Advertisement

Advertisement

Back to Football coverage

Football

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Running backs unproven for KU

By Matt Tait

Kansas running back Angus Quigley avoids having the ball stripped as he runs through drills during practice on April 5 at the KU practice fields.

Photo by Nick Krug

Kansas running back Angus Quigley avoids having the ball stripped as he runs through drills during practice on April 5 at the KU practice fields.

Advertisement

About this series: This is the third in a series of previews of Kansas University’s football team by position. The series will run Wednesdays and Sundays in the Journal-World. Coming Sunday: linebackers.

With the return of experienced backs Toben Opurum, Rell Lewis and Angus Quigley, along with the boost expected from newcomers Deshaun Sands, Brandon Bourbon and James Sims, the running back position appears to be a strength for the Kansas University football program heading into the 2010 season.

Not so, according to running backs coach Reggie Mitchell.

“You know what, in my opinion, we’re thinking that we’re the underdogs and we have to go out and prove ourselves,” Mitchell told the Journal-World on Monday, during a quick breakdown of the position. “We have some guys that have played but not to the level that they want to play at. I think we have depth, but I still think we have a lot to prove. We’d like to have the best group of running backs in the Big 12.”

That remains to be seen and will be proven on the field. But, as the team prepares to report to its first fall camp under new coach Turner Gill, there are as many questions at running back as answers.

For starters, most coaches said sixth-year senior Angus Quigley had the best spring of the bunch. Sound familiar? It should. Throughout his career at Kansas, Quigley, 6-foot-1, 231 pounds, has shown big-man-on-campus potential but has yet to carry that onto the field with consistency. When spring drills wrapped, Quigley’s name was at the top of the depth chart, largely, Mitchell said, because he was the most consistent running back this spring.

“He wants to show the world that he can be a running back,” Mitchell said. “He’s a big guy who was running the ball tough inside this spring, he has pretty good hands and he did a great job in pass protection. A lot of his success was due to the fact that he was in there playing down after down.”

Behind Quigley sit a host of unknowns, some because of injury and some because of age. Sophomore Toben Opurum, 6-1, 240, is the most accomplished runner of the bunch — he carried 133 times for 554 yards and nine touchdowns as a freshman — but he missed the end of 2009 with an injury and was limited throughout the spring. Because of that, Opurum was left off the Jayhawks’ two-deep, post-spring depth chart. But such an omission should be taken lightly, said Mitchell.

“To his credit, he’s done a great job of rehabbing and trying to come back,” Mitchell said of Opurum. “The depth chart is just a starting point, it’s not a finishing point for us.”

Junior Rell Lewis, 5-9, 205, is the only other running back on the roster to have carried the ball in a game at Kansas. Lewis, who also was slowed by injury this spring, gained 72 yards on 13 carries last season, making him a bit of an unknown, as well.

“It’s kind of hard to say (what we have) because we didn’t have all of the guys healthy and they didn’t all have a chance to compete the way they wanted to and the way we wanted them to,” Mitchell said.

That leaves Deshaun Sands, a 5-7, 190-pound red-shirt freshman, and true freshmen Brandon Bourbon, 6-2, 205, and James Sims, 6-0, 205.

Sands is listed second on the current depth chart, and Mitchell said the son of former KU great Tony Sands impressed the coaching staff in April.

“Deshaun is a guy who has the ability to make people miss and he has good ball skills,” Mitchell said. “That’s what the staff saw from him in the spring, his ability to make people miss in space. He’s going to have a good opportunity to come in and show what he can do.”

Of course, that’s the idea with all of these guys, any of whom could emerge as the starter during the next several weeks.

“Coach Gill’s philosophy is that when they all come in in the fall, he’s going to give everybody an opportunity to play,” Mitchell said.

Asked if it may prove difficult to find enough carries to keep everyone happy, Mitchell responded with an emphatic no.

“The one thing I can say about that position is that none of the guys have an ego and they all want to do what’s best for KU football,” he said. “I don’t think any of them will have a problem with who’s playing, and they’ll cheer each other on. The best guys will play, and the other guys will find a role.”

That’s fine with Opurum, who, this spring, said he was pumped about the number of quality backs in the program and their varying strengths.

“We say it every year, but this year, I really feel like we have a chance to have great depth with our running backs,” Opurum said. “We all bring a different style to how we run.”

Comments

  1. TopCityHawk (anonymous) says…

    Thanks Matt.

    I am still very eager to get a glimpse of Brandon Bourbon. I realize the coaches can't comment much, if at all, at this point about a guy who hasn't even arrived on campus yet, and I am not under the impression that he will finish fall camp on the two-deep as a true freshmen, however, I do find it hard to believe he was so sold on Kansas without a promise of some early playing time.

    I like the sound of the depth at the position. It falls in line with the offensive philosophy Coach Gill has promoted in the off-season.

    Good line + respectable running game = ball control + fresh defense
    Winning Football.
    RCJH

  2. Rivethead (anonymous) says…

    Thanks Matt for including James Sims. Everybody always talks about Brandon Bourbon and 9 times out of ten they don't even mention Sims. Which is a shame. Sims is a kid who scored 5 tds in a single game against TEXAS talent. You don't do that unless you've got some skill.

    1. TopCityHawk (anonymous) replies…

      Indeed.

      Both guys look like phenomenal talent, and KU is lucky to have them. Bourbon seems to have an extra gear once in the open field (quite frequently against his competition), however, Sims runs much lower to the ground and is not afraid to use his leverage to run guys over. I believe the two of them will be able to play off of each others strengths in the future to create a formidable attack, not to mention their soft hands out of the backfield.

      Regardless, it is no wonder Darrian Miller has cold feet...

      1. Rivethead (anonymous) replies…

        Agreed. In a different sort of way, Sims and Bourbon could be our Thunder and Lightning of the future.

        1. KGphoto (anonymous) replies…

          I still think that Opurum will be thunder, and Bourbon will be lightning. I know you like Sims a lot, so do I, but Opurum and Bourbon are the two most talented backs on the roster.

          This year though, we have thunder and lightning, and thunder and lightning.

          Opurum, Bourbon
          Quigley, Sands

          Sims wisely redshirts 2010 and breaks out in 2011 alongside Opurum, Bourbon and Darrian Miller. Even then, he'll have to beat out an experienced Sands and Dreamius Smith.

          As good as Sims is, it's a new era of RBs at KU. The competition is the greatest in school history.

      2. DevilHawk (anonymous) replies…

        Let me get this right: placing an emphasis on the running game and having two 4-star running backs from different classes is a reason for cold feet?

        Actually, I think that's why KU has only offered three running backs from the 2011 class: a 5-star (1), Miller (10), and another 4-star (21).*
        *( ) = Rivals running back ranking.

  3. TimmytheJayhawk (anonymous) says…

    Feeling good at this point about the crew. Couldn't ask for an easier schedule this year for these dudes and Coach Gill!

  4. troutsee (anonymous) says…

    Let's see.....easy schedule.....GT, So Miss, NU, MU, rising Baylor, A&M, and OSU. And you know KSU will be very solid under Snyder.

    Anywayt, come on Angus. I have always pulled for you, as have many other alums. Here's hoping this is your year.

    1. okiedave (anonymous) replies…

      Not easy & not brutal. We'll let Texas and OU have a break this year.

  5. OCJHAWK (anonymous) says…

    If Sands is anything like his dad I hope he becomes #1. He seens to carry himself with class in all the interviews/articles I have read.

    The next Barry Sanders for KU.

  6. DrJHawk (anonymous) says…

    What I'm excited about is the balance Coach Gill has brought to the team. Last year everyone knew we were going to throw on 85% of the offensive downs. That let the opponents' defense put their ears back and pass rush while the secondary doubled-down on Kerry and Dezmon. I wonder how much of Toben's success can be attributed to a surprise factor? The running game will take the pressure off the QB. We don't have #5 with his Jedi feel for where the force is coming from any longer. It's time to play some hardnose football!

    1. Rivethead (anonymous) replies…

      Initially that was not true. We only threw "85% of the offensive downs" after both Jake Sharp and Toben Opurum were injured. At that point we only had one real RB option - Rell Lewis - and he was in Coach's doghouse for being a slacker at practices. Quigley was playing LB and Sands was a true freshman too fragile to throw to the wolves.

      Jocque Crawford and Carmon Boyd-Anderson's departures really hurt our RB depth last seaon.

      1. dagger108 (anonymous) replies…

        Do you have some inside knowledge that Rell Lewis was a slacker at practices, or is that just some sort of demeaning inference?

  7. jhawkrulz (anonymous) says…

    Any expectation of redshirting anyone? Two true freshman, one sounds like a phenom and one sound extremely good.

    I guess if we were running the wishbone 6 running backs probably wouldn't be enough. I'm guessing the offense will be less "spread" like, but any specifics about what the offense will be like?

    We talk about running the football, but what makes a good running back is the ability to pass block as well, any info on that?

    1. matt_tait (Matt Tait) replies…

      I asked Mitchell about red-shirting and he said that Coach Gill was going to give everyone an opportunity heading into camp. Then, after some evaluations, they'll identify who the top guys are and may talk about red-shirting after that.

      My guess is that Sims will red-shirt.... if he's open to the idea.

      1. jhawkrulz (anonymous) replies…

        Thanks Matt for the follow-up. And keep up the good articles, can't get enough football right now.

      2. newjayhawk (anonymous) replies…

        that's out of the question completely! and , you can bet your last 50cents on that! if they redshirt James ....he'll be wearing a different uniform in 2011.....100% guarenteed..no ifs ,ands, or buts about it.he,nor his family is open to this idea. we've seen the RB stable here at KU .....and NO ONE stands out besides TO !! I was with JAMES the night before signing day.....and the list of schools that contacted his HS coach and asked him if he was [sure] that James wanted to sign with KU was as impressive as any RB that I've witnessed in many years. And believe me the KU coaches know it! James will play! bet on it! I agree that Bourbon is absolutely a STUD! Let the BEST producers get on the field.

  8. troutsee (anonymous) says…

    Agree with above. We will be more hard-nosed this year. If our linebackers come through and our O-line can get pieced back together (okay...two big ifs), I think we are going to have an above average year, i.e. a winning year.

  9. leikness (anonymous) says…

    Like the way this group is setting up. While the passing game has been fun to watch in recent years, I've always preferred a ground assault. Looking forward to seeing this multidimensional running attack.

  10. hailtoku (anonymous) says…

    If we don't make a bowl game this year it will be pathetic....

    This schedule is as easy as its going to get in the Big 12 and if we don't come out with a winning season I will officially call Turner Gill a horrible hire.

    I hope I get proven wrong but I think we missed our chance to turn our program around... there was a huge number of avalible, proven coaches KU didn't capitalize on.

    *******Right now with a couple of months until the first game we have yet to name a starting quarterback and/or a starting running back******************* <--- Red Flag

    We can very likely go 3-9 this year.

    1. stravinsky (anonymous) replies…

      "I hope I get proven wrong but I think we missed our chance to turn our program around... there was a huge number of avalible, proven coaches KU didn't capitalize on."

      A huge number of 'available, proven coaches'? Enlighten me on who exactly those were. Tuberville is the only 'available, proven' coach I can think of and he would have taken the TTech job over KU in a heartbeat. In fact, I imagine most 'available, proven coaches' would take most other jobs over KU. We're not exactly USC or Alabama. Heck, we're not even a Texas A&M or Arkansas.

      "*******Right now with a couple of months until the first game we have yet to name a starting quarterback and/or a starting running back******************* <--- Red Flag"

      They've had a very limited number of full contact practices in which to evaluate either of these. I'd be happier if we had established starters at both positions too, but when the only player to have had significant time at either the RB or QB position last year has been injured, I don't expect a completely new coaching staff to have named a starter in July.

      Officially calling anyone a horrible hire in their first year is ridiculous.

    2. jhawkdan42 (anonymous) replies…

      Go back to cheering for the puddycats loser!

    3. dagger108 (anonymous) replies…

      Officially naming a starting QB & RB after Spring Ball when you have ZERO returning experience available in Spring Ball and elite talent showing up for the new season would be closer to the definition of a bad hire.

      Sure glad Coach Gill and Co are leading the team instead of genius bloggers.

    4. rastameta (anonymous) replies…

      One of the dumbest comments I have seen in a long time. Tuberville was begging us for a chance to hire him, he would have been terrible or KU. Harbaugh accepted the job on 2 or 3 different occasions before flaking out.

      Turner Gill is a good hire, with the staff he brought in. Let him build his program with his kids before you judge him a failure.

  11. KU_Alumn_2000 (anonymous) says…

    Bourbon and sims should red shirt. Let angus, toben, and Deshaun take the load. I hope angus hits the hole as hard as he did when we played Texas a couple years back on that freezing cold November day. Let's go angus !!!!

    1. truefan (anonymous) replies…

      Normally I would completely agree, however, Gill does not have that luxury. There are so many fans against the hiring of Gill that he has to win right away to get the doubters off his back. This could mean playing Bourbon or Sims right away if they are truly better than Angus, Opurum, or Sands. I hope that's not the case, but we'll see.

      1. jhawkrulz (anonymous) replies…

        I agree with the pressure to win.

        We didn't hire Gill to turnaround the program...we hired mangino to do that. We hired Gill to elevate the program. Remember Mangino had a bad year last year and it was 5-7, and very close to becoming bowl elgible. Gill should be expected to make a bowl game this year.

        The non-conference is tougher than any Mangino had, but remember this is basically the conference schedule that we had when we won the Orange Bowl.

        1. OCJHAWK (anonymous) replies…

          I agree. I am pumped with the new regime, but I expect elevation not excuses. Coach Gill is given the talent and budget to succeed with at least a 6-6 reg season and a second tier bowl win with our schedule. KU should continue to give resources and expectations of excellance of a top 20 program or just become a BB school like Memphis.

  12. dagger108 (anonymous) says…

    Whoever is the best ** should start and carry the load. Bourbon, Sims, Pick, Webb, Hatch, Springer, Wilson, ...
    Screw the pressure to win. Let's just do it.

    1. DevilHawk (anonymous) replies…

      Winning: one of the best recruiting tools available.

      1. OCJHAWK (anonymous) replies…

        +1.

  13. KU_Alumn_2000 (anonymous) says…

    Believe it or not...John wooden never spoke to his players about winning. Success is preparing your mind and body...and executing your preparation on game day as best as u can. I'd like to see gill take this philosophy with our hawks.

  14. temjay (anonymous) says…

    3 things ......

    1. For us baseball fans who don't give a twit about college football yet, could you weave into these stories just a few useful tidbits like when practice starts or how many seniors are expected to play or how many Texans are on the team .... that kind of stuff. This running back story is filled with names I won't even hear after a month from now. So why should I care?

    2. I live in southern California and the Trojan hype isn't even being crammed down our throats yet. What's so special about KU football this year?

    3. Darrel Stuckey's been getting a helluva lot of quality ink and air time out here. With the Charger bums all over the police blotter, it's like management can't wait to parade a guy like Stuckey in front of the public.

    Check with Darren Smith on XX1090. I think the guy has a man crush on our former DB. Ms. Marty Craswell, Smith's producer, also voices her opinions and is the one that books Stuckey. He's been on several times since the draft.

    And since his predecessor, Kevin Ellison, was waived after being busted for carrying about 100 Vicodin tabs without a prescription, Stuckey may even get some very good playing time.

    The are good stories out there, guys, rather than speculating on a middle-of-the-road team 6-7 weeks before the season even starts.

    I'm just sayin' .....

    1. OCJHAWK (anonymous) replies…

      Whats baseball?

      Some caribbean sport?

      1. OCJHAWK (anonymous) replies…

        I forgot. Baseball is right after world cup and golf as the best summer napping TV sport.

        1. stravinsky (anonymous) replies…

          Baseball is actually my favorite napping sport. Only time I turn it on is if I intend to sleep through at least 80% of it.

  15. honk_for_hawks (anonymous) says…

    If we don't have a winning season, Gill is a horrible hire? I don't know how you can say that when we have so little experience returning. One of our offensive linemen is out for the year, one isn't going to be back until camp. We lost our top 2 WRs and our 3 year QB starter. We have a lot of very good true freshmen this year, but very few true freshmen can come in a do well right away. Give gill a season to get "the lay of the land" so to speak. He needs to establish the team leaders, figure out what works with his personell, and gain the team's trust (which he may or may not have already done, I have no idea). I think we will go 6-6 or maybe as good as 8-4, depending on how quickly everything gets worked out, but I think by the end of the season, Gill will have us positioned to be one of those dangerous teams that no one wants to play. Stop breathing down Gill's neck and give the guy a chance. He is clearly a tenacious recruiter so in a couple seasons when he has HIS talent in place, we have the chance to be really good. We aren't really in full rebuilding mode, but having a coach forced out the way mangino was and having the bad eggs in the program that mangino recruited can hurt a program for a while.
    With football, you need to give a coach at least 3 seasons before you can call him a failure, especially when they are kind of a late hire.
    1st season=grab a couple late recruits and save the recruiting class already coming in; establish authority
    2nd season= 1st year recruits who have redshirted can now start to get some game experience, gill gets a full recruiting cycle to recruit an even better class
    3rd season= original recruiting class now should be ready to really produce. Two years of practice and a year of game experience make them mature enough to really show what kind of players gill has snagged.
    If he isn't showing promise after 3 seasons, call him a bad hire, but with a super recruiter like gill, you can't tell if he is a bad hire or not until his recruits are in place.