Hey guys! It's that time of year again and I'm releasing my position by position preseason previews. I am now previewing the running backs. Thanks for reading guys!

https://247sports.com/college/utah-stat ... 148915785/

That is a lot of unknown quantities! there are some exciting prospects though

There seems to be a pretty huge drop-off after the top 3. I really hope we are able to stay healthy this year.

I'm wondering if Keegan Duncan will be utilized at all during short-yardage situations (think Nick Vigil). The dude is a beast with great athleticism (assuming he's 100%) and we struggled MIGHTILY last year in 3-in-short and 4-in-short situations. Sometimes these smaller, shifter backs have a hard time when they stack the line. Need a bruised to get it done. Thoughts?

Cooper Jones may be small, but at least he put up mediocre numbers for a small, middling team in a state not known for its depth of football talent!

If that somehow doesn't convince you of his pedigree, let me add that he didn't record any rushing stats at all for an average community college team in California.

OrangeCountyAggie wrote: ↑

July 8th, 2020, 12:39 pm

I'm wondering if Keegan Duncan will be utilized at all during short-yardage situations (think Nick Vigil). The dude is a beast with great athleticism (assuming he's 100%) and we struggled MIGHTILY last year in 3-in-short and 4-in-short situations. Sometimes these smaller, shifter backs have a hard time when they stack the line. Need a bruised to get it done. Thoughts?

Unless something drastically changes I expect Keegan Duncan to remain on the defensive side of the ball.

Man, those two freshman are going to be amazing for us. Can't wait to see some 2 RB sets with those guys.

OrangeCountyAggie wrote: ↑

July 8th, 2020, 12:39 pm

I'm wondering if Keegan Duncan will be utilized at all during short-yardage situations (think Nick Vigil). The dude is a beast with great athleticism (assuming he's 100%) and we struggled MIGHTILY last year in 3-in-short and 4-in-short situations. Sometimes these smaller, shifter backs have a hard time when they stack the line. Need a bruised to get it done. Thoughts?

I thought play calling was the bigger issue than personnel on 3rd/4th and short situations last year. Warren is compact and powerful, I think he has what it takes to be a good short yardage back. Interesting though how short our stable of running backs is. Almost all seem to be about 5'10'' or under. Wonder if that's GA preferred body type at the position.

BRuss804 wrote: ↑

July 8th, 2020, 4:55 pm

OrangeCountyAggie wrote: ↑

July 8th, 2020, 12:39 pm

I'm wondering if Keegan Duncan will be utilized at all during short-yardage situations (think Nick Vigil). The dude is a beast with great athleticism (assuming he's 100%) and we struggled MIGHTILY last year in 3-in-short and 4-in-short situations. Sometimes these smaller, shifter backs have a hard time when they stack the line. Need a bruised to get it done. Thoughts?

I thought play calling was the bigger issue than personnel on 3rd/4th and short situations last year. Warren is compact and powerful, I think he has what it takes to be a good short yardage back. Interesting though how short our stable of running backs is. Almost all seem to be about 5'10'' or under. Wonder if that's GA preferred body type at the position.

The plan is to be 3-deep at all times with playable, interchangeable running backs. Think Rob Turbin, Mike Smith and Kerwynn Williams. None of them would be mistaken for giants.

aggies22 wrote: ↑

July 8th, 2020, 5:08 pm

BRuss804 wrote: ↑

July 8th, 2020, 4:55 pm

OrangeCountyAggie wrote: ↑

July 8th, 2020, 12:39 pm

I'm wondering if Keegan Duncan will be utilized at all during short-yardage situations (think Nick Vigil). The dude is a beast with great athleticism (assuming he's 100%) and we struggled MIGHTILY last year in 3-in-short and 4-in-short situations. Sometimes these smaller, shifter backs have a hard time when they stack the line. Need a bruised to get it done. Thoughts?

I thought play calling was the bigger issue than personnel on 3rd/4th and short situations last year. Warren is compact and powerful, I think he has what it takes to be a good short yardage back. Interesting though how short our stable of running backs is. Almost all seem to be about 5'10'' or under. Wonder if that's GA preferred body type at the position.

The plan is to be 3-deep at all times with playable, interchangeable running backs. Think Rob Turbin, Mike Smith and Kerwynn Williams. None of them would be mistaken for giants.

Except Turbins arm's! Honestly though 5'10" 200 lbs is pretty average size for a running back in D1 college football.

Oh, Turbo's arms, they lift the Rock
Of Plymouth Town and carry it down
To Tallahassee, Troy and Tweed
And fling it 'cross the sea.

Yes, Turbo's arms once swum to Spain
And crushed Gibraltar when he flexed
They lifted up the mighty Alps
And carried them to Kublai Khan

So, be afraid of Turbo's arms
His hands dug Lake Superior
His fingers clawed the Finger Lakes
And excavated Carlsbad

jeffdan25 wrote: ↑

July 9th, 2020, 6:40 am

aggies22 wrote: ↑

July 8th, 2020, 5:08 pm

BRuss804 wrote: ↑

July 8th, 2020, 4:55 pm

OrangeCountyAggie wrote: ↑

July 8th, 2020, 12:39 pm

I'm wondering if Keegan Duncan will be utilized at all during short-yardage situations (think Nick Vigil). The dude is a beast with great athleticism (assuming he's 100%) and we struggled MIGHTILY last year in 3-in-short and 4-in-short situations. Sometimes these smaller, shifter backs have a hard time when they stack the line. Need a bruised to get it done. Thoughts?

I thought play calling was the bigger issue than personnel on 3rd/4th and short situations last year. Warren is compact and powerful, I think he has what it takes to be a good short yardage back. Interesting though how short our stable of running backs is. Almost all seem to be about 5'10'' or under. Wonder if that's GA preferred body type at the position.

The plan is to be 3-deep at all times with playable, interchangeable running backs. Think Rob Turbin, Mike Smith and Kerwynn Williams. None of them would be mistaken for giants.

Except Turbins arm's! Honestly though 5'10" 200 lbs is pretty average size for a running back in D1 college football.

I took your brother to Best Buy with me one summer. We both see this hulking dude putting a big flat screen into some guys truck. Your brother says to me, "damn, that dude is huge! He has to be a lineman." I turn to him and say, "no bro, that Rob Turbin." He couldn't believe his eyes. Haha!

aggies22 wrote: ↑

July 9th, 2020, 9:59 am

jeffdan25 wrote: ↑

July 9th, 2020, 6:40 am

aggies22 wrote: ↑

July 8th, 2020, 5:08 pm

BRuss804 wrote: ↑

July 8th, 2020, 4:55 pm

OrangeCountyAggie wrote: ↑

July 8th, 2020, 12:39 pm

I'm wondering if Keegan Duncan will be utilized at all during short-yardage situations (think Nick Vigil). The dude is a beast with great athleticism (assuming he's 100%) and we struggled MIGHTILY last year in 3-in-short and 4-in-short situations. Sometimes these smaller, shifter backs have a hard time when they stack the line. Need a bruised to get it done. Thoughts?

I thought play calling was the bigger issue than personnel on 3rd/4th and short situations last year. Warren is compact and powerful, I think he has what it takes to be a good short yardage back. Interesting though how short our stable of running backs is. Almost all seem to be about 5'10'' or under. Wonder if that's GA preferred body type at the position.

The plan is to be 3-deep at all times with playable, interchangeable running backs. Think Rob Turbin, Mike Smith and Kerwynn Williams. None of them would be mistaken for giants.

Except Turbins arm's! Honestly though 5'10" 200 lbs is pretty average size for a running back in D1 college football.

I took your brother to Best Buy with me one summer. We both see this hulking dude putting a big flat screen into some guys truck. Your brother says to me, "damn, that dude is huge! He has to be a lineman." I turn to him and say, "no bro, that Rob Turbin." He couldn't believe his eyes. Haha!

LMAO!

The first 3 backs look very, very promising and I'm excited to see them play. The wild card is just when do we get to see these athletes take the field?

NavyBlueAggie wrote: ↑

July 9th, 2020, 3:43 pm

The first 3 backs look very, very promising and I'm excited to see them play. The wild card is just when do we get to see these athletes take the field?

The first day of pre-camp training can begin as early as Monday.

Nice write-up Aggies22. At least on the surface this looks like the best collection of RB talent we've had since 2012. I'm also excited to see more QB under center formations as (my opinion) it gives far more play calling options for runs and is much more of a down-hill approach. Also lends to real-play-action opportunities.

I've updated this preview to reflect the roster being updated.

aggies22 wrote:I've updated this preview to reflect the roster being updated.

Still no word on DHC? Wouldn’t expect it to take this long. Hopefully it doesn’t fall through cause he’d be a great addition.

TrueBlueAggie123 wrote: ↑

July 27th, 2020, 2:01 pm

aggies22 wrote:I've updated this preview to reflect the roster being updated.

Still no word on DHC? Wouldn’t expect it to take this long. Hopefully it doesn’t fall through cause he’d be a great addition.

Doesn’t seem like he participating in Provo. So who knows.

TrueBlueAggie123 wrote: ↑

July 27th, 2020, 2:01 pm

aggies22 wrote:I've updated this preview to reflect the roster being updated.

Still no word on DHC? Wouldn’t expect it to take this long. Hopefully it doesn’t fall through cause he’d be a great addition.

I did say this in another thread but this is a more appropriate place for this. I have NEVER been given confirmation that Devonta'e Henry-Cole is coming to USU. The ksl/provo group reported that and everyone ran with it.

Will Gentry be USU's Marshall Faulk?

brownjeans wrote: ↑

July 27th, 2020, 2:57 pm

Will Gentry be USU's Marshall Faulk?

Gentry might not make it past his junior year.

We need a RB/running game to close out games consistently.

I have updated my preseason preview to reflect the addition of Devonta'e Henry-Cole.

aggies22 wrote: ↑

July 31st, 2020, 10:40 am

I have updated my preseason preview to reflect the addition of Devonta'e Henry-Cole.

WAIT - You have #RunDHC as 4th on the depth cart behind 2 freshman. I just don't know about this. Without Spring Ball and all of the normal summer conditioning, wouldn't you think the staff would start those with experience over the new talent? I trust your eye on this, #MyAggieBrother, but it just surprised me.

Chod wrote: ↑

July 31st, 2020, 3:19 pm

aggies22 wrote: ↑

July 31st, 2020, 10:40 am

I have updated my preseason preview to reflect the addition of Devonta'e Henry-Cole.

WAIT - You have #RunDHC as 4th on the depth cart behind 2 freshman. I just don't know about this. Without Spring Ball and all of the normal summer conditioning, wouldn't you think the staff would start those with experience over the new talent? I trust your eye on this, #MyAggieBrother, but it just surprised me.

Elelyon Noa was here for spring. Both Elelyon Noa and John Gentry have been in Logan since the first week of June. BUT that's the beauty of the OR my Aggie brother. Haha! John Gentry and Elelyon Noa are talented but obviously true freshmen. I see Devonta'e Henry-Cole as high as #2 the depth chart and as low as #4. I think once we figure how many games we are playing some redshirt plans will likely begin being made. In a PERFECT world (as perfect as it gets right now), Jaylen Warren stays healthy, Devonta'e Henry-Cole steps into the #1B spot, and John Gentry and Elelyon Noa both play in 4 games and redshirt. Having a TON of talent in the backfield is a beautiful thing to have!