(01-17-2021 01:10 PM)HogDawg Wrote: (01-17-2021 11:00 AM)Saint3333 Wrote: Congrats on LA Tech picking up grad transfer RB Marcus Williams, good all around back with really good vision. At minimum great add for depth.
Even better young man than player too.
I'm hoping some Appy State fans can chime in here (you've never heard me say this before, ha ha!) and give us a briefing on the talents of Marcus Williams.
Seems he was a productive back for Appy for the last 4 years.
Also Maybe UNT fans can give us the low down on Williams since he burned UNT for a 70-yd TD run and 101 yds rushing on only 6 carries in their Bowl game against Appy St. At least in this video clip, Williams looks fast as hell.
https://www.espn.com/college-football/pl...illiams-jr
He averaged 7.4 yards per carry this year...on 68 touches. Extrapolate that average to 200 carries and you get close to 1,500 yards. Given the yard per carry of running backs at App since around 2015, it's likely his average would have ended up somewhere around 6.0 to 6.7 if he had been healthy all year.
In my opinion, he was App's best pure runner the past two seasons. However, when you have Darrynton Evans who is a threat to break away at the slightest crease, and then injuries in 2020, it's hard to see much of the field.
Williams was App's best inside runner with great short area quickness that, when coupled with his excellent vision, helps him find and navigate small holes in the defense; this results in 7 yard gains instead of 2 or 3. Occassionally, that 7 yard gain turns into 30 or 40.
Of the games he did play this season, it seemed like he broke off a long run of 50+ yards or was a shoestring tackle away, and that was with minimal carries. A healthy Williams Jr. in 2020 would have led to him likely declaring for the 2021 NFL Draft. The reason he is leaving App is because Cam Peoples, all 6'2 and 215 lbs of him, figured out how to use his size and trust the offensive line as many of you saw if you watched the North Texas game. As a result, Williams would be splitting carries in his final season to really make an impression on NFL Scouts.
In short, I think App's best pure running back just left. If Holtz streak of taking in quality transfers and building them up continues, Louisiana Tech should be looking at their best running back since Dixon left.
Disclaimer: He liked one of my Tweets where I suggested that I always thought he was the best "pure runner", as far back as his Sophomore season. I may be biased.
I'll have nightmares for weeks now.
. But I do appreciate the info on Williams.
