The Return of the Scholarship Fullback at Nebraska
2 comments so far
May 19, 2008 by
It didn’t take long. Dane Todd (an all-conference fullback) suited up for the Huskers in the Cotton Bowl on January 1st, 2007. He was the last scholarship fullback to be listed on an NU roster. That’s about to change.
Alonzo Whaley was listed as a linebacker/fullback in the Spring NU media guide, but given the Husker’s needs defensively it’s easy to imagine him playing on that side of the ball (and perhaps even being developed into a defensive end). But even if he’s not a fullback, recent commit C.J. Zimmerer will be.
This clearly signals a shift in philosophy. Bill Callahan never recruited a single fullback on scholarship, preferring to add depth at other positions. Relying exclusively on walk-ons can be a sensible approach that a number of schools have used. Fullbacks are often just part time players on offense. Single back and no-back sets are a common sight in college football. And the West Coast offense can motion tight ends into and out of the backfield to be lead blockers on running plays. Still, it also means you go into a game knowing that about half the time you are relying on a walk-on player by design.
We’ve heard Bo Pelini says that he wants to get the best 11 guys on the field. Offering scholarships to your fullback accomplishes that. There’s a cost, though. It weakens your depth elsewhere. Frank Solich had four fullbacks on scholarship in 2003. The team had also fallen into what I’ve called “O-line hell� as they were forced to play Richie Incognito out of position and Dan Vili Waldrop out of shape. With four more scholarships to offer, could he have added better tackle prospects (and allowed Incognito to play a more natural interior line position)? You’d think so. But a fullback is pretty vital to an option offense, so I don’t second-guess Frank there.
But the walk-on by design model can hurt too. Ask Bobby Bowden. For years, his Florida State teams would lose critical games on missed field goals. He also tended to rely exclusively on walk-on kickers. Then he decided to change his ways (as Husker fans are painfully aware) and spend scholarships on kickers. He went on to win two national championships and tally a handful of other national championship game appearances.
So it’s hard to say whether or not it’s the right call to go back to offering scholarships to fullbacks, but you can say it’s absolutely consistent with Bo’s stated philosophy. You can also say that if Whaley or Zimmerer develop into all-conference talents, then their scholarships will be well spent.
Did you enjoy this article?
Get Husker news by email
Follow us on Twitter
Related Stories: Running Backs
Post a comment
darren May 19 08
Two thoughts in response to this post.
1) This is an excellent point about the use and value of scholarships in general, Steve. They are an important "currency" that staffs must learn to manage.
2) No doubt in my mind now, Tray Robinson was recruited as a fullback. See the highlight film now linked in the "wire" portion of the home page. He runs out of the FB spot (trap plays), lead blocks, and he catches the ball in an almost H-back mode in the power formations. He's a fullback.
So, to your point about using scholarships. IF you are going to use a scholarship on a FB, I'd think Robinson is the perfect case. This is a highly productive player (800 yards rushing, 200 receiving as a junior) on the best HS team in the state of Texas. FBs are not hyped recruits. But, if you are going to target one, I think he's got to be near the very top of the list.
Greg Morrow May 22 08
I'm trying to think of a better run blocker as an H back or tightend, than Dane Todd was as a FB. JB Phillips? Or even as good.
To develope a guy who'll go from 0 to ten yards quickly and deliver shoulder pads at the lowest possible level, with 240 lbs pushing him forward. That will get a middle 'backers attention. He's got to deal with that, even if it's not his first responsibility.
One every coulple of years, with walkons for competition would seem appropriate