Author's Note: Last year, before I became a Front Page Author, I posted a few pieces on the top college prospects at the very beginning of the college football season for '09-'10. There are roughly 22 positions (11 on each side of the ball) to focus on. Each week, leading up to the very first NCAA Football Game for the '10-'11 Season, I will take a look at one of the positions. Each position will vary in the amount of players I cover. Number of players per position will range anywhere from 10-20 of the top prospects. I will be ranking them as to where I think they will be slotted in next years draft should they all enter. Mind you, these are just my opinions, but I feel that the rankings are going to be pretty close to the opinions of the rest of the Nation. I haven't seen any preseason player rankings yet, so it should be interesting to compare to once they come out.
Ever since the NFL has trended more and more in to a passing league, the fullback position has dominished some; or the usage of the fullback rather. Back in the good ol' days, the fullback position was used quite a bit more because the NFL ran the ball quite a bit more. However, it seems as though a few teams are headed back toward power running games... or at least making the attempt to. I believe that the teams who want to establish a solid run game, and jam it down the other teams throat, absolutely must have a passing game that is somewhat dangerous as well.
Although the niche that I have fallen in to with the site is mainly doing the college football coverage, the 49ers could very well have a fairly significant need at this specific position. Let's face it, Moran Norris is going to be forced to hang it up soon (possibly even before the season begins this year). It's still uncertain whether or not Brit Miller will make the 53-man roster this year, but if any player can be molded in to the next Tom Rathman, Running Backs Coach Tom Rathman seems like the perfect coach to make that happen and it seems to me that Brit Miller would be a very good candidate to fit that mold.
After the break, we will take a look at a few of the better NCAA Fullbacks that could potentially be entering the NFL Draft in 2011.
Here are the top 5 fullbacks possibly entering the draft next year:
1. D.J. WILLIAMS | 6'2", 251 LBS. | ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS - The Razorbacks have a lot of potential on the offensive side of the ball this year. Williams will be a pivotal piece both in the run in short yardage situations and potentially in to pass block on certain plays. He catches the ball exceptionally and will line up as tight end often considering the Hawgs like to run the spread, he opens holes that a truck could drive through on the occasions that Arkansas lines up in a two-back set. Williams could very well be the very first fullback/ tight end off the board at that position. He is definitely a player worth keeping an eye on. (((Click Here For Highlights)))
| Stats Overview | Receiving | Rushing | Fumbles | |||||||||
| YEAR | REC | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | ATT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | FUM | LST |
| 2007 | 5 | 94 | 18.8 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 58 | 699 | 12.1 | 76 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 32 | 411 | 12.8 | 69 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2. STANLEY HAVILI | 6'1", 230 LBS. | USC TROJANS - Havili is the guy who could surpass Williams for the number one Fullback selected in the next draft. He is an ironhead out of the back field and if he were to play on either side of the ball he would be just as much of a menace on the field. He's everything that you would want from a player at that particular position. (((Click Here For Highlights)))
| Stats Overview | Rushing | Receiving | Fumbles | |||||||||
| YEAR | ATT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | REC | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | FUM | LST |
| 2006 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 24 | 6.0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | 21 | 134 | 6.4 | 50 | 2 | 34 | 248 | 7.3 | 35 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 13 | 71 | 5.5 | 11 | 0 | 24 | 324 | 13.5 | 50 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 21 | 138 | 6.6 | 38 | 0 | 22 | 298 | 13.5 | 56 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
3. CHARLES CLAY | 6'1", 230 LBS. | TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANE - Even though Clay plays for a smaller school, he has received some national attention for his grit and toughness. When the Hurricane take the field, even against the bigger schools, this guy always seems to stand out. Players that stand outlike that tend to get scouted by more pro teams even if they are playing for a lesser known university. (((Click Here For Highlights)))
| Stats Overview | Rushing | Receiving | Fumbles | |||||||||
| YEAR | ATT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | REC | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | FUM | LST |
| 2007 | 57 | 304 | 5.3 | 30 | 1 | 69 | 1024 | 14.8 | 53 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 25 | 145 | 5.8 | 40 | 2 | 38 | 464 | 12.2 | 73 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 63 | 236 | 3.7 | 20 | 7 | 39 | 530 | 13.6 | 63 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
4. SHAUN CHAPAS | 6'3", 240 LBS. | GEORGIA BULLDOGS - Chapas will be a key component to the Bulldogs having a better running game this year. Having players like A.J. Green on the team will make it hard to ignore the passing game though. I believe playing for a larger school, Chapas will have plenty of opportunity to shine. I don't think there is any question that he is a top 5 fullback. (((Click Here For Highlights)))
Stats Overview
Rushing
Receiving
Fumbles
YEAR
ATT
YDS
AVG
LNG
TD
REC
YDS
AVG
LNG
TD
FUM
LST
2007
53
294
5.5
45
4
3
17
5.7
13
0
0
0
2008
112
382
3.4
18
4
14
93
6.6
15
0
0
0
2009
88
416
4.7
37
5
19
193
10.2
30
0
0
0
5. ROBERT HUGHES | 5'11", 234 LBS. | NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH - The Fighting Irish can be one of the top teams in the nation this year. I believe that they have more talent coming in to this season than they did last year. Not to mention plenty of depth. Hughes could be a crucial piece to helping Cierre Wood become one of leading rushers in the nation this year. Notre Dame is going to be a pass heavy team but I believe Kelly will still try to bring some balance to that offense in some form or another. (((Click Here For Highlights)))
| Stats Overview | Rushing | Receiving | Fumbles | |||||||||
| YEAR | ATT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | REC | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | FUM | LST |
| 2007 | 53 | 294 | 5.5 | 45 | 4 | 3 | 17 | 5.7 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 112 | 382 | 3.4 | 18 | 4 | 14 | 93 | 6.6 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 88 | 416 | 4.7 | 37 | 5 | 19 | 193 | 10.2 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Note: We only have the tackle position left to look at on the offensive side of the ball before we turn it over to looking at the defensive positions.