BTN.com staff, October 4, 2012
When talking best running back in the Big Ten, BTN.com's Tom Dienhart and Brent Yarina agree it's Le?Veon Bell. Through five games, Bell leads Big Ten backs in yards (655 – yes, he also has most carries) and ranks in the top two in receptions (20) and receiving yards (125). He?s also a terrific blocker.
In other words, Bell's a complete back. It's the Big Ten's No. 2 back where our guys disagree. They debate it in this post, plus we include your tweets.
Brent: My guy is Northwestern?s Venric Mark. He's the top running back in my latest Player Rankings, a more week-to-week, what-have-you-done-for-me-lately thing, so the diminutive, electric Wildcat has to be my answer here.
Tom: Mark is an electric back with big-play ability. But I have to go with Iowa wunderkind Mark Weisman, who is one of the feel-good stories in college football this season. And Brent-I never in a million years thought any Hawkeye back would be in this conversation-let along leading it–back on Labor Day.
[RELATED: Week 6 Power Rankings | Week 6 Player Rankings | Week 6 Heisman Watch]
Brent: Interesting that neither of us went Montee Ball or Rex Burkhead. Guess we have injuries to thank for that. You?re right, though, Weisman is the best story in the Big Ten. His stiff-arm is out of this world, and I can watch the replays of it all day long. But I like Mark because he's so exciting – not to mention productive – and he should benefit the more Northwestern runs do-it-all Kain Colter, as it did last week.
Tom: Weisman is a tribute to the old ?luck? equation: preparation meets opportunity. And what makes the sophomore walk-on?s feats all the more incredible is he?s doing them without much help from the passing game and behind a line with three new starters. This is storybook stuff, Brent. Someone call Hollywood!!
Brent: Ha! It definitely is. It?s up there with Blair White, the hopeful dentist, and J.J. Watt, the former pizza delivery boy, when it comes to Big Ten walk-on stories. Mark is a good story, too. He added mass this offseason and changed positions, and he hasn?t shown any signs of a guy making such an adjustment.
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Tom: Yes, I like Mark, too, but I still wonder if at 5-8, 175, how well he can hold up. Is he really a feature back? Quarterback Kain Colter means as much-if not more-to Northwestern?s rush game. Still, Mark is a special guy in the open field and a big play waiting to happen. This just isn?t a great year for running backs in the Big Ten.
Brent: Size and durability are issues. But until they start to affect Mark, it?s unfair to hold that against him. One can make the same argument for Weisman, as well. I mean, neither of us know how he'll hold up to all of these carries. He?s a big guy, no doubt, but is he accustom to toting the rock THIS much?
Tom: Yes, Weisman isn?t a proven commodity over the long haul. But he is a 6-0, 225 pound fullback by trade. So, you?d figure he can take a licking. But, as other Hawkeye backs get healthy-guys like Damon Bullock and Greg Garmon-I have to think Weisman?s role could be reduced. Still, he is fun to watch and a great story.
Brent: Indeed. So we both went with a guy who has "Mark" in his name. Both are good options, but I'm sure BTN.com fans will be quick to make a case for for Ball and Burkhead.
Big Ten Rushing Leaders | ||||||||||
Rank | Player | Team | G | Rushes | Yds | Yds/G | Avg | TD | Long | |
1 | L. Bell | MSU | 5 | 134 | 655 | 131.0 | 4.9 | 5 | 40 | |
2 | B. Miller | OhioSt | 5 | 90 | 577 | 115.4 | 6.4 | 7 | 65 | |
3 | V. Mark | NW | 5 | 101 | 538 | 107.6 | 5.3 | 5 | 47 | |
4 | M. Weisman | Iowa | 5 | 74 | 515 | 103.0 | 7.0 | 7 | 44 | |
5 | A. Abdullah | Neb | 5 | 79 | 486 | 97.2 | 6.2 | 5 | 45 | |
6 | M. Ball | Wisc | 5 | 125 | 450 | 90.0 | 3.6 | 6 | 22 | |
7 | D. Robinson | Mich | 4 | 66 | 441 | 110.3 | 6.7 | 4 | 79 | |
8 | D. Kirkwood | Minn | 5 | 93 | 394 | 78.8 | 4.2 | 3 | 26 | |
9 | K. Colter | NW | 5 | 59 | 371 | 74.2 | 6.3 | 6 | 29 | |
10 | T. Martinez | Neb | 5 | 50 | 298 | 59.6 | 6.0 | 3 | 92 |
What do BTN.com fans think? Here are their tweets:
https://twitter.com/RevDJEsq/status/253508414733418497
@BTNBrentYarina Don't know if there is one. Lots of No. 3s and No. 4s, though.
— Michael Spath (@MichaelSpathITH) October 3, 2012
@BTNBrentYarina Well biased, but numbers so far for Weisman are off the charts. Beyond Bell's numbers, different schedule tho.
— enzyte bob (@hawkeyekirk) October 3, 2012
https://twitter.com/asinghal31/status/253509418510082048
@BTNBrentYarina Braxton Miller, and yes I know he doesn't play there. He's still the second best.
— Sports Interaction (@SIASport) October 3, 2012
@BTNBrentYarina Weisman, Abdullah, Houston, Hall, Mark have all been more productive. Just gotten fewer carries.
— Mike (@Mike_JM) October 3, 2012
@BTNBrentYarina Based on performance, probably Ameer Abdullah.
— Scott Benedict (@JF1Edge) October 3, 2012
@BTNBrentYarina Gotta be someone lined up behind Taylor Martinez…..
— RHenry ?? (@Chiefstormsky) October 3, 2012
@BTNBrentYarina Either of @Huskers Rex B or Ameer A! #GBR
— Todd R. Kerr (@ToddRKerr) October 3, 2012
https://twitter.com/i_Blazek/status/253522185061298177
https://twitter.com/Alicia_Barnhart/status/253514324885250048
@BTNBrentYarina Call me crazy, but I've said before when Stephen Houston is running hard and healthy, I think he's in that conversation.
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) October 3, 2012
@BTNBrentYarina could be fitz toussaint if he emerges this year. he hasnt done anything yet but i expect borges to get him more involved.
— Jacob Hicks (@jacobthicks) October 3, 2012
@BTNBrentYarina gotta say Ball. He's proven he can play at a high level…but you gotta love the hot streak of Weisman!!
— Jeremy W. Roberts (@HerkyNation) October 3, 2012
@BTNBrentYarina ummm Montee Ball, if he's not #1 he's definately #2!!!
— neslO neB (@Neslo24) October 3, 2012