Georgia Tech's Jonathan Dwyer has run to the head of the pack for running backs, says NationalFootballPost.com.
(I updated this blog with some comments from Wes Bunting below)
Georgia Tech’s latest surge has done more than just elevate the Yellow Jackets to the No. 7 team in the country. It has raised Jonathan Dwyer to the No. 8 draft-eligible player in the nation, at least according to one scouting website.
In his “Super 30″ rankings updated this week, Wes Bunting of NationalFootballPost.com lists Dwyer, a junior, as the best running back on the board and the No. 8 overall NFL prospect, ahead of Cal’s Jahvid Best (16th) and Clemson’s C.J. Spiller (22nd). Bunting called Dwyer “a violent runner who exhibits good vision between the tackles and has the initial burst to separate from defenders at the second level.”
Dwyer, who hasn’t yet said that he will enter the draft, has rushed for 610 yards and six touchdowns in the last four games, with a 7.27 per carry average.
Bunting also has Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan as the No. 17 player in the draft.
The National Football Post rankings differ from Mel Kiper’s Big Board and the Scout’s Inc. Top 100 list (Both require ESPN Insider membership. But I’ll share this if each of you promise to mail me 50 cents to help defray my expenses. OK? OK.)
Kiper wrote he generally doesn’t list juniors on his Big Board unless they’re obviously a top 15 player. Only two running backs made his overall list of top 25 players: Spiller (12) and Best (19). He has Dwyer listed as the second-best junior running back, behind Best.
Kiper also lists Morgan as the 15th best overall player in the draft. Among juniors, he has Georgia’s Rennie Curran as the No. 2 outside linebacker, Tech’s Morgan Burnett as the No. 2 safety, Tech’s Demaryius Thomas as the No. 4 wide receiver and Georgia’s Reshad Jones as the No. 5 safety.
The Todd McShay/Scout’s Inc. Top 100 list, disagrees with Kiper and National Football Post. He lists Morgan as the No. 6 player in the draft and Dwyer at 34th. He has two Georgia players in his top 100, defensive tackle Geno Atkins (65) and Jeff Owens (109). Curran is not on his list.
I’ll try to check these lists once in a while to keep you up to date.
UPDATE: Here are some comments from Bunting:
♦ On Dwyer: “He’s a violent runner who not only possesses the ability to be physical in between the tackles, but exhibits an impressive initial burst in the open field with the first step to separate from defenders at the second level. Dwyer looks NFL ready right now and has the ability to carry the load at the next level and be an every down type of back. Plus, coming out of the option offense, I think he’s going to benefit greatly from lining up eight yards behind the [line of scrimmage] in the NFL and will be even more instinctive and natural running the ball inside then he is now. His combination or power, burst and lateral agility or second to none in college football.”
♦ On why he’s ahead of Spiller and Best: “I don’t know if Spiller is an every-down back. [He] looks more like a Felix Jones type runner to me. As for Best, [he has] big play ability, and might have a bit more upside then Dwyer, but isn’t as physical and might have some trouble staying healthy. Dwyer just looks more like a sure thing to me. A more physically gifted Jonathan Stewart type runner in the NFL.”
♦ On his own background: “I am the Director of College Scouting for the Nationalfootballpost.com. I have been scouting college football since 2002.”
350 comments Add your comment
Yellow Fuzz
November 20th, 2009
10:29 am
“ Wes Bunting of NationalFootballPost.com lists Dwyer, a junior, as the best running back on the board and the No. 8 overall NFL prospect. Bunting called Dwyer “a violent runner who exhibits good vision between the tackles and has the initial burst to separate from defenders at the second level.”
There must be some mistake. Dwyer plays in that “gimmick”, “high school”, “triple option” system that no blue chip recruit with aspirations of playing in the NFL would ever consider………………Hahahaha. Some dog nation bloggers on here are wrong about absolutely everything. See you azzholes on the 28th and bring all those top 5 recruiting classes with you! LOL.
45-42
SEC
November 20th, 2009
10:31 am
No venom. I have friends that are Tech fans and we do the same. They also agree with alot of stuff that i have said. If you actually go read the post about UGA dying and read all the comments that TECH and GATOR fans posted you will see where a bit of disgust comes into play. Its also why i didnt say all TECH fans. Most this year on the blogs are bandwagon fans though
SEC
November 20th, 2009
10:32 am
Take yellow fuzz above as a prime example
swBUZZman
November 20th, 2009
10:33 am
SEC, the A backs line up in the slot. The B back is the only one that is actually in the backfield. One of the A backs usually goes in motion, but is never lined up in the backfield. Dwyer is the best running back in the country, bar none. His numbers are not down, he is less than 192 yards or so from what he had last year. He is a beast, and will have a much better career than Knowsho.
LG, Dwyer was a true sophomore last year, and was not able to go the draft.
SEC
November 20th, 2009
10:35 am
holy crap swbuzzman. At the time of the snap there is usually 3 in the backfield A, B, and QB. End of story. Ive watched them play live and in person. Its the truth. I never mentioned a true formation. i am very aware of the offense…its one i use to play in
WTH
November 20th, 2009
10:36 am
SEC,
You cut a lot of people down about not knowing anything about football or knowing less than you, but you say wide receivers are who pick up blitzes. Is that correct?
UGA VIII Will Die Too
November 20th, 2009
10:38 am
UGA fans being happy about Dwyer leaving are funny. He’s not gone yet. You will still get to see him at least one more time in a few more days. I hope one of those guys you put on the field to play defense tries to bump tackle him again. Hilarious.
SEC
November 20th, 2009
10:39 am
i actually corrected myself on the post below.
swBUZZman
November 20th, 2009
10:40 am
The QB is always under center ding dong. Thats not really the backfield. And if you are in motion, you are not lined up. I have watched every game this year, and the only time more than one back is in the backfield is when they are trying to draw the D offside. Dwyer is the only one that lines up behind the QB, or the B back that is, which is usually Dwyer. But the A backs never line up behind the QB otherwise. They could, if they wanted to run something different, but CPJ doesnt usually do that.
SEC
November 20th, 2009
10:41 am
AT THE TIME OF THE SNAP “DING DONG”.
swBUZZman
November 20th, 2009
10:44 am
AT THE TIME OF THE SNAP AZZWHIPE, the B back is the only back LINED UP in the backfield. Again, if you are in motion, which the A back ALWAYS is, you are not lined up. Do they use three back, yes, but only one lines up behind the QB, and at the time of the snap, still the only on lined up there.
WTH
November 20th, 2009
10:45 am
Okay about the WR and you are right, the A-back is usually in motion in the backfield although good percentage of the time, he is outside the tackles.
SEC
November 20th, 2009
10:47 am
swbuzzman he is in motion at the time of the snap and is IN THE BACKFIELD. If he were a reciever it wouldnt be affective. You do know what type of offense you run right?
1 Dead DAWG
November 20th, 2009
10:48 am
Boy I hope SEC didn’t actually go to an SEC school, or any school in GA for that matter. Ignorance like that makes the whole state of GA look bad. Can’t write, can’t spell and knows nothing about football. Why would he possibly be on a GT football blog? Seems like a true waste of (lack of) talent. I guess he gets the internet in his trailer but not a single football broadcast!
SEC
November 20th, 2009
10:48 am
and thats all i am trying to say WTH. Im not sure why the fuss. Its the truth.
Yellow Fuzz
November 20th, 2009
10:50 am
SEC,
I’ve been a Tech fan my entire life, but if I hadn’t, I’d still rather be a bandwagon Tech fan than a lifelong dog fan any day. You azzholes deserve every short coming your program produces over the next few years. I hope you can hear me down there. You azzholes should have been kinder and gentler to the Tech Nation when you had the chance.
SEC
November 20th, 2009
10:51 am
hahah entertaining 1 dead dawg. If you read the earlier post im actually in my office. My spelling might not be correct at all times but its not like im writing a paper or care right now. Please inform me on what i was wrong about on football….please
SEC
November 20th, 2009
10:53 am
And im ok with that yellow fuzz. We dont care if you arent in bulldog nation. I have been through all the ups and downs with UGA and i still have said one bad thing about the program that CPJ has put in except that it might hurt his stock because its not a pro style offense…which its not
WTH
November 20th, 2009
10:53 am
SEC,
One other thing, you say that the system drops players stocks. what are you basing this on? CPJ has coached at Navy, GSU and Hawaii, not exactly programs that turn out a lot of pro players. I am not sure about this, but I do think Adrian Peterson (Chicago not Minnesota) played in the system at GSU. The RB’s and WR’s in this system probably learn how to block better than most systems. Don’t think the pros like that fact?
WTH
November 20th, 2009
10:55 am
Sorry, Don’t you think the pros like WR’s and RB’s that can block?
swBUZZman
November 20th, 2009
10:56 am
I am well aware, are you? If you are in MOTION, you are not lined up in the backfield, especially if you are outside the tackles at the time of the snap. This is why CPJ’s offense is slightly different than the “option” or “triple option”, he calls it the spread option because the A backs line up in the slots, not in the backfield. Maybe you should call him and ask him. I have heard him explain it many times on TV and on 790 the zone. A standard option may do that, but Johnsons does not. Sorry dude, but you must not have been paying attention when you were there in person. Havent you noticed that when the A back gets the pitch, he is already outside when he gets it? The A back on that side usually cracks back on a block depending on whether it is a dive or a pitch.
Take The Money
November 20th, 2009
10:57 am
While I disagreed with SEC’s earlier contention that CPJ’s offense would hurt JD’s draft position, he has never spewed the venom that many on here do. His arguments are well reasoned, IMHO.
But, can we please put the “3 in the backfield” debate to bed? First, we rarely “line up” with 3 backs, but at the time the TO starts, there are usually 3 backs (QB, A-Back, B-Back) physically in the backfield. How else do we use the quick pitch to the A-Back if he is not “in” the backfield.
As for the people gloating over a dog’s death, I seriously doubt that they are doing anything other than trolling and trying to make UGA fans even more angry at Tech and Gator fans, which tells me that they aren’t really fans of either of those teams.
Yellow Fuzz
November 20th, 2009
10:58 am
SEC
In a nice way, STFU!
James
November 20th, 2009
10:59 am
SEC,
You are right about most of the things you mention. Except you changed from “where they line up” to “when the ball is snapped”, and then making the same repetitive responses to people that reply to you with the same thing, and so on…
I understand what you’re saying. Our system uses, essentially, three running backs. Triple option, got it. Move on.
You post every other minute, or even faster. Find something better to do. Or start a new topic.
Why is everyone so insulting on things things? Let’s just have a conversation.
SEC
November 20th, 2009
10:59 am
I’m sure they do, but its a whole different system and blocking scheme. You not blocking a gap but trying to pick up a blitz. Adrian Peterson was a stud at GSU. It hurt his stock during the draft(was stated during the draft) and also the school itself hurt his stock. Im just saying 8 is too high. Being a first rounder isnt a bad thing. Still a top college player.
SEC
November 20th, 2009
11:01 am
im actually doin multiple things right now james. I just type fast.
GT4EVER
November 20th, 2009
11:02 am
SEC: your commentary is duly received and noted. But I ask: what’s so bad about deception?? What some call a ‘gimmick’, we call smart effective ball control. Obviously, its having some success thus far. Agreed, the stats that Dwyer is putting up have to be evaluated differently by NFL scouts because of the ’system’ within which they are generated. But I wonder … if Dwyer (and others) were able to adapt so quickly to a brand new ’system’ of offense under CPJ, can’t he do the same thing if and when he advances to the NFL??
GT87
November 20th, 2009
11:02 am
SEC quote, “Yea and they do it all from a pro style and not with THREE RUNNING BACKS IN THE BACKFIELD. Pass blocking is huge. I know he wa in a pro style his freshman year but didnt climb onto the scene until last year. He puts up the numbers cause they hand the ball off 900 times a game.”
Then SEC says, “holy crap swbuzzman. At the time of the snap there is usually 3 in the backfield A, B, and QB. End of story. Ive watched them play live and in person. Its the truth. I never mentioned a true formation. i am very aware of the offense…its one i use to play in”
Nesbit is not a RUNNING BACK (see your first quote).
Yellow Fuzzy
November 20th, 2009
11:04 am
Look how classy we are. A picture cartoon of buzz driving over the 6 uga graves and getting to a dead dog at a house. We rule!!
http://www.fromtherumbleseat.com/2009/11/19/1165637/ding-dong-the-mutt-is-dead
SEC
November 20th, 2009
11:05 am
There is nothing wrong in college with deception. it obviously works and it ran all over us. So i wouldnt fix it until it breaks. Its a possiblity that he can adapt but that will be up to them to decide
swBUZZman
November 20th, 2009
11:05 am
The one thing you cant coach is talen, and Dwyer has that to spare. You could put him in any offense and he would be a stud.
SEC
November 20th, 2009
11:06 am
I am aware i put him in the same category as a RB.
Yellow Fuzz
November 20th, 2009
11:09 am
SEC,
At least NFL teams understand great college backs can learn new skills at the next level regardless of the particular offense they ran in college. Do you think Dwyer will have any trouble receiving and blocking in the NFL. Or comprehending a play book? On the other hand, what do you think they say about King and Samuel habitually carrying the ball in the wrong hand? Better be able to still arm in the NFL because you have to break tackles on that level. That could be a serious intellect issue because every high school and college coach teaches it. Dwyer will ace the Wonderlic test I guarantee it!
SEC
November 20th, 2009
11:10 am
hahah ok yellow im goin to respond to you. King and Samuel suck. End of that story. Dwyer is a really good back and will eventually be great in the pros most likely. He holds a question mark over his head and thats why i say not #8
Yellow Fuzz
November 20th, 2009
11:12 am
Let me re-phrase that….EVERY Tech player will ace the Wonderlic test. I guarantee it!
atl-xmen
November 20th, 2009
11:13 am
gt87…you have 3 backs back there buddy. nesbitt dwyer and anthony allen..with nesbitt and dwyer getting most of the carries…
and to gt insider..im sorry to tell you but you have noone left when these guys leave…you dont have anyone near the size of dwyer nesbitt or even allen..all but 1 were recruited by chan gaily for his pro style offense..allen was recruited by louisville for there pro style offense..the guys you have coming in to run the ball when these guys leave will get killed having to get hit every play with or without the ball
Yellow Fuzz
November 20th, 2009
11:15 am
SEC,
King and Samuel do NOT suck. They would thrive in Tech’s system because they would be inspired to do the little things. All our players are that way. All the little things add up to make a HUGE difference and that’s why we can kick your azzes with half the five star blue chippers. lol. Hello? been telling you the same thing here for TWO years.
Yellow Fuzz
November 20th, 2009
11:17 am
atl-xman-now-trans,
In a nice way, STFU!
Yellow Fuzzy
November 20th, 2009
11:17 am
I know we kick their asses every year. One year by 3 points wow.. we have ruled UGAg for soooo long. Paul Johnson is so inspiring. He could turn my roommate Chan-Yuan into a linebacker.
Yellow Fuzz
November 20th, 2009
11:19 am
SEC,
You’ve been “outsmarted” by Georgia Tech (Again). hahaha.
SEC
November 20th, 2009
11:20 am
haha is that so? andhow is that yellow? i would love to hear your explanation on that.
WTH
November 20th, 2009
11:21 am
SEC,
I have enjoyed the back and forth. Self interest makes me hope JD is not a number 8 pick.
If you think GT fans are stupid sometimes, hang around and read xmen’s posts for a while.
WTH
November 20th, 2009
11:22 am
He is stupid all the time.
Yellow Fuzz
November 20th, 2009
11:22 am
CPJ’s staff pays attention to details and inspires their players to do the same. Not saying they could take a georgia nerd band bow and make him into a starting linebacker, but they can take every student athlete in their program and make them better. If you can win at a service academy you can win anywhere.
SEC
November 20th, 2009
11:23 am
hahah will he give yellow some competition?
Tron5000
November 20th, 2009
11:24 am
All right, this crap about Dwyer being a “system guy” and “anyone can get yards in that offense” is utter nonsense.
Dwyer was drafted by Chan Gailey, to be a featured back in his pro-style offense. In Tashard Choice’s senior season of 2007, a freshman Dwyer backed him up and showed as the season wore on that he was worthy of carries. That freshman season, Dwyer averaged 5.3 yards per carry while scoring 9 TDs in only 82 rushing attempts (for non-Techies, that’s roughly once every 9 carries).
Yes, he averaged 7 yds/carry last season and is over 6.5 this year, and yes, he’s the perfect back for this offense. But look at what he did before this offense, and the fact that he’s 6-1, 235 lbs, and a burner. So put that “system back” junk to bed.
Tron5000
November 20th, 2009
11:26 am
*recruited by Chan, not drafted.
Yellow Fuzz
November 20th, 2009
11:26 am
SEC,
“haha is that so? and how is that yellow? I would love to hear your explanation on that”.
Use the search engine here and try doing your own homework azzhole.
Yellow Fuzzy
November 20th, 2009
11:26 am
I know I agree we rule. CPJ can do anything, including eat 8 chili dogs in one sitting. UGAy doesn’t know how to do anything with their players. They’re only the winningest team in the SEC since CMRs arrival. But thats only in the SEC, the ACC so much more difficult.
atl-xmen
November 20th, 2009
11:26 am
pj high school offense will not work against the better defenses lines in college football..ie lsu last year..mia this year..and that real tough team in gardner webb last year..the nfl would never have this offense as it would be shut down real quick with all the great the players the nfl teams have on the def line. if you notice pj offense is set up for players that are usually less talented than the defenses they are going against..like his ga southern teams and navy teams..the deception levels the playing field when going aginst the better talent in college football. pj was lucky to have gailys pro style players at tech to run this offense as they have 4 star talent as well..but when they leave tech will have nothing but 3-star talent and that just wont cut it against the better teams in the sec and acc…