Gurley Picked By Rams

I would have to say I have been a very lucky person in my life that as a high school and college sports broadcaster whether it was in a small towns like Ahoskie or Murfreesboro or a medium size North Carolina city like Rocky Mount I have covered some very good athletes in my life.

Kelvin Bryant in the 70's Tarboro, Carolina and the Redskins,, Timmy Newsome Ahoskie fullback for the Cowboys in the 80's. Nate McMillan of the Seattle Supersonics played  at Chowan.  I could make a list to cover this entire  blog today with out saying one thing about any of them.

We have no idea what an injury can do to any ball players future.  Right now injuries have slowed the progress of Brian Goodwin  from being the Washington National prize minor league player to 14th on the list.  We all hope his shoulder injury has fully healed but only time will tell whether he makes it up to the Big Leagues.

Thursday night the St Louis Rams picked Todd Gurley of the Tarboro Vikings and University of Georgia as the tenth player picked in the draft and right now he is recovering from major knee surgery.  How in the world does any team pick a player tenth in the draft coming off injuries and even before you pick him he still can't run for you to show you he still has what it takes to be a top flight runner in the NFL?

The reason is that Todd Gurley has shown throughout his high school career  that he was  a man among boys.   His college career has shown to be the best man among men.  If you recall he was the eighth fastest man in the world his senior year in high school and went to France and in a track meet over there.

There was that playoff Friday night in Edenton when Tarboro was a touchdown behind and time running out and Gurley limping after every play ran the ball on every play and Edenton even hurt could not tackle him and Tarboro won the game and eventually a state championship.

Every now and then there are players who come along that stand out above others.  If you recall he was the other running back picked from North Carolina by UGA.  The first game he was the starter and with his speed can run back kickoffs.  Pro football I doubt the Rams  wood be crazy enough to let him return kicks and be the #1 back.  That would be mighty risky with your franchise player.

I think if injuries don't curtail his career Todd Gurley is the next Adrian Peterson.  He loves at 220 pounds to put his head down and try to run over tacklers.  His speed he really doesn't have to do that but it is his mentally to if I can't run by you, run over you.  He will last longer if he runs out of bounds more than he does now.

The NFL running back of today is no more than five years of football life before the punishment delivered by the defense takes away speed and when the speed goes more tacklers will be able to front the ball carrier.

In my years of broadcasting I Haven't run across many who can dominant their sport the way he has his sport.  Jimmy Hunter pitching in high school and Legion and today is in the baseball Hall Of Fame. Gurley has a chance to be a great one.  If he can stay healthy.