2010 Recruiting Grades: Running Backs

Tag: Austin White


26Feb 2010
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2010 Recruiting Grades: Running Backs

Brooklyn Decker

Okay, so I realize the above photo isn’t Stephen Hopkins or Austin White. However, Hopkins’ high school uniforms looked like Ohio State’s, and White’s high school mascot was the Spartans. So I’m not putting pictures of them up here.

Hopkins is a 6′, 235 lb. running back from Flower Mound, Texas. With both Brandon Minor and Kevin Grady graduating after this past season, Michigan was in need of another big back. According to Fred Jackson, Hopkins can play both fullback and superback. As an early enrollee, he might work himself into good enough shape to contribute as a freshman. But his ceiling seems to be somewhat limited due to his lack of speed. He may not be a “fullback” in the truest sense of the word, but I don’t think he’s headed for feature back territory.

White, on the other hand, is a 6′, 186 lb. running back from Sterling Heights, MI. He’s probably not the type of running back who will earn Heisman hype like Noel Devine and Steve Slaton did at West Virginia, but he has solid skills. His best asset might be his ability to catch the ball, but Michigan doesn’t use its running backs as pass receivers very much. White might be the first running back under Rodriguez to consistently earn playing time both at running back and slot receiver, flip-flopping back and forth between plays. While his skills won’t wow anybody, he could be a solid option in a variety of ways.

Predictions: Hopkins will not start, but will earn playing time as a short yardage back or a fullback in the fall. If Vincent Smith can return to decent playing form in 2010 after tearing his ACL against Ohio State, I expect Austin White to redshirt. Hopkins plays a position where there is more immediate need, whereas White would presumably be behind Michael Shaw, Fitzgerald Toussaint, Michael Cox, and potentially Vincent Smith. Teric Jones and Kelvin Grady could also figure into the mix at running back, so there’s no need to play both freshmen in 2010.

Grade: B. I’m not extremely impressed with either running back, and I don’t think either one has all-conference potential. This is somewhat disappointing, because none of the backs on the current roster have established themselves as big-time players, either. But I think both will be serviceable as spot starters or as role players throughout their careers.

21Nov 2009
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Visitors for Ohio State game

WR DeAnthony Arnett – Saginaw, MI (2011)
DT Richard Ash – Pahokee, FL (official)
CB Courtney Avery – Lexington, OH (commit)
RB Dillon Baxter – San Diego, CA (official)
DT Jatashun Beachum – Dallas, TX (official)
CB Cullen Christian – Pittsburgh, PA (official)
LB Trey DePriest – Springfield, OH (2011)
LB Josh Furman – Millersville, MD
CB Doran Grant – Akron, OH (2011)
CB Ryan Griffin – Ann Arbor, MI (2011)
CB Tony Grimes – Hollywood, FL (official)
P Will Hagerup – Whitefish Bay, WI (commit)
RB Demetrius Hart – Orlando, FL (2011)
CB Delonte Hollowell – Detroit, MI (2011)
WR Jeremy Jackson – Ann Arbor, MI (commit)
S Tony Jefferson – Chula Vista, CA (official)
LB Antonio Kinard – Youngstown, OH (commit)
S Rashad Knight – Jacksonville, FL (official)
WR Ricardo Miller – Ann Arbor, MI (commit)
DE Clarence Murphy – Hollywood, FL (official)
OL Christian Pace – Avon Lake, OH (commit)
DE Jordan Paskorz – Allison Park, PA (commit)
DE Donte Phillips – Mequon, WI (2011)
WR Jerald Robinson – Canton, OH (commit)
LB Marvin Robinson – Eagle Lake, FL (official, commit)
WR Kenny Shaw – Orlando, FL (official)
WR Kenny Stills – Carlsbad, CA (official)
CB Terrence Talbott – Huber Heights, OH (commit)
DT Terry Talbott – Huber Heights, OH (commit)
S Ron Tanner – Columbus, OH (2011)
S Ray Vinopal – Youngstown, OH
RB Austin White – Livonia, MI (commit)
DE Ken Wilkins – Washington, PA (commit)
CB Adrian Witty – Deerfield Beach, FL

18Nov 2009
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Recruiting Roundup: Running backs

Just like quarterback, Michigan has two commitments at the running back position. One is Stephen Hopkins (Flower Mound, TX). The other is Austin White (Livonia, MI).

Hopkins is a big bruiser of a running back. His speed has been questioned by many, including me, but his yards per carry have jumped by a full two yards since his sophomore and junior years. He’ll probably never be a breakaway threat, but he will be able to get downhill and get tough yards, particularly out of the I-formation.

White is a slasher who runs like Carlos Brown, but without the top-end speed. I’ve previously compared him to Jerome Jackson. He does make good cuts and can get upfield quickly after running laterally, so he fits this offense, but he’s probably not a game-breaking runner like Michigan fans would like to see.

Due to the relative shortage of scholarships remaining, Michigan probably isn’t going to take any more commitments from running backs, unless they’re absolute studs.

Who fits that category? Lache Seastrunk (Temple, TX), Marcus Lattimore (Duncan, SC), Dietrich Riley (La Canada, CA), and Dillon Baxter (San Diego, CA). The first two have been offered but neither is interested. Riley has mentioned interest in Michigan at various times, but he hasn’t visited or made plans to do so.

Baxter is the most interesting case. He says he grew up as a Michigan fan; he knows Tate Forcier and Brennan Clay from their time in San Diego, and he’s interested in attending college with them, as well as safety prospect Tony Jefferson. Baxter, Clay, and Jefferson are all taking official visits to Ann Arbor this coming weekend for the Ohio State game. Baxter is a fringe 5-star athlete who’s currently committed to USC but is interested in coming to Michigan as a potential . . . quarterback. Yep, he’s a high school quarterback, but his future probably lies at running back.

The remaining uncommitted prospects (Cassius McDowell, Corvin Lamb, Jamaal Jackson, Marcus Coker, Tony Jones, and Brandon Gainer) are probably going to be left out in the cold or are just planning to go elsewhere. But keep an eye on McDowell, who could be a late commit if Michigan is trying to fill up their class. Michigan has been his leader all along, but he may have missed his chance to commit.

14Mar 2009
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Scouting Report: Austin White, RB – Livonia, MI

This is the beginning of a series of scouting reports on Michigan targets that will continue throughout the recruiting cycle. The first scouting report will be on Austin White. It has been rumored that he committed to Michigan on Junior Day, but that is unsubstantiated and will be treated as such. That being said, if he does in fact commit, this scouting report will hopefully be informative.

Height: 6’1″
Weight: 186 lbs.
Position: Running back
School: Stevenson High School in Livonia, MI
40 Yard Dash: 4.44 (reported)
Vertical: 33″

Notes: Holds offers from Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, and Wisconsin (among others) . . . Rushed for 1,610 yards and 28 TD’s as a junior in 2008 . . . Caught 21 passes for 310 yards and 4 TD’s as a junior in 2008 . . . Two older brothers walked on to Michigan State football team . . . #3 player in Michigan, according to Scout.com . . . Wears #23

Scouting report: Catches the ball well out of the backfield and downfield . . . Catches with his hands, not with his body . . . Runs with a natural body lean . . . Has good speed, but not a gamebreaker . . . Stays low in and out of cuts . . . Hops too much in the backfield and needs to refine his footwork . . . Solid runner who falls forward when tackled but doesn’t break enough tackles . . . Needs to run with more purpose . . . Does not have the speed or moves to be a finesse runner . . . Above average balance allows him to make solid upfield cuts without wasted steps or motion . . . Has the necessary tools to succeed as a read option back or lined up as a wide receiver in the spread offense . . . Plays in Pro “I” offense in high school . . . Needs to work on reading the fullback’s block out of the “I” formation

Projection: White will be a solid but unspectacular back in a BCS-level program.

Reminds me of: Jerome Jackson