RUNNING BACKS (9) Last year from Louisiana, five RB’s signed scholarships with P5 schools, five more with G5 schools, and none that I could find with FCS schools. Tulane signed two of those ten. If everyone comes back after this next season, Tulane should be in pretty good shape for running backs and we may not take any. But since we've offered a number of them, I'd guess we'll end up taking one. More than that, barring attrition, would surprise me. To that end, I reviewed about 60 running backs in the state, While I don't think it's a great year for "top end" RB's, I think the following guys could be good choices for the Wave:
1. Devin White 6'1" 240# North Webster White may be the best all-around player in the state. He's big, fast (HUDL has him at 4.46 in the 40) and can play anywhere. As a sophomore he ran a 10.97 100 meters, finishing 5th in the state just behind Sherman Badie and Richard Allen, so his speed is legitimate. He apparently wants to play running back in college and was named All State in Class 3A at that position, though I personally think his best position and most likely route to the NFL is at linebacker. I haven't seen any indication that Tulane has offered him, but if so, we're one of the few. Everyone from Alabama and LSU to Notre Dame and Stanford have offered. That probably means we don't have a chance. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1881930/devin-white
2. Tre Turner 5'8" 190# Holy Cross Turner is short, stocky, strong, and very fast. HUDL has him running a 4.35 40 and he outruns everyone on the field in his highlights. He has an offer from Tulane as well as many P5 schools. In fact, he earlier committed to Mississippi State prior to de-committing and reopening his recruitment. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1465982/tre-turner
3. Trey Ragas 5'11" 210# Archbishop Shaw Ragas rushed for over 1800 yards and 23 TD's as a junior and was 1st team All State 4A. He's certainly not as fast as Turner but he looks a lot faster on highlights than HUDL's listing of 4.65 in the 40. In the open field he appears to outrun everyone and he's very hard to bring down. He has offers from Tulane and Ole Miss among others. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2716266/trey-ragas
4. Barrick Slaughter 6'1" 201# Livonia Slaughter is flying well under the radar thus far, though he recently received an offer from California, along with ULL and Arkansas State. He's almost as fast at Turner and nearly as tough to bring down as Ragas. I would expect his recruiting to pick up. If we get one running back in this class and it's him, I'd be happy. But, to date, I don't think we've offered. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1651213/barrick-slaughter
5. Ja'Ceiry Linzer 6'2" 220# Ascension Episcopal Linzer is a big back with good speed, good hands, and a determination not to be tackled. I don't think he's quite in the same class as the first three I've mentioned, but he's clearly a good back. He also plays linebacker on defense and that could be his best position, but a team looking for a "pile driving" type running back could probably use him at the next level. He has no offers so far that I've seen and little interest from the recruiting services. Yet, he could be the fullback we've lacked for a long time. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1651213/barrick-slaughter
6. Ladarrius Thomas 6'1" 215# Wossman Thomas is another "big back" similar to Linzer who is even further below the radar from what I have seen-no offers and little interest from the services. Yet, depending on his senior season, could get a lot more interest as time goes on. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3134099/ladarrius-thomas
7. Donald Jenkins 6'2" 205# Neville. Jenkins is another "way below the radar" guy with no offers and very little following by the services. He still looks pretty darn good. Hudl lists him as running a 4.4 40 which I don't think is true based on his highlights, but he's still pretty fast and bigger than most college running backs. To say he is hard to bring down is an understatement. On numerous plays it takes 3, 4, 5 or more guys to wrestle him to the ground. A real "sleeper" in my book. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1795580/highlights/116942375/v2
8. Darius May 6'1" 173# McDonough 35 May is fairly tall for a running back and could easily put on another 20-30 pounds I think with some work in the weight room. What he has, however, is speed. I don't know his time in the 40, but on the highlights he runs past defensive backs and pulls away from everyone on his way to the end zone. He has offers from Tulane and a couple of other G5 schools. Depending on a team's needs (big back vs. speed back), I could easily move him up a couple notches in my rankings. Since Tulane has offered him, CJ must like him too. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1554610/highlights/175888375/v2
9. Raymond Calais 5'9" 170# Cecilia Calais looks REALLY fast in his highlights but possibly smaller than the 5'9" listed. He runs track and his 100m best is roughly the same as Badie, Allen, and Nixon (all in the 10.72 to 10.75 range) when they ran track for Tulane last year. So, he is fast. He looks shifty also and I'd guess he'll end up somewhere. If we're still looking for a shifty little back, it could be with the Wave, though I don't think we've offered. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1402624/highlights/220635379/v2
This post was edited on 3/25 4:16 PM by WaveON
1. Devin White 6'1" 240# North Webster White may be the best all-around player in the state. He's big, fast (HUDL has him at 4.46 in the 40) and can play anywhere. As a sophomore he ran a 10.97 100 meters, finishing 5th in the state just behind Sherman Badie and Richard Allen, so his speed is legitimate. He apparently wants to play running back in college and was named All State in Class 3A at that position, though I personally think his best position and most likely route to the NFL is at linebacker. I haven't seen any indication that Tulane has offered him, but if so, we're one of the few. Everyone from Alabama and LSU to Notre Dame and Stanford have offered. That probably means we don't have a chance. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1881930/devin-white
2. Tre Turner 5'8" 190# Holy Cross Turner is short, stocky, strong, and very fast. HUDL has him running a 4.35 40 and he outruns everyone on the field in his highlights. He has an offer from Tulane as well as many P5 schools. In fact, he earlier committed to Mississippi State prior to de-committing and reopening his recruitment. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1465982/tre-turner
3. Trey Ragas 5'11" 210# Archbishop Shaw Ragas rushed for over 1800 yards and 23 TD's as a junior and was 1st team All State 4A. He's certainly not as fast as Turner but he looks a lot faster on highlights than HUDL's listing of 4.65 in the 40. In the open field he appears to outrun everyone and he's very hard to bring down. He has offers from Tulane and Ole Miss among others. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2716266/trey-ragas
4. Barrick Slaughter 6'1" 201# Livonia Slaughter is flying well under the radar thus far, though he recently received an offer from California, along with ULL and Arkansas State. He's almost as fast at Turner and nearly as tough to bring down as Ragas. I would expect his recruiting to pick up. If we get one running back in this class and it's him, I'd be happy. But, to date, I don't think we've offered. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1651213/barrick-slaughter
5. Ja'Ceiry Linzer 6'2" 220# Ascension Episcopal Linzer is a big back with good speed, good hands, and a determination not to be tackled. I don't think he's quite in the same class as the first three I've mentioned, but he's clearly a good back. He also plays linebacker on defense and that could be his best position, but a team looking for a "pile driving" type running back could probably use him at the next level. He has no offers so far that I've seen and little interest from the recruiting services. Yet, he could be the fullback we've lacked for a long time. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1651213/barrick-slaughter
6. Ladarrius Thomas 6'1" 215# Wossman Thomas is another "big back" similar to Linzer who is even further below the radar from what I have seen-no offers and little interest from the services. Yet, depending on his senior season, could get a lot more interest as time goes on. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3134099/ladarrius-thomas
7. Donald Jenkins 6'2" 205# Neville. Jenkins is another "way below the radar" guy with no offers and very little following by the services. He still looks pretty darn good. Hudl lists him as running a 4.4 40 which I don't think is true based on his highlights, but he's still pretty fast and bigger than most college running backs. To say he is hard to bring down is an understatement. On numerous plays it takes 3, 4, 5 or more guys to wrestle him to the ground. A real "sleeper" in my book. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1795580/highlights/116942375/v2
8. Darius May 6'1" 173# McDonough 35 May is fairly tall for a running back and could easily put on another 20-30 pounds I think with some work in the weight room. What he has, however, is speed. I don't know his time in the 40, but on the highlights he runs past defensive backs and pulls away from everyone on his way to the end zone. He has offers from Tulane and a couple of other G5 schools. Depending on a team's needs (big back vs. speed back), I could easily move him up a couple notches in my rankings. Since Tulane has offered him, CJ must like him too. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1554610/highlights/175888375/v2
9. Raymond Calais 5'9" 170# Cecilia Calais looks REALLY fast in his highlights but possibly smaller than the 5'9" listed. He runs track and his 100m best is roughly the same as Badie, Allen, and Nixon (all in the 10.72 to 10.75 range) when they ran track for Tulane last year. So, he is fast. He looks shifty also and I'd guess he'll end up somewhere. If we're still looking for a shifty little back, it could be with the Wave, though I don't think we've offered. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1402624/highlights/220635379/v2
This post was edited on 3/25 4:16 PM by WaveON