Louisiana Top 10 Running Backs


JROCK

Preeminent
I ran across this list while reading about Leonard Fournette. What say you?

1. Marshall Faulk, Carver: Two-time NFL MVP; Super Bowl winner; Pro Football Hall of Famer.

2. Kevin Faulk, Carenco: Career rushing leader at LSU; three-time Super Bowl champion with New England Patriots.

3. Warrick Dunn, Baton Rouge-Catholic: 1997 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year; three-time Pro Bowl player with Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons.

4. Matt Forte, Slidell: Single-season rushing record holder at Tulane with 2,127 yards in 2007 and 2011 Pro Bowler with Chicago Bears.

5. Dalton Hilliard, Patterson: Fifth in SEC with 44 career touchdowns; Saints' third all-time leading rusher (4,164 yards).

6. Joe Delaney, Haughton: College Football Hall of Famer; 1981 NFL Rookie of the Year with Kansas City Chiefs.

7. Leroy Hoard, St. Augustine: 10-year NFL player; 1989 Rose Bowl MVP; 1994 Pro Bowl player with Cleveland Browns.

8. Joe McKnight, John Curtis: 2007 Parade Co-National Player of the Year; 2011 All-Pro as return specialist with New York Jets.

9. Johnny Hector, New Iberia: 10-year veteran of the New York Jets; led NFL with 11 touchdowns in 1987.

10. Travis Minor, Baton Rouge-Catholic: 1996 USA Today National Offensive Player of the Year; nine-year NFL veteran with Miami Dolphins and St. Louis Rams.

http://www.nola.com/recruiting/index.ssf/2013/12/fournette.html
 
A dynamic read from Sports Illustrated: Pride of New Orleans: The youth and promise of Leonard Fournette


NEW ORLEANS -- Leonard Fournette III is wearing clothes that don't quite fit. They're the right size, mostly, though his biceps are too snug in his sleeves, like grapefruits squeezed into canisters of tennis balls. But that's not the issue here. Something else about Fournette's wardrobe just feels off.

He's wearing the St. Augustine High class uniform -- a white button-down shirt and a tie, with a black pullover emblazoned with the interlocking school logo -- and perhaps that's what's so peculiar. This get-up is for children. At 6-foot-1 and 224 pounds, Fournette looks like a man.

It's a Wednesday in mid-February and he's sitting on a bench in front of the gymnasium, his back pressed to a faded yellow-brick wall. Lunch period at St. Aug has just begun, and students in grades 6-12 are spilling noisily across the blacktop. Fournette tries to blend in, but can't. After all, blending in has been virtually impossible for years.


Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/co...urnette-lsu-tigers-new-orleans/#ixzz30RiE3rq8
 
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Notable LA. Running Backs Missing and maybe up for debate:

Mewelde Moore, Brandon Jacobs, Cecil Collins, Anthony Thomas, Jeremy Hill, Eddie Lacy
 
I ran across this list while reading about Leonard Fournette. What say you?

1. Marshall Faulk, Carver: Two-time NFL MVP; Super Bowl winner; Pro Football Hall of Famer.

2. Kevin Faulk, Carenco: Career rushing leader at LSU; three-time Super Bowl champion with New England Patriots.

3. Warrick Dunn, Baton Rouge-Catholic: 1997 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year; three-time Pro Bowl player with Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons.

4. Matt Forte, Slidell: Single-season rushing record holder at Tulane with 2,127 yards in 2007 and 2011 Pro Bowler with Chicago Bears.

5. Dalton Hilliard, Patterson: Fifth in SEC with 44 career touchdowns; Saints' third all-time leading rusher (4,164 yards).

6. Joe Delaney, Haughton: College Football Hall of Famer; 1981 NFL Rookie of the Year with Kansas City Chiefs.

7. Leroy Hoard, St. Augustine: 10-year NFL player; 1989 Rose Bowl MVP; 1994 Pro Bowl player with Cleveland Browns.

8. Joe McKnight, John Curtis: 2007 Parade Co-National Player of the Year; 2011 All-Pro as return specialist with New York Jets.

9. Johnny Hector, New Iberia: 10-year veteran of the New York Jets; led NFL with 11 touchdowns in 1987.

10. Travis Minor, Baton Rouge-Catholic: 1996 USA Today National Offensive Player of the Year; nine-year NFL veteran with Miami Dolphins and St. Louis Rams.

http://www.nola.com/recruiting/index.ssf/2013/12/fournette.html

Ole Dalton! He was always good for a first down to keep the clock rolling.


Matt Forte was a beast at Tulane. His offensive line was absolutely pathetic and he still made plays. He was the Barry Sanders of the Green Wave.

Speaking of Tulane, it is amazing their current head coach Curtis Johnson, went to the lower 9th ward to recruit another player while being an assistant at SDSU. He saw Marshall Faulk on the other side of the field run 2 plays and then called the head coach at SDSU that they had to give Marshall an offer. Faulk had no division I offers! You want to talk about a man who knows talent when he sees it!
 
Notable LA. Running Backs Missing and maybe up for debate: We all know he would have gotten Ms. Mae Rose pregnant

Mewelde Moore, Brandon Jacobs, Cecil Collins, Anthony Thomas, Jeremy Hill, Eddie Lacy

Really, there shouldn't be no debate about Cecil Collins. It was his head. It just can't get right. We all know he would have gotten Ms. Mae Rose pregnant.

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Interesting that that the Top 10 players all went on to have good NFL careers. It looks like this list is based off of who had the best professional careers, but happened to play high school ball in LA...not really the best LA high school ballers. From just high school accolades alone, I'd expect to see three or four guys on that list I've never heard of.
 
A dynamic read from Sports Illustrated: Pride of New Orleans: The youth and promise of Leonard Fournette


NEW ORLEANS -- Leonard Fournette III is wearing clothes that don't quite fit. They're the right size, mostly, though his biceps are too snug in his sleeves, like grapefruits squeezed into canisters of tennis balls. But that's not the issue here. Something else about Fournette's wardrobe just feels off.

He's wearing the St. Augustine High class uniform -- a white button-down shirt and a tie, with a black pullover emblazoned with the interlocking school logo -- and perhaps that's what's so peculiar. This get-up is for children. At 6-foot-1 and 224 pounds, Fournette looks like a man.

It's a Wednesday in mid-February and he's sitting on a bench in front of the gymnasium, his back pressed to a faded yellow-brick wall. Lunch period at St. Aug has just begun, and students in grades 6-12 are spilling noisily across the blacktop. Fournette tries to blend in, but can't. After all, blending in has been virtually impossible for years.


Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/co...urnette-lsu-tigers-new-orleans/#ixzz30RiE3rq8

The good ole days minus the 6th - 8th graders.
 
Top 10 Breakdow by Region:

1) New Orleans- 4=M. Faulk, Forte, Hoard McKnight
2) Acadiana- 3=K. Faulk, Hilliard, Hector
3) Baton Rouge-2=Dunn, Minor
4) North LA.=1 Delaney
 
Interesting that that the Top 10 players all went on to have good NFL careers. It looks like this list is based off of who had the best professional careers, but happened to play high school ball in LA...not really the best LA high school ballers. From just high school accolades alone, I'd expect to see three or four guys on that list I've never heard of.

Everyone of those guys are LA. high school football legends......One would argue now it's time to muscle Fournette to the list. Two of the guys that I know of on the list are National High School Players of the Year (Travis Minor, Joe McKnight). High School Recruiting wars were simply bananas to ink Dunn out of Catholic BR & Johnny Hector New Iberia (if memory serves me correctly this guy was all over Sports Illustrated before he ended a fierce battle between LSU & Texas A&M by choosing the latter. If you add Fournette to this list, You will have at least 3 of the top 10 as National High School Players of the year. Kevin Faulk is a 2 time 5-A LA. High School MVP and a National High School All American.

Ironically the #1 guy on the list could have been a player you never heard of. Except some excellent recruiter saw him, took him way out to San Diego State and the rest is history. :lol: :emlaugh:
 
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Ole Dalton! He was always good for a first down to keep the clock rolling.


Matt Forte was a beast at Tulane. His offensive line was absolutely pathetic and he still made plays. He was the Barry Sanders of the Green Wave.

Speaking of Tulane, it is amazing their current head coach Curtis Johnson, went to the lower 9th ward to recruit another player while being an assistant at SDSU. He saw Marshall Faulk on the other side of the field run 2 plays and then called the head coach at SDSU that they had to give Marshall an offer. Faulk had no division I offers! You want to talk about a man who knows talent when he sees it!

Dalton Hilliards was a beast at LSU and was a cog in what was known as the "Dalton & James Gang". :lol: :emlaugh: Those boys had Tiger Vision as popular as all get up. If memory serves me correctly, for the Saints and LSU, you can count on Eric Martin for that sure 3rd down also. Who would have ever thought Hilliard and Martin would have ended up both playing for the Saints. Hell if they could have gotten Wendell Davis (Chi Bears), the Saints would have had an LSU trifecta. :lol: :emlaugh:
 
Kenny Hilliard is the state's all-time leading HS rusher, according to some Louisiana football website
No. 2 is Juice Williams
No. 3 is Cecil Collins
No. 4 is Anthony Williams

NOTE: According to NFHS.com, Southern Lab's Baron Jackson has the national career record for interceptions (62); Little Rock Central is 2nd for total state championships (32)
http://www.nfhs.org/recordbook/Records.aspx?CategoryId=1
 
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Kenny Hilliard is the state's all-time leading HS rusher, according to some Louisiana football website
No. 2 is Juice Williams
No. 3 is Cecil Collins
No. 4 is Anthony Williams

NOTE: According to NFHS.com, Southern Lab's Baron Jackson has the national career record for interceptions (62); Little Rock Central is 2nd for total state championships (32)
http://www.nfhs.org/recordbook/Records.aspx?CategoryId=1

I really thought Kenny Hilliard would get more playing time at LSU. It seems like someone for the last 2 years or so was just better. Sometimes the caliber of competition in High School and years as a starter can be a factor in stats though not taking anything from Hilliard. He may get more touches this year but I am guessing Fournette is going to be on the field sooner than latter.
 
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I really thought Kenny Hilliard would get more playing time at LSU. It seems like someone for the last 2-3 years was just better. Sometimes the caliber of competition in High School can be a factor in stats though not taking anything from Hilliard.

The emergence of Jeremy Hill kind of pushed Kenny Hilliard's progress down some. But Patterson's no slouch and just moved up to Class 4A last season.

Speaking of 4A, IMO, Class 4A (617-1,114 students) and 3A (415-616 students) are the toughest classes in Louisiana. Also, IMO District 5-4A, the Lafayette-area 4A District — Breaux Bridge, Cecilia, Northside, St. Martinville, St. Thomas More, Teurlings Catholic and Westgate — is arguably the the toughest football district in the state regardless of class.
I would've said the north Louisiana 5A district, but now there are enough 5A schools to split the north Louisiana 5As to two different districts. That being said 2-5A, the Monroe/CenLa district — ASH, Natchitoches Central, Ouachita Parish, Pineville, Ruston and West Monroe — is pretty damned strong too.

I'm happy the New Orleans Catholic League (District 9-5A) is back together — and it's a good sign for New Orleans in general — but at the moment all I see is Rummel and Aug running things. Jesuit's a traditional power, but Rummel has been on a great run these last few years and Aug is getting better as they get their numbers back up.

http://lhsaa.org/uploads/forms/pdf/FINAL_APPROVED_BASIC_DISTRICTS_FOR_2013-14_and_2014-15.pdf
 
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The emergence of Jeremy Hill kind of pushed Kenny Hilliard's progress down some. But Patterson's no slouch and just moved up to Class 4A last season.

Speaking of 4A, IMO, Class 4A (617-1,114 students) and 3A (415-616 students) are the toughest classes in Louisiana. Also, IMO District 5-4A, the Lafayette-area 4A District — Breaux Bridge, Cecilia, Northside, St. Martinville, St. Thomas More, Teurlings Catholic and Westgate — is arguably the the toughest football district in the state regardless of class.
I would've said the north Louisiana 5A district, but now there are enough 5A schools to split the north Louisiana 5As to two different districts. That being said 2-5A, the Monroe/CenLa district — ASH, Natchitoches Central, Ouachita Parish, Pineville, Ruston and West Monroe — is pretty damned strong too.

I'm happy the New Orleans Catholic League (District 9-5A) is back together — and it's a good sign for New Orleans in general — but at the moment all I see is Rummel and Aug running things. Jesuit's a traditional power, but Rummel has been on a great run these last few years and Aug is getting better as they get their numbers back up.

http://lhsaa.org/uploads/forms/pdf/FINAL_APPROVED_BASIC_DISTRICTS_FOR_2013-14_and_2014-15.pdf

Interesting........Looking at S. Louisiana When I think of Money in Acadiana/Lafayette Area, I think of 5-A Acadiana Wrecking Rams. Money in Lake Charles 5-A Alfred Barbe Bucs; Money in New Orleans John Curtis (though Karr, Aug, E. Jeff, Rummel has been on point); (I know you're talking leagues though........That top 3 in 5A District 3 are pretty tough N.I., Barbe & Acadia, not sure about the rest of the league though). I know some may not like this comment but, I don't have a whole lot of respect for Baton Rouge Area High School football though I know they have had some great players and teams from the area. For whatever reason when thinking BR high schools, I think basketball power.
 
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Interesting........Looking at S. Louisiana When I think of Money in Acadiana/Lafayette Area, I think of 5-A Acadiana Wrecking Rams. Money in Lake Charles 5-A Alfred Barbe Bucs; Money in New Orleans John Curtis (though Karr, Aug, E. Jeff, Rummel has been on point); (I know you're talking leagues though........That top 3 in 5A District 3 are pretty tough N.I., Barbe & Acadia, not sure about the rest of the league though). I know some may not like this comment but, I don't have a whole lot of respect for Baton Rouge Area High School football though I know they have had some great players and teams from the area. For whatever reason when thinking BR high schools, I think basketball power.

I don't really have that much respect for Baton Rouge-area HS football. Remember, a couple of years ago Dutchtown, St. Amant and EA were in a district with Hahnville, ESJ and Destrehan. The Ascension schools cried and moaned to the LHSAA to get out of that district.

Now certain schools/programs in the BR area I have some respect for (Catholic, Lab, Zachary, Notre Dame-Crowley, Lutcher, Parkview Baptist and Central as of late, as examples. I respect Parkview the most because I've covered Parkview several times and Guillot's teams were consistently good) ... but IMO, the power in 5A is the north Louisiana Districts, Acadiana, Barbe and the NOLA Catholic League.

I'm like you ... when I think of BR area preps, I automatically go to basketball first. Basketball is, IMO, where the tradition lies in BR. Football is the kang in north Louisiana, although there are some outstanding HS hoops programs in the north.

But I'm telling you, that Lafayette-area 4A district is murder. I remember a couple of years ago (before St. Thomas More moved down from 5A) ... the entire district damn near was in the top 10 in 4A. You normally would see like one or two teams. But at one time, you had Breaux Bridge, Teurlings, St. Martinville in the top 10 and Cecilia and Westgate on the outside of the top 10. There's a lot of good talent coming out of those schools (like Randall Menard from Breaux Bridge ... still surprised we got him, but I'm glad we have him).
 
The emergence of Jeremy Hill kind of pushed Kenny Hilliard's progress down some. But Patterson's no slouch and just moved up to Class 4A last season.

Speaking of 4A, IMO, Class 4A (617-1,114 students) and 3A (415-616 students) are the toughest classes in Louisiana. Also, IMO District 5-4A, the Lafayette-area 4A District — Breaux Bridge, Cecilia, Northside, St. Martinville, St. Thomas More, Teurlings Catholic and Westgate — is arguably the the toughest football district in the state regardless of class.
I would've said the north Louisiana 5A district, but now there are enough 5A schools to split the north Louisiana 5As to two different districts. That being said 2-5A, the Monroe/CenLa district — ASH, Natchitoches Central, Ouachita Parish, Pineville, Ruston and West Monroe — is pretty damned strong too.

I'm happy the New Orleans Catholic League (District 9-5A) is back together — and it's a good sign for New Orleans in general — but at the moment all I see is Rummel and Aug running things. Jesuit's a traditional power, but Rummel has been on a great run these last few years and Aug is getting better as they get their numbers back up.

http://lhsaa.org/uploads/forms/pdf/FINAL_APPROVED_BASIC_DISTRICTS_FOR_2013-14_and_2014-15.pdf


I don't think that District comes close to District 3-5A:

1. Acadiana
2. Barbe
3 Carencro
4 Comeaux
5 Houston, Sam
6 Lafayette
7 New Iberia
8 Sulphur
 
I don't really have that much respect for Baton Rouge-area HS football. Remember, a couple of years ago Dutchtown, St. Amant and EA were in a district with Hahnville, ESJ and Destrehan. The Ascension schools cried and moaned to the LHSAA to get out of that district.

Now certain schools/programs in the BR area I have some respect for (Catholic, Lab, Zachary, Notre Dame-Crowley, Lutcher, Parkview Baptist and Central as of late, as examples. I respect Parkview the most because I've covered Parkview several times and Guillot's teams were consistently good) ... but IMO, the power in 5A is the north Louisiana Districts, Acadiana, Barbe and the NOLA Catholic League.

I'm like you ... when I think of BR area preps, I automatically go to basketball first. Basketball is, IMO, where the tradition lies in BR. Football is the kang in north Louisiana, although there are some outstanding HS hoops programs in the north.

But I'm telling you, that Lafayette-area 4A district is murder. I remember a couple of years ago (before St. Thomas More moved down from 5A) ... the entire district damn near was in the top 10 in 4A. You normally would see like one or two teams. But at one time, you had Breaux Bridge, Teurlings, St. Martinville in the top 10 and Cecilia and Westgate on the outside of the top 10. There's a lot of good talent coming out of those schools (like Randall Menard from Breaux Bridge ... still surprised we got him, but I'm glad we have him).


That was a loaded district too.

You don't respect Scotlandville? They have been loaded for the past few seasons, just can't seem to make the plays in the post-season.
 
I don't really have that much respect for Baton Rouge-area HS football. Remember, a couple of years ago Dutchtown, St. Amant and EA were in a district with Hahnville, ESJ and Destrehan. The Ascension schools cried and moaned to the LHSAA to get out of that district.

Now certain schools/programs in the BR area I have some respect for (Catholic, Lab, Zachary, Notre Dame-Crowley, Lutcher, Parkview Baptist and Central as of late, as examples. I respect Parkview the most because I've covered Parkview several times and Guillot's teams were consistently good) ... but IMO, the power in 5A is the north Louisiana Districts, Acadiana, Barbe and the NOLA Catholic League.

I'm like you ... when I think of BR area preps, I automatically go to basketball first. Basketball is, IMO, where the tradition lies in BR. Football is the kang in north Louisiana, although there are some outstanding HS hoops programs in the north.

But I'm telling you, that Lafayette-area 4A district is murder. I remember a couple of years ago (before St. Thomas More moved down from 5A) ... the entire district damn near was in the top 10 in 4A. You normally would see like one or two teams. But at one time, you had Breaux Bridge, Teurlings, St. Martinville in the top 10 and Cecilia and Westgate on the outside of the top 10. There's a lot of good talent coming out of those schools (like Randall Menard from Breaux Bridge ... still surprised we got him, but I'm glad we have him).

I have respect for the Notre Dame Pios but they are not from the Baton Rouge area. ND is from Acadiana (Lafayette Area). I agree with most of what you're saying though. I'm not sure I would give Lutcher to BR area either but I guess it is up for debate. It's kind of sitting in between New Orleans and BR.
 
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It will be interesting to see when Louisiana Prep Receiver Malachi Dupre (LSU) coming out party will be this fall. Believe me it's coming sooner than later.
malachi-dupre1.jpg



Recruiting Malachi Dupre

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Louisiana State University Signed
Florida State University Offered

University of Mississippi Offered
Tulane University Offered
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University of California, Los Angeles Offered
Kansas State University Offered
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University of Miami (Florida) Offered
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Auburn University Offered
Clemson University Offered
University of Notre Dame Offered
Texas A&M University, College Station Offered
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa Offered

San Diego State University Offered

Malachi_Dupre_action_t300.jpg
 
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That was a loaded district too.

You don't respect Scotlandville? They have been loaded for the past few seasons, just can't seem to make the plays in the post-season.

I respect Scotlandville's talent level. I think it's as good as anyone's in Class 5A. But the talent level is not translating into playoff runs. I put more respect into consistent deep playoff runs, execution in the games and trips to the 'Dome.

Now when they damn near lost to Live Oak in the regular season ... that was a matter of playing down to the level of the opponent. On paper and eye test, Scotland should've blown them cats out of the water. The McKinley game is a rivalry game, and strange things happen in those games. But I thought Scotland was the better squad.

Now the things you get away with against Live Oak and McKinley will not get you past the Rummels of the world. Scotland had equal to more talent than Rummel, but Rummel out-executed Scotland and bounced them from the playoffs.

I have cousins that play for coach Randall. I always respected the way the team plays for Eric. I think the program is a year or two away from a Dome run. Especially how the playoffs are split now. The possibility North Baton Rouge kids going to Scotlandville due to school choice/get pilfered by Central and Zachary and private schools is also a factor.

Now Number1: outside of Acadiana and Barbe, maybe only Sulphur has been consistenly ranked/making deep playoff runs in the last 10 years ... In 5A, would you say 3-5A is better than 2-5A (West Monroe, Ouachita Parish, Ruston and others)?
 
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Barbe has done a North Louisiana 2 step the last 2 years. I remember they bushwacked Evangel Christian in 2012 (new EC was going into a hornets nest.....John Curtis is smart enough to not fool around too much on the road in SW Louisiana against quality foes) and then gave it to West Monroe in 2013.
 
Barbe has done a North Louisiana 2 step the last 2 years. I remember they bushwacked Evangel Christian in 2012 (new EC was going into a hornets nest.....John Curtis is smart enough to not fool around too much on the road in SW Louisiana against quality foes) and then gave it to West Monroe in 2013.

I still say the Evangel-Kentwood 1A semifinal game under the water tower I covered was the best high school football game I've ever watched, if not the best.
But now Evangel is starting to feel the effects of the split from the Booty family (Calvary Baptist) and now everybody runs that spread offense that Evangel ran for years. Time has caught up to Evangel.
 
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