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Mahone rushed for 761 yards on 125 carries this year. Ran for 12 yards on 8 carries in playoff game. Ran for about 600 last year. Thomas ran for more this year than Mahone did in 2 years-I'm glad Mahone never committed to SMU. Our freshman RBs are going to be fine with a better offensive line

gostangs wrote:not convinced our freshman are all that good yet. Both are undersized.

They're true freshmen who haven't been through a full college semester yet. How about we let them go through a full FBS offseason conditioning program, before we complain about their size? They've done incredibly well as true freshmen, especially given the Swiss cheese trying to block for them.

gostangs wrote:not convinced our freshman are all that good yet. Both are undersized.

About 70% of true freshman RBs are undersized. That's why they aren't supposed to play as true freshmen unless they have exceptional talent . They both have natural quickness, which has helped them be successful, But they haven't been super elusive in open field. I think next year they come back not only bigger, but with some additional explosiveness. They have both shone more as a true frosh RB as any true frosh RB at SMU in quite a long time.

ponyboy wrote:

smusic 00 wrote:What?

It gets old.

So do we.

Shining brighter than any previous freshman RB in a long time is not exactly a high bar.

I think this offense does much better with a bit more size on the RB - and i think they guys we have, although a huge improvement, are still undersized.

West is small. He would be a better slot.

We need one or two big bangers.

gostangs wrote:Shining brighter than any previous freshman RB in a long time is not exactly a high bar.

I think this offense does much better with a bit more size on the RB - and i think they guys we have, although a huge improvement, are still undersized.

West is small. He would be a better slot.

We need one or two big bangers.

Thomas is not a small back. He is more like a fast mid size back. Also at 6 feet tall can add some weight if necessary but speed is the most important thing in this offense. I don't think Clemson had a big bruising back. Also, KC will probably get a medical reshirt and be back next year.

ponyboy wrote:

smusic 00 wrote:What?

It gets old.

It will only get old for me when we actually recover from the disaster. In fairness to the tiki loser, it's the SMU admins fault for not dumping him before he actually just stop doing his job.

The last freshman running back at SMU I can think of that was truly a game-changer was ShanDerrick Charles.

PerunaPunch wrote:The last freshman running back at SMU I can think of that was truly a game-changer was ShanDerrick Charles.

Zack Line was pretty good as a freshman if I recall.

I was referring to our existing backs, not Thomas. I think Thomas is a move in the right direction.

They are all a breath of fresh air compared with our last several years.

Zach Line barely carried the ball as a freshman except on the goal line but he WAS very good as a blocker

Only had 139 yards and averaged 3.9 yards per carry but he had a high ratio of 7 TDs

Give our freshman a chance to mature-they ain't doing bad for true freshman:

Xavier Jones 125 523 4.2 yards per carry
Braeden West 56 293 5.2 yards per carry

Zach didn't really start to break through until his Sophomore year.

Mahone was not & is not in the mix for SMU. Inside info

Jones & West have shown they are pretty talented frosh and can play at this level, but another year of strength and conditioning will be huge for them. RB is a position where guys get dinged, so good to be bringing in another guy who might be able to contribute right away.

papawasamustang wrote:Mahone was not & is not in the mix for SMU. Inside info

Of course he isn't now, but according to one of the pay sites, he was ready to commit to us maybe a week or two before he ended up delaying his decision and committing to Boise.