners appear to have a pair of twosomes waiting in the wings.
Freshmen Jermie Calhoun and Jonathan Miller. And high school seniors Brennan Clay (San Diego) and Roy Finch (Niceville, Fla.).
Calhoun and Miller have both displayed loads of potential as a tandem in mop-up duty this season.
On 45 carries this season, Calhoun rushed for 220 yards, averaging 4.9 yards a carry. He scored a touchdown against Idaho State, but had his best game against Texas A&M, against which he ran for 94 yards on 18 carries.
Miller also showed promise before suffering a season-ending cartilage injury in his knee against Texas A&M. All told, he ran for 130 yards and a touchdown this year on 18 carries, averaging 7.2 yards a rush.
“Both of those guys are very capable,” Brown said. “Next year, these guys will have the experience, playing time, knowing how it feels to carry the ball, score a touchdown, get tough yards. That’s going to help them in the long run. They’re going to have great careers here. They’ve taken the work ethic instilled by us. Those guys catch on real fast.”
Said Murray: “I think they look up to us and see how we work and prepare ourselves to do well on Saturdays. Jon Miller showed up. He’s going to be a great player. Calhoun, too. But I’m really looking forward to see what Jon Miller can do.”
Primed to follow-up Calhoun and Miller are blue-chip recruits Clay and Finch. Both players are 4-star prospects and have excelled rushing and receiving.
Clay rushed for more than 2,000 yards and led San Diego Scripps Ranch High School to the third round of the playoffs.
Finch ran for more than 1,600 yards and 27 touchdowns while spearheading his team to the Florida state championship game.
Both players will arrive on campus in the summer.
-JT
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Comments
jadams, disagree. While not many guys will have a career like Peterson, last season we saw two guys rush for 1,000 yards and a receiver have a 1,000 yards. The running game will open the pass and the pass will open the running game. OU has attempted to be balanced in the number of run/pass plays. This season the running game never really got going because of the OLine. Get that resolved and the run game comes back. It is easier to shut down the passing game, which is why they have to keep a balance. As far as a fullback, forget it. OU doesn’t use their fullback properly as it is. Clapp needs to be used as a blocker for the RB. Problem is, Clapp is rarely in to help protect the qb. Which means when Clapp is in, chances are high they are running the ball. Need to use the fullback more to block.
It will be hard for any running back, especially the fullback, to be big-time
when the QB is the center of attention in the Sooner Offense. Adrian was
the exception to the rule. There aren’t many Peterson’s out there. The wish-
bone was designed to use all the skills of the QB, not just his arm.