Recruiting U series! The Runningbacks

[tsweezy]

As we are nearing the end of the third sim recruiting cycle let's take a walk down memory lane and see which teams are leading at recruiting each position. This week: RB

Methodology: So I have a "score" for every recruit in the sim thus far. It is basically my (educated) assumption of their starting overall + 2.5 years of progressions. So these player scores are my rough estimate for how good a player will be as a ~RS JR / Senior. Of course this is not precise, some will over-perform or under-progress but I think it's the best metric there is. In any case, for runningback we are taking the top TWO recruits for each school and simply adding them together and then ranking the schools. 

Without further Ado:

 

Honorable mentions:

 

Stanford - 94.995

2023 RB Edgar Guo - Receiving 4*, B overall, B+ potential, Marietta GA

2022 RB Gilbert Voronin - Balanced 3*, C overall B potential, Rison AR

 

Tulane - 95.78

2023 RB Frank Jolliffe - Speed 5*, B overall, B- potential, Layton UT

2021 RB Shin-Soo Martinez - Speed 3*, C overall, A- potential, PA

 

Oregon - 95.864

2023 RB Joel Siqueiros - Receiving 4*, B overall, B+ potential, Albuquerque NM

2021 RB Joaquin Centeno - Power 4*, C overall, C+ potential, OR

 

Baylor - 96.108

2023 RB Jose Harmon - Receiving 4*, B overall, B potential, Hawthorne FL

2023 RB Charles Ramos - Balanced 4*, C overall, C+ potential, Oregon City, OR

 

San Diego State - 96.136

2023 RB Garrett Stewart - Speed 4*, B overall, B- potential, Del Mar CA

2022 RB Tung Poblete - Speed 3*, C overall, A- potential, Concord CA

 

 

#5: Tennessee - 96.483

2023 RB David Forsberg - Receiving 4*, B overall, C potential, Trion GA, 49.458 overall (13th best RB)

2021 RB Joe Williams - Receiving 4*, B overall, B- potential, MO, 47.025 overall (19th best RB)

2022 RB Peter Meyers - Receiving 4*, C overall, C- potential, Rockmart GA, 44.59 overall (62nd best RB)

2021 RB Jose Bandy - Receiving 4*, C overall, C+ potential, FL, 43.035 overall (118th best RB)

 

We only take the top-2 for this series, but Tennessee has recruited 4 blue chip RBs and all of them are receiving threats to fit in with their scheme. None of them are true "blow you away" talents, but a fearsome RB by committee looks in the works. Sooner would be nicer than later as there is a hole on the roster with Aldrick Ynoa gone and next year we should see Joe Williams and Jose Bandy get starts.

 

#4: Utah - 97.208

2023 RB John Lewis - Receiving 4*, B overall, C potential, Grove City OH, 51.18 overall (10th best RB)

2023 RB Rong Fua - Balanced 4*, C overall, B+ potential, Honolulu HI, 46.02 overall (31st best RB)

2021 RB Joe Lopez - Power 4*, C overall, C potential, GA, 42.667 overall (136th best RB)

 

Utah declined to win the in-state Frank Jolliffe sweepstakes, but signed 2 other premium talents this year from Ohio and Hawaii. John Lewis is extremely good, but will likely redshirt as Troy Young will be a senior A overall next year at the position. There will likely be a camp battle between Lewis and Lopez as the two will be very similar talents and perhaps split snaps depending on what archetype Utah needs. Rong Fua looked like just an interested kid they didn't want to turn away. He's not going to be better than John right away, but with that high potential he could get some real playing time as an upperclassmen if he progresses as well as we'd assume.

 

#3: Minnesota - 98.894

2023 RB Paul Meyer - Balanced 5*, B overall, C+ potential, Hobart IN, 52.65 overall (6th best RB)

2022 RB Joseph Gill - Speed 3*, C overall, A potential, Conway AR, 46.24 overall (24th best RB)

2023 RB Clarence Freeman - Speed 4*, C overall, C+ potential, Asheville NC, 43.698 overall (95th best RB)

Last year they took a future stud in Joseph Gill which made sense since they had a glut on roster (5 RBs with B overalls, 3 of them sophomore eligibility this year). However they went crazy this cycle signing another 2 blue chips in Freeman (who won't play), and Meyer. I get that you never turn down a 5-star, and Paul is absolutely an upgrade.. but he makes 5 other RBs redundant as soon as he walks in, and some of that talent stockpile will definitely hit the portal before they graduate.

 

#2: Virginia Tech - 99.743

2022 RB James Livingston - Receiving 5*, B overall, B potential, Washington DC, 54.6 overall (1st best RB)

2022 RB Steven Gooley - Speed 4*, C overall, B- potential, Springfield VA, 45.136 overall (44th best RB)

 

Last year VT looked at a fairly mid RB room and decided to spice it up. They only signed the best RB prospect we've seen so far from nearby DC. If that wasn't enough they decided to pick up his backup/injury insurance with Steven Gooley. Livingston is already starting this year and will give the Hokies 4 dominant years before going top-10 in the draft.

 

#1: Penn State - 101.54

2023 RB Michael Allen - Receiving 5*, B overall, C+ potential, Dix Hills NY, 54.27 overall (2nd best RB)

2021 RB Matt Van Roten - Receiving 4*, B overall, B potential, PA, 47.27 overall (18th best RB)

 

In 2021 there was a very weak RB class and I think Van Roten might have been best (certainly top-3) prospect that year. My rankings systematically undervalue 2021 croots by a bit so frankly Penn State should be even higher. Van Roten is a true bell cow with high potential but took a redshirt last year and still isn't starting. Bad omen when Michael Allen will walk in and demand snaps. To be seen how Rocket juggles redshirts and playing time but this will be a STACKED backfield for quite a few years to come.

 

If you want to know where your team is, check the subscriber channel in discord orrrr ask me.

[nemolee.exe]

Put some respect to Illinois' name.