Every down back?

[Hank Bukowski]

I do not think he is as good at pass blocking as the other two backs. With that said he is clearly the best pure runner we have rushing the ball now. I think Cam Seldon may wind up being the best pure rusher next year.

When you say “every-down back,” I just automatically think of Travis Henry. We have great, great backs but someone who can take the pounding of 30 or 35 carries a game? Or more? Someone who is the size of Henry when he was running for us?

To me, Jabari Small is the closest I’ve seen in our current stable. But he’s just a bit small in terms of height and maybe 30 lbs. too light to take the pounding game in and game out. He certainly has the toughness and the stamina, it seems and fights for every yard like Henry did and the way Wright and Sampson do.. But Henry ran around people and through them and over them. He was one powerful dude…as is Jabari Small.

To answer your question, I haven’t seen an every-down back yet from Heupel’s teams here. But, to be honest, I really don’t see the need for an every-down back when you have Small, Jaylen Wright and Dylan Sampson ready to roll. Those three can do more damage by sharing carries than one can, at least from where I sit.

Look up Henry and look up Travis Stephens. Two very different backs who took us to glory many, many times.

Trivia question: why did Travis Henry earn the nickname “Cheese” when he was a Vol?