ESPN says Isaiah Crowell not among SEC’s top 10 backs
Isaiah Crowell's shadow looms large in the SEC next season. (Jason Getz/AJC)
Possible unrealistic expectations notwithstanding, we’ve noted several times that incoming Georgia freshman running back Isaiah Crowell could have the greatest impact of any player on the Bulldogs next season. ESPN’s Chris Low echoed that sentiment when he told me on Wednesday, “If Crowell can have three-quarters of the impact that Marcus Lattimore had at South Carolina, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Georgia playing in Atlanta for the SEC championship.”
But here’s what Low didn’t do: Name Crowell one of the 10 best running backs in the SEC.
ESPN’s SEC blogger just came out with his list of the 10 best backs in the conference, and Crowell, the jewel of the Dogs’ incoming class, didn’t make the cut.
When I asked Low about it, he laughed.
“I have him at 10A,” he said.
He said he struggled with the rankings because of the SEC’s depth of talent at running back and considered five players for the last three spots: Auburn’s Onterio McCalebb, Florida’s Chris Rainey, Tennessee’s Tauren Poole, Florida’s Jeffery Demps and Crowell. Demps also was left off.
For what it’s worth, Low recently came out with his list of the SEC’s 10 best quarterbacks and Georgia’s Aaron Murray led the way.
So what are you thoughts on the Crowell being left off? Should we expect greatness right away? Following is Low’s projected top 10:
1. Trent Richardson, Alabama, Jr.: Now we get to see Richardson as Alabama’s go-to back, and it should be something to see. He’s a freak physically and runs through defenders and around them in equally stunning fashion.
2. Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina, So.: I’m sure we’ll hear it from South Carolina fans for not having Lattimore in the No. 1 spot. The truth is that it could go either way. Lattimore has bulked up to 230 pounds, which should help his durability.
3. Knile Davis, Arkansas, Jr.: To have a guy coming off a 1,322-yard season No. 3 on this list tells you how good the running backs are in this league. What separates Davis is that he can get the tough yards and also has the speed to break the long ones.
4. Mike Dyer, Auburn, So.: The Offensive MVP of the BCS National Championship Game a year ago, Dyer will be even better as a sophomore. He’s hard to tackle, runs low to the ground and will be the centerpiece of Auburn’s offense in 2011.
5. Brandon Bolden, Ole Miss, Sr.: In just about any other league, Bolden would be right there at the top. He averaged 6 yards per carry last season and scored 17 touchdowns. He’s also one of the best pass-catching backs in the SEC.
6. Spencer Ware, LSU, So.: The LSU coaches can’t wait to turn Ware loose this coming season. The 5-foot-11, 225-pound sophomore showed off his electrifying moves in the Cotton Bowl last season and will show off even more of them in 2011.
7. Vick Ballard, Mississippi State, Sr.: Nobody knew much about Ballard this time a year ago. They do now after he rushed for 968 yards and 19 touchdowns in his debut season in Starkville after coming over from junior college.
8. Onterio McCalebb, Auburn, Jr.: One of the premier home-run threats in college football, McCalebb is a quick-strike touchdown waiting to happen. Just ask LSU from a year ago. McCalebb has also bulked up and is more durable than he was when he arrived on the Plains.
9. Chris Rainey, Florida, Sr.: When he returned from his suspension last season, Rainey was the Gators’ top playmaker. Charlie Weis will see to it that Rainey gets touches as both a runner and receiver, and when he gets a step, look out.
10. Tauren Poole, Tennessee, Sr.: He’s not a burner, and he’s not exceptionally big, but Poole runs with his heart on his sleeve. He rushed for 1,034 yards last season and tied for the SEC lead with six 100-yard games.
Looking forward to the debate on this.
By Jeff Schultz
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251 comments Add your comment
Dawgfan
June 16th, 2011
12:42 pm
simply a space filler. this is ridiculous. Why talk about why a kid who hasn’t even practiced with the Dawgs yet being put on a list. Better article would have been to talk more about the fact that Aaron Murray is #1, or that Caleb King(after the Crowell type hype) is NOT on this list in his Snr year.
Pop
June 16th, 2011
12:45 pm
Look for UGA to finish #7-#11 in rushing in the SEC against winning teams. Last year got about 100 a game, almost last. Better than only Vanderbilt. The rushing game, offensive line, run audibles, and run production of secondary backs, is near the bottom of the SEC. Need a new RB coach. New o-line coach. New offensive coordinator with a better run scheme.
schmeckdawg
June 16th, 2011
12:50 pm
Danny G
June 15th, 2011
7:04 pm
Walker did not start his Freshman year until a few games were played. You don’t know what you got until the man runs threw or around a tackler time after time after time and only time will tell.
WRONG!!!!!!!! Herschel played in his very first game (did not start) but after that, he was the starter in every game he played.
SSIgator
June 16th, 2011
12:52 pm
“So what are you thoughts on the Crowell being left off? Should we expect greatness right away?”
Well, according to Christian Robinson: “We’re not just lifting weights. We’re lifting weights to win a game on Saturday.”
???
So, by that logic, if Crowell is lifting weights (and lifting weights to win a game) greatness must be on the horizon.
Good grief. If the traditional methods (good coaching, sound tackling techniques, properly executing offensive plays from the playbook, etc.) do not work, then try something else.
This comes from chapter #4 of Richt’s “How to Become a Cutting Edge Football Coach” guide book. Better pick up the pace coach. The book has eighteen chapters.
Pop
June 16th, 2011
12:53 pm
Would like to see a UGA coach teach King & Smith how to ball protect. Very productive backs..need real coaching.
Crimson nation
June 16th, 2011
12:59 pm
Better watch out for Eddie Lacey and Dee Hart. Eddie Lacey outrushed everyone in shredding Michigan State last year and is ready for a breakout year now that he won’t be 3rd team behind Mark Ingram and Trent “the beast” Richardson. Dee Hart was our 5 star running back- he set the state of Florida high school record for tds in a season with 50 and was the MVP of the Army high school All American game after becoming the only back to ever rush for over 100 yards in the game. I believe the more heralded Crowell had something like 20 yards in the same all star game.
WDE
June 16th, 2011
12:59 pm
@Pop unless I mis read it we just got a new OL coach and he has yet to coach a game for UGA..l think we might want to give him a actual chance before replacing him..just a thought.
WDE
June 16th, 2011
1:02 pm
@Crimson nation agree Hart looks like a stud..but like IC he has yet to take a snap..hoping they are both the real deal.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
June 16th, 2011
1:07 pm
This is just stupid the amount of hype this kid has gotten and has yet to play
Caleb King looked better on film coming out of high school
I can see it now he has a mediocre season and all the fans will boo and blame him instead of the coaching staff
Cmon man
June 16th, 2011
1:08 pm
@crimson nation crowell played in the under armour game hart played in the army all american game. But I will agree lacy is a player to look out for he seems to the one player that people never talk about he is a good player
HOUDAWG
June 16th, 2011
1:14 pm
And THIS is a Headline ? Good Lord , he hasn’t had one carry in the SEC yet, & this is supposed to be a slam that he’s not listed as a top back ??? Somebody needs to get a life …….
First coming of CROWELL
June 16th, 2011
1:33 pm
Call me crazy but I think Isaiah Crowell will not be the 2nd coming of herschel I predict he’ll be the 1st coming of CROWELL which I think he will be even BETTER than herschel. He will rush for 1700 yrds plus his freshman year and 2000 yrds plus his sophmore year before bolting to the NFL. Carve it up, write it down, deposit it, put it in the bank do whatever you want but I just spoke of nothing but the truth!!!
tidog
June 16th, 2011
1:33 pm
No story here Mr. Schutlz.
OldFan
June 16th, 2011
1:53 pm
Over-hyped, over-sold, and rightly over-looked.
anthny's weiner
June 16th, 2011
2:06 pm
Did they have to reshuffle the list after Ealey left? Why no mention of Caleb King? He must be number 11, just missed the top ten.
lawdawg
June 16th, 2011
2:30 pm
As long as Crowell’s on this list at the end of the season, I’ll be happy. If he’s not, well, let’s just hope that one writer who had Caleb King as a dark horse Heisman candidate isn’t smoking something.
chickenman
June 16th, 2011
3:38 pm
okay i agree with the first 5…. but crowell should be 6. Nevertheless after watching him in highschool last year its safe to say he will be 1-3 by seasons end.. SIC EM
harold
June 16th, 2011
3:58 pm
BUT WE CAN DREAM——-LOL!
rs
June 16th, 2011
4:00 pm
he will do just fine,that sc kid will not be that good this yr.
10A is OK
June 16th, 2011
4:06 pm
I’m sure Orenthal Rainey will feel like it’s someone’s time to die and miss most of the season, moving Crowell up.
Buckeye
June 16th, 2011
4:13 pm
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Buckeye
June 16th, 2011
4:14 pm
Oh, sorry, Wrong blog.
MarineDog
June 16th, 2011
4:40 pm
Off the target a bit…Has anyone heard from Lowndes25 lately? He’s usually pretty accurate on his predictions.
indianman
June 16th, 2011
5:08 pm
befofe walker came to georgia he has play a down also but look what he did so all you none georgia fan if you don,t know what you taking about why give it
Ed Pilcher
June 16th, 2011
5:10 pm
If he had went to UF, or AU, or Alabame, he would have gotten some recognition. Basically, Schultz is just trying to stir the pot to get readers again.
It Ain't Rocket Science
June 16th, 2011
5:17 pm
Foot Ball Fanatic,
Herschel said in an article that he had told Crowell to just be himself when he was there. Are you sure he didn’t work out with the rest of them.?
Paddy
June 16th, 2011
5:20 pm
Bob Rathbun……….your posts are much better than your announcing. Thats not saying much!!!! I will listen to you on the AM radio as you broadcat that Houston Baptist vs Tusculum game in Aug. Oh how the mighty have fallen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It Ain't Rocket Science
June 16th, 2011
6:41 pm
Right now, criticizing this young man is like trying to carry water in a bucket with no bottom. Let him play some and then let’s see how he is. A lot of you are letting your hate of UGA cloud your vision and good judgment, provided you are in possession of those qualities.
5150 UOAD
June 16th, 2011
7:32 pm
HELL YES!!!
Murray is the #1 QB in the SEC and he has only played 13 games losing 7 of them. Crowell is A HEISMAN winner already. Mark Richt is the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year 2011. UGA is the BCS MNC winner. Hell we don’t even need the SEC to play the season this year. UGA will play LSU and Mettinburger with UGA winning in the Dome by 50 points.
Dude the Bong is empty! Fill it again while I type. My PBR is empty too! Get me another one from the cooler on the front porch!
5150 UOAD
June 16th, 2011
7:35 pm
It Ain’t Rocket Science
How about not PRAISING the kid until he puts on a Jock and gets HIT by a SEC defense. Calling CROWELL a bust now is the same as calling him a Heisman candidate now or in 4 years. It is easier to HATE on the kid never seeing him play in college as it is to call him Herschell or Lattimore.
5150 UOAD
June 16th, 2011
7:38 pm
Wait ESPN said not top 10 SEC back? Hell, there only 12 teams. People thing Murry is the BEST QB in the SEC too. 7-6 and the BEST? HAHAHAHHA. My Grandma would drink him under the table, spit in his eye, and take his boyfriend.
dawg time
June 16th, 2011
7:47 pm
by the end of the year, richardson, lattimore and crowell will be the 3 best backs in the SEC—mark it down! Crowell is the real deal, maybe the best back at UGA in 20 years. He will put up huge numbers and the DAwgs will win the SEC east!!!!
powerhouse?
June 16th, 2011
8:10 pm
Dream?
Or, dream on!
CKing will be your hoss early. (I saw him run before…)
bitter poor trolls
June 16th, 2011
8:56 pm
like some cheese with all that WINE—————HAHAHAHAHAHAH
———-you tree killer trolls would love to have crow hold up a elephant//// reality check he held up
——————a future ugga————–hatters——————-dawgs rule—get over it
———————–go spray some round out in your momma’s mouth, beats spraying—–
—————————————–just saying trolls———-hahahahahahah
Dawg89
June 16th, 2011
9:17 pm
How can Crowell be a top back in the league when has yet to play? How could any player who hasn’t played be considered for such a list. The list is stupid anyway.
Haas
June 16th, 2011
9:56 pm
Crowell could be the next big thing. Lattimore didn’t have any experience, and he did great his freshman year. Crowell will too. Should have been top 5 on this list.
DMan26
June 16th, 2011
10:00 pm
Crowell is #7 rb in SEC according to my projections. That’s based on what kind of competition he’s gone up against, also how many recruting services (rivlas, scout, espn) had him as a top rb, and so on. On my projections, he actually ranks a little higher than Marcus Lattimore did last season, so if that says anything, looks like a Championship season for Georgia. I project him to get 200 carries and break 1000 yards just barely.
Fonz
June 16th, 2011
10:03 pm
Low was off.
ESPN had Lattimore ranked #18 on ESPN 150, he turned out great.
ESPN had Crowell ranked #4 on ESPN 150, so he will be a little better.
Clipping
June 16th, 2011
10:07 pm
Rivals had Lattimore #10, and Crowell #23.
Reps
June 16th, 2011
10:10 pm
Scout had Crowell #5, Latt #10. So Crowell is a notch better, due to speed likely.
Stark
June 16th, 2011
10:23 pm
Crowell reminds me of Joseph Addai with thei high school stats, spped, and size. I could see Crowell getting 1000 yards as a freshman, but not just from rushing, maybe 700 rushing, and 300 receiving. Crowell has great hands and is a match up nightmare for LB’s in the flat or on curl routes or wheel routes.
Pitbull
June 16th, 2011
10:57 pm
We will see how good Crowell is after Boise State and SC defenses get finished with him. They are thinking about him all summer long!
Saban
June 16th, 2011
11:47 pm
What a fine looking young man.
Have you seen his facebook page? He is what Georgia football is all about.
Real Dawgs drink POWER-aid.( kool-aid is fool-ade)
June 17th, 2011
12:01 am
HEY, ROCKET SCIENTIST, after reading other opinions on this blog it appears more Dawgs out there agree with me. Shut up the wimpy wining, throw away the kool-aid and wise up. People are allowed to critically analyze what they see in the UGa program , its not illegal yet. Right now a lot a of people are not as satisfied with the direction Georgia is going as you are and the AJC graciously provides an unbias forum of communication for those happy about 6-7 seasons like yourself and those who are unhappy like me. Since you probably never studied history I will help you out. Marxism is a theory and practice of Communism, which is the political and economical practice of Socialism including the labor theory of value , dialectical materialism, the class struggle, and dictatorship of the proletariat (elites) until the establishment of a classless society. I realize my explanation probably has confused you even more, but I will speak in historical football analogy to further help you. Before MR took the UGa job he was an OC at FSU for years, under Bobby Bowden. From 1987 to 2000 the Seminoles finished ranked in the top five. But during those 14 years of unprecedented success success the ‘Noles only won a measly two national titles. In fact, they could not beat the Miami Hurricanes when national championship implications were on the line and when they did, the “Noles lost more national championships than they won going 2-3 in such contests. The last national championship game Bobby Bowden or MR would coach in resulted in a highly disappointing 13-2 loss to Bob Stoops Oklahoma Sooners in 2000. The “Noles fans were livid and highly upset with MR’s playcalling in that game which featured only a short passing game by QB Chris Weinke to WRs and backs and virtually no attempt to to run the ball. Oklahoma had 14 years of film on the Noles offensive attack under Richt to study and knew they could shut it down and exposed the fact that Richt’s FSU attack had no consistent running game . After the game Bowden was hounded by questions of why FSU failed to try to run and why couldn’t the Noles offensive line run block as well as they pass blocked ? As Bowden struggled for answers, MR was packing his bags and fast break short passing offense for Athens and the Nole fans rejoiced and were glad to see Richt go until Bowden committed nepotism with OC position by installing his son Jeff (with no prior OC experience). This would be a bad decision by UGa to bring a pass first coach to a traditional run first school. Jim Donnan had UGa set up as a run first offensive attack and Richt had no choice but to win with the players he inherited from Donnan, thus from 2001 to 2005 UGa was deceptively and moderately successful. Then in 2006 a confident MR turned over the short pass offense to his protege Mike Bobo(with no prior OC experience) as expectations of a national championship soared in 2007 and evaporated that fateful night in Athens versus Saban and the Tide in 2008. It’s been all downhill ever since. So I call the kool-aid drinking lovers and followers of an underachieiving, can’t win the big game coaching regime Marxists, as in the first name of their leader. Get it ? You probably don’t, obviously you got to be blind, crazy or delusional to continue to follow a staff that is 2-8 vs.UF. This coaching regime has defiled our traditions and made UGa a national embarrasement instead of a national power. You Rocket Scientist may be happy about the losing situation at UGa, but excuse me for being defiantly critical of the mediocrity. Look don’t single me out, I’m not the only one calling it as I see it, currently MR is number ONE on the HotSeat on CoachWatch. And with the tradition, resources, and following at UGa, it’s safe to say he has rightfully earned that distinction. So instead of getting mad at people on the blogs, just relax and enjoy the last season of the PASS FIRST offense at UGa.
RxDawg
June 17th, 2011
12:07 am
Well of course he didn’t name Crowel a top 10 back. He’s not even technically an SEC back yet.
Thomas Brown
June 17th, 2011
3:55 am
Mike Bobo, where are the Georgia running backs, all so highly-rated in recruiting rankings for which we gave Mark Richt credit for recruiting them, when you told us Mike Bobo and Mark Richt that you insist on a “Balanced Number of Plays – both passing and Running” ? I read a guy, Brandon Pledger on Bleacher Report say that – just give Mark Richt 2 more years on his blog there yesterday. Not this up-coming 2011-2012 season, but 2012-2013. Wait until 2012-2103, Brandon Pledger begs. I’ve heard a lot of really silly stupid statements from Richt-O-Files, but seriously before the season, even starts, and he is begging for us all to wait until not this season but the season AFTER this up-coming season. Takes the cake, Brandon Pledger – no wonder you don’t want a post about that quote in your blog responses – no wonder- Brandon Pledger.
big yards
June 17th, 2011
4:40 am
crowell’s going to run all over boise state–ga will beat them like a rented mule in the dome.
Thomas Brown
June 17th, 2011
6:12 am
Excuse me ? Kellen Moore is still the QB at Boise State, isn’t he ? We still have no one in the Secondary, do we ? We still have no one who has sacked a single QB on the entire roster, do we ? As bad as Boise State is on Special Teams, we still were # 85 in the nation in kick-off returns last year, weren’t we ? Boise State still has a lot better pass defense than we have, don’t they ? And, we have no wide receiver, still, don’t we ?
Given all that, Crowell, who hasn’t proved he can block at all, is going to run the football for our pass-happy Mike Bobo who red-shirted the # 12 overall pick of the 1st Round best running back here at The University of Ground Attack in over 2 dozen years so we only got to see Knowshon Moreno for only 2 years, behind an OL that has 5 OL on the entire roster who ever played 1 down and not 1 down well none of them, with no Fullback, and oh yeah, that sets up pretty for Crowell – when what we have instead is a QB who stole 8 runs a game every game last year from the tailbacks averaging less than 2 yards a carry.
Man, we are going to win the National Championship now, now that we have Crowell. This is our year. No doubt of that.
DISNEYdawgs.com
It Ain't Rocket Science
June 17th, 2011
7:03 am
5150,
I think if you read my post, you will see that I have said the exact same thing. Nobody has the right to criticize this kid until he has had time to get onto the playing field. Shooting negative comments at him right now is as ignorant as appointing him the next H.W. Let him get on the field since this is the only true indicator of what his talent will be at this level. Until then, if you have nothing good to say about the kid, don’t say anything at all.
It Ain't Rocket Science
June 17th, 2011
7:09 am
Real DAWGS Drink Kool Aid,
Another typical big mouth blogger, with no guts. Why don’t you go and talk your crap to the people you so bravely put down on these blogs. You are just an idiot. You don’t like a team so you spend your time, writing everything negative about them that you can. A typical loser with no guts. When you can confront these young men and spout that crap in person, then you might be a man. Until then, you are just some worthless geek, hiding behind a computer. I would suggest if you ever get delusional enough to confront them though, that you have an ambulance standing by as I am sure it will be needed to transport you to a hospital after they use you as a tackling dummy. A position you probably qualify for.