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A large recruiting service is now reporting that S.M.U. has just gotten a commitment from, in their words, one of the top running backs in Texas. His name is Richuel Massey and he is from Hillsboro. Size is 5'11 and weight is 220lbs. Time in the 40-yard dash is 4.4.
Guru, what do you think?

This is a dynamite pickup for the Ponies. SMU will have four top-shelf tailbacks next year in Kincade, Charles, Barnett and now Massey.

Look at his dimensions, and you get a sense of what kind of runner he is. At 5-11, you'd expect an 18-year-old kid to be what, 180 at the most? This guy has huge thighs that give him great power, acceleration and burst. He obviously has the speed to run away from defenders, but at his size and strength, he's also very adept at lowering his shoulder and running over people, and bursting out of tackles. As far as his running style, he's a slasher-type back, someone who can run between the tackles and when he spots a seam in the defense, he can go the distance. He's not a typical "scat-back" by any means, but he nonetheless can make people miss, usually by beating people to the sideline and turning upfield.

He is a slightly above-average receiver out of the backfield, and can return kickoffs. He's not as polished returning punts. But he'd probably be good at both, given his size, speed, and powerful running style.

Physically, Massey is the most impressive of the four tailbacks who will be on SMU's roster next year. He'll have to earn time with Kincade, Charles and Barnett ahead of him, but he has the body now to get on the field. If they don't redshirt him, he'll be a special teams force, at the very least.

Keep it up, coaches!

This makes the list look like this:

Ricky Joe Meeks
Quarterback
6'3", 210, 4.8
Mount Vernon, Texas
Recruited by Jerry Bennett

Justin Boren
Offensive Line
6'4", 280
Colleyville (Heritage), Texas
Recruited by .... Bob Fello? Bob Stanley?

Desmond Jones
Defensive End
6'0", 270
Dallas (Carter), Texas
Recruited by ... Oscar Giles? Clarence James?

Zach Hall
Linebacker
6'3", 225
Irving, Texas
Recruited by .... the whole Bennett family?

Richuel Massey
Running Back
5'11", 220, 4.4
Hillsboro, Texas
Recruited by Bob Fello? Jim Gush? Eric Roark?

GO MUSTANGS!

By the way, Massey was being recruited by many schools, including Arkansas, Texas A&M, Baylor, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State, LSU and others. Last I heard, he'd received offers from Arkansas, Baylor and Georgia Tech, and A&M was getting ready to offer.

[This message has been edited by Recruiting Guru (edited 09-19-2002).]

Is this for real? Massey's a stud. I've seen him play, and he's the real deal!
WAY TO GO COACH BENNETT!

Houston offered him, too, but I don't think he was ever interested in them.

A couple of days ago "Bald Pony" on the other site posted a top ten list of recruits by position in the state of Texas. Looky who rang in at numero 5! Also, note that SMU was not on his list according to this recruitng service.

Top Texas Prospects By Position

By: Geoff Ketchum
Date: September 18, 2002


Lone Star Recruiting's Top Tens
Running Backs

1 Erik Hardeman Pflugerville Committed to Texas
2 Michael Turner Fort Worth Dunbar CU, Ala, Ark, LSU, Wisc
3 Ronald Simmons A. Maceo Smith CSU, OU, TT
4 Derrick Brown Klein Oak Committed to Texas A&M
5 Richuel Massey Hillsboro GT, Ark, A&M
6 Brenton Bolden League City Clear Creek LSU, AZ, Miz, UCLA
7 Marcus Cross Houston Worthing Fla, KSU, CSU, LSU
8 James Johnson Port Arthur Memorial LSU, ISU, Baylor, OKSt., TT
9 Anthony Aldridge Denton Bay, KSU, TT, OKSt, OU, KU
10 Fredie Stoglin Brownwood Unknown

That just goes to show that the doomsday-ers who think Bennett won't recruit well don't understand recruiting. It's still early. There are a lot of guys who already have committed to schools, but some will change their minds, and there are a ton of quality players still out there. Those recruiting services are nice, but they don't always know nearly as much as they claim. I promise you, there are guys who some think are a lock for SMU who will end up elsewhere, and there will be more guys like Massey who don't mention SMU - until they commit to the Ponies.

Massey is a star-in-waiting. Keep up the great work, coaches.

Now how about some more big fellas for the lines?

That's awesome!
GO PONIES

Texas A&M recently offered him a scholarship, too.

Nice pickup, Ponies!