Former Rocky Mount Gryphon Collins Cuthrell was named the Peach Belt Player of the year in baseball tonight at the Peach Belt Tournament banquet. The redshirt senior third baseman missed becoming the second player in Peach Belt history to Win the triple crown leading the conference in batting average, home runs and RBI.
Cuthrell hit 443 batting average which was second in the league after the leader hit 445. He did lead in homers 25 and RBI 74. The Peach Belt tournament starts Saturday. Cuthrell on the year finished high up in the nation in just about every offensive category and is still in the running for the National Player of the Year.
Rocky Mount High School girls relay team took home two state championships Friday and they were lead by a freshman. London Green a Gryphon Freshman and Nyana Edwards and Laneeja Sheppard were members of both winning teams in the 4x100. They were joined by Teyanna Dessaure in the winning time of 49:08
They also won the 4x200 in a time of 1:43:36 and and they were teammates with Brittany Bickford in becoming state champs. The two wins were good for 20 points and the sum total that Rocky Mount scored on the day. The Lady Gryphons finished tenth in the team total leading the Big East. Nash Central finished 12th.
Only three big East teams scored points for their teams. Rocky Mount finished 21st, Hunt 13th and Fike 24th. The most impressive performance of the day came from Fike's Ian West. You may have seen him be the Tom Suitor Extra Effort Award winner last night and today he won the pole vault reaching 16 feet which is the state record in all classifications.
Today was not a good day for the Big East in tennis as both doubles teams from Fike lost and both singles players from Nash County lost. Northern Nash singles player Tremel lost in the quarter finals 6-3- 6-1 while Rocky Mount singles player George Shannon lost 6-0-6-0. The Regional doubles team of Reid Harris and Sunny Sandusky lost in the quarters 6-4-6-2. Fike other doubles team Lee Holmes and Will Benson lost 6-0-6-3.
Friday, May 8, 2015
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Former Gryphon Now A CEO
Cisco Systems announced on Wednesday that Chuck Robbins a graduate of Rocky Mount Senior High and a member of the 1982 state championship basketball team has been named CEO of Cisco Systems. Cisco founded in 1984 had in 2014 gross revenues of 142 billion dollars. It is a Fortune 500 company
Robbins graduated from Carolina in 1987 and has spent the last 17 years climbing the ladder at Cisco
He will take over for the retiring CEO on July 1st.
This week has turned out to be a very big week for Northern Nash. Tonight the girls softball team won the Big East Tournament beating Southern Nash 5-0. Fike hosted Northern Nash boys in baseball and Northern has won this year's tournament having to win three games and in the process beat Rocky Mount the second seed and the top seed Fike back to back on the road 8-0. The Fike girls won the Big East soccer tournament which was no surprise. The surprise was the score 2-1. That is the first goal Fike has allowed in all 12 Big East games played this year.
This weekend the Big East will be well represented during the State Championships singles and doubles men's tennis championships. Fike who dominated the doubles winning first and second in the Conference tournament and Regional will have both their top two teams in Burlington starting today.
Conference and Regional champs Reid Harris and Sunny Sandu will meet a team from Cardinal Gibbons Kyler Zadell and Brody Chapman. The number two team from Fike second in the conference and Regional behind their teammates Lee Holmes and Will Benson will face off against a doubles team from Chapel Hill Bryan Zhan and Jarad Weber.
The singles will be represented by Northern Nash and Rocky Mount as Northern's Tremel Davis will take on Cameron Union Pines singles player Will Hart. Rocky Mount sends George Shannon to the court to face Matt Galush of Cardinal Gibbons
Have some very sad news to pass along about one of the people who I work beside covering sports in the area. Heard Tuesday night that Jesse Nunnery and his wife Dorea lost their three month old baby son Elijah this week. I know if I see any of my children go before me that will be a tragic event and it seems even more so when it is with a three month old child.
I don't know if any one can express to parents when have lost a child how deep it hurts for all of us that know Jesse and I don't know that I have ever met Dorea. I can only leave you with these words. The Lord has a plan. Jesse Even though we might not cross paths for a while I hurt for you during your time of stress. God be with you.
Robbins graduated from Carolina in 1987 and has spent the last 17 years climbing the ladder at Cisco
He will take over for the retiring CEO on July 1st.
This week has turned out to be a very big week for Northern Nash. Tonight the girls softball team won the Big East Tournament beating Southern Nash 5-0. Fike hosted Northern Nash boys in baseball and Northern has won this year's tournament having to win three games and in the process beat Rocky Mount the second seed and the top seed Fike back to back on the road 8-0. The Fike girls won the Big East soccer tournament which was no surprise. The surprise was the score 2-1. That is the first goal Fike has allowed in all 12 Big East games played this year.
This weekend the Big East will be well represented during the State Championships singles and doubles men's tennis championships. Fike who dominated the doubles winning first and second in the Conference tournament and Regional will have both their top two teams in Burlington starting today.
Conference and Regional champs Reid Harris and Sunny Sandu will meet a team from Cardinal Gibbons Kyler Zadell and Brody Chapman. The number two team from Fike second in the conference and Regional behind their teammates Lee Holmes and Will Benson will face off against a doubles team from Chapel Hill Bryan Zhan and Jarad Weber.
The singles will be represented by Northern Nash and Rocky Mount as Northern's Tremel Davis will take on Cameron Union Pines singles player Will Hart. Rocky Mount sends George Shannon to the court to face Matt Galush of Cardinal Gibbons
Have some very sad news to pass along about one of the people who I work beside covering sports in the area. Heard Tuesday night that Jesse Nunnery and his wife Dorea lost their three month old baby son Elijah this week. I know if I see any of my children go before me that will be a tragic event and it seems even more so when it is with a three month old child.
I don't know if any one can express to parents when have lost a child how deep it hurts for all of us that know Jesse and I don't know that I have ever met Dorea. I can only leave you with these words. The Lord has a plan. Jesse Even though we might not cross paths for a while I hurt for you during your time of stress. God be with you.
Big Changes Coming
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association Board of Directors have set the wheel turning in order for a major change in the 2017 high school realignment. They have adopted the 20-30-30-20 rule. Where are we headed during the next realignments? Let's say there are 360 schools during the next realignment. The smallest 20 per cent or 72 schools will be classified 1-A while the next 30 per cent or 108 schools will be 2-A, the next 30 or 108 schools will be 3-A and the largest 20 percent will be classified as 4-A or 72 schools.
Get out last years ADM's or average daily attendance figures and there may be a major shift in the Big East. There might be some that drop to 2-A. Too early to tell how this is going to play out but say a Washington, West Craven just might wind up associated with what is called the Big East now and gone will be this tight compact conference.
The next biggest issue is that the basketball playoff will now have four rounds at the home of the highest seeded team instead of going to a regional sight like Fayetteville. The regional final will be played at a neutral site suitable to host large crowds. That will go into effect this upcoming basketball season as a one year trial to reevaluate after seeing it done this way for a year.
Many football rules are being adjusted including only one hour of full tackling contact per week of practice per group. This is an obvious attempt to reduce injury but one side bar from this could lead to poor quality of tackling during games. This will go into affect August First of this year.
During preseason if you practice twice a day the two hour session cannot have full contact. It has finally come. 10 days of spring football practice is here. It is being called unlimited skills development. This must be completed before ten days of final exams.
Thursday night both softball and baseball will be playing the tournament finals in the Big East. Northern Nash boys will play at Fike while Northern Nash girls will play Southern Nash.
Looks as if Mike Fox after his Tarheel baseball team has had a week off for exams is setting up his pitching rotation for the ACC Tournament. Tuesday Fox pitch Benton Moss in a Tuesday game against UNC -Asheville. The Heels won 11-2 getting Benton to 7-0 on the season and his 26th Tarheel win which is five short or now tied for eighth all time in Tar Heel wins.
Surely looks at though Fox is lining up his pitcher for possible Wednesday-Thursday-Friday ACC Tournament. Looks as if Benton is being set to pitch the Tar Heels first Tournament game regardless of what day it is on. The Heels still have Notre Dame and Virginia to finish ACC play the next two weekends. The way the ACC tournament format is set up you just about have to win game one or the other two games don't matter.
Get out last years ADM's or average daily attendance figures and there may be a major shift in the Big East. There might be some that drop to 2-A. Too early to tell how this is going to play out but say a Washington, West Craven just might wind up associated with what is called the Big East now and gone will be this tight compact conference.
The next biggest issue is that the basketball playoff will now have four rounds at the home of the highest seeded team instead of going to a regional sight like Fayetteville. The regional final will be played at a neutral site suitable to host large crowds. That will go into effect this upcoming basketball season as a one year trial to reevaluate after seeing it done this way for a year.
Many football rules are being adjusted including only one hour of full tackling contact per week of practice per group. This is an obvious attempt to reduce injury but one side bar from this could lead to poor quality of tackling during games. This will go into affect August First of this year.
During preseason if you practice twice a day the two hour session cannot have full contact. It has finally come. 10 days of spring football practice is here. It is being called unlimited skills development. This must be completed before ten days of final exams.
Thursday night both softball and baseball will be playing the tournament finals in the Big East. Northern Nash boys will play at Fike while Northern Nash girls will play Southern Nash.
Looks as if Mike Fox after his Tarheel baseball team has had a week off for exams is setting up his pitching rotation for the ACC Tournament. Tuesday Fox pitch Benton Moss in a Tuesday game against UNC -Asheville. The Heels won 11-2 getting Benton to 7-0 on the season and his 26th Tarheel win which is five short or now tied for eighth all time in Tar Heel wins.
Surely looks at though Fox is lining up his pitcher for possible Wednesday-Thursday-Friday ACC Tournament. Looks as if Benton is being set to pitch the Tar Heels first Tournament game regardless of what day it is on. The Heels still have Notre Dame and Virginia to finish ACC play the next two weekends. The way the ACC tournament format is set up you just about have to win game one or the other two games don't matter.
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Northern Clinches Playoff Spot
Tonight Rocky Mount hosted Northern Nash in the semi finals of the Big East Tournament. Since Rocky Mount didn't have senior night last week when the season ending NN/RM game was pushed up to last Wednesday they held it tonight for the four Gryphon seniors.
Blake Helms a senior was introduced as all four Gryphons but tonight Helms carried a extra burden as at 5pm the new Rocky Mount Memorial Gardens was dedicated in the memory of his mother Brenda Gurganus. That is an emotional load to put on any player the night that his team is playing their biggest game of the year, it's senior night and now a dedication to your mother who passed last year about this time.
Helms struck the first batter out but walked and hit batters two and three. Then the cleanup hitter Chad Nelms hit a screaming line drive right at Gryphon right fielder Josh Huerta with the sun in his eyes and of course one of the few times the sun has been out at any game this year goes right through his glove and two runs score.
Now on the Northern side coach Leonard Allen made the decision to try to get by with his number three pitcher holding His ace Derrick Carter out to the possible Thursday championship game with Fike who beat Nash Central 7-0 tonight. Boy did that decision pay off. Whit Casper gave up an infield single to lead off batter Forest Bell in the top of the first and did not give up another until one out in the sixth when David Harrison tripled off the right centerfield wall and would score
when Logan Pearce singled driving in Harrison which was at that time Rocky Mount second run of the game and cut the Northern lead to 6-2
Northern had whittled away all night on Blake Helms who in five plus innings allowed only six hits but Northern score one in the third and three in the sixth which upped the Northern lead to 6-1 and now coach Allen more than ever wants to win this game without using Carter. Once The Gryphons cut it to six two and one more walk by Casper, Allen made his first pitching change and by the end of the sixth Rocky Mount has cut the score to 6-5 with the bases loaded and a 2 balls no strikes on the best power hitter the Gryphons have in Josh Carter. Not being able to take it any more Allen brings in Carter who proceeded to strike Josh Carter out ending the Gryphon Rally.
Northern survives a Gryphon scare and wins 6-5 as Carter pitches the seventh inning to save the Knight victory. Northern will now play Fike Thursday night at Fike for the Big East Tournament championship. This game will be of great interest to Rocky Mount for if Northern wins Thursday they will jump to the number two seed and Rocky Mount would fall to third and a road game in the opening round of the state playoffs instead of a home game as the number two seed.
Blake Helms a senior was introduced as all four Gryphons but tonight Helms carried a extra burden as at 5pm the new Rocky Mount Memorial Gardens was dedicated in the memory of his mother Brenda Gurganus. That is an emotional load to put on any player the night that his team is playing their biggest game of the year, it's senior night and now a dedication to your mother who passed last year about this time.
Helms struck the first batter out but walked and hit batters two and three. Then the cleanup hitter Chad Nelms hit a screaming line drive right at Gryphon right fielder Josh Huerta with the sun in his eyes and of course one of the few times the sun has been out at any game this year goes right through his glove and two runs score.
Now on the Northern side coach Leonard Allen made the decision to try to get by with his number three pitcher holding His ace Derrick Carter out to the possible Thursday championship game with Fike who beat Nash Central 7-0 tonight. Boy did that decision pay off. Whit Casper gave up an infield single to lead off batter Forest Bell in the top of the first and did not give up another until one out in the sixth when David Harrison tripled off the right centerfield wall and would score
when Logan Pearce singled driving in Harrison which was at that time Rocky Mount second run of the game and cut the Northern lead to 6-2
Northern had whittled away all night on Blake Helms who in five plus innings allowed only six hits but Northern score one in the third and three in the sixth which upped the Northern lead to 6-1 and now coach Allen more than ever wants to win this game without using Carter. Once The Gryphons cut it to six two and one more walk by Casper, Allen made his first pitching change and by the end of the sixth Rocky Mount has cut the score to 6-5 with the bases loaded and a 2 balls no strikes on the best power hitter the Gryphons have in Josh Carter. Not being able to take it any more Allen brings in Carter who proceeded to strike Josh Carter out ending the Gryphon Rally.
Northern survives a Gryphon scare and wins 6-5 as Carter pitches the seventh inning to save the Knight victory. Northern will now play Fike Thursday night at Fike for the Big East Tournament championship. This game will be of great interest to Rocky Mount for if Northern wins Thursday they will jump to the number two seed and Rocky Mount would fall to third and a road game in the opening round of the state playoffs instead of a home game as the number two seed.
Monday, May 4, 2015
It's Northern Rocky Mount Again
They played this 3/6 Big East Tournament playoff game at Northern Nash at 4pm this afternoon and Northern needing to advance to hold on to the third spot in the Big East seeding made quick work of the 6th seed Southern Nash winning 10-0 in five innings.
Tyler Barrett held the Firebirds in check and the Knights bats scored twice in the second and three in the third and that was all they would need but they added five more by the fifth and the mercy rule was in force.
This will send Northern to Rocky Mount to face off in the semi-finals Tuesday Night. They split with Northern winning 7-0 early in the year at Northern while Rocky Mount shocked the Knights last Wednesday 2-1 to assume second place in the Big East seedings. The winner Tuesday night will play for the conference Tournament championship Thursday night at the home of the top seeded team still standing after Tuesday night's games.
Tonight Nash Central traveled to Hunt in the 4/5 tournament game and Nash Central jump to a 3-0 lead and held on to win their third straight game knocking off Hunt 4-3. Nash Central will now travel Tuesday night to Fike the Big East number one seed at 7pm.
Since the Rocky Mount - Northern Nash Regular season finale was push up to last Wednesday Rocky Mount did not have their senior night activities so that will start at 6:45pm just before the first pitch at Rocky Mount Tuesday.
Southern Nash will be honored Thursday night at the NCHSAA Awards ceremony when they will win the Sportsmanship Award. How did the Firebirds win this honor? First of all they had no athlete or student ejected from any sporting event this year. They had every student, student athlete watch a 45 second film on how all students should act at sporting event.
All coaches during meetings went through training on how they were to act and every parent had to receive training. Southern also assigned a person to greet every official while they were at any Southern home game and to make sure their stay was as pleasant as possible while on Southern's campus.
Coach Robbie Kennedy Athletic Director at Southern states that Southern Nash wanted to go the extra mile to show what Southern Nash stands for. That extra mile has made Southern Nash the North Carolina High School Sportsmanship Award for 2015.
Tyler Barrett held the Firebirds in check and the Knights bats scored twice in the second and three in the third and that was all they would need but they added five more by the fifth and the mercy rule was in force.
This will send Northern to Rocky Mount to face off in the semi-finals Tuesday Night. They split with Northern winning 7-0 early in the year at Northern while Rocky Mount shocked the Knights last Wednesday 2-1 to assume second place in the Big East seedings. The winner Tuesday night will play for the conference Tournament championship Thursday night at the home of the top seeded team still standing after Tuesday night's games.
Tonight Nash Central traveled to Hunt in the 4/5 tournament game and Nash Central jump to a 3-0 lead and held on to win their third straight game knocking off Hunt 4-3. Nash Central will now travel Tuesday night to Fike the Big East number one seed at 7pm.
Since the Rocky Mount - Northern Nash Regular season finale was push up to last Wednesday Rocky Mount did not have their senior night activities so that will start at 6:45pm just before the first pitch at Rocky Mount Tuesday.
Southern Nash will be honored Thursday night at the NCHSAA Awards ceremony when they will win the Sportsmanship Award. How did the Firebirds win this honor? First of all they had no athlete or student ejected from any sporting event this year. They had every student, student athlete watch a 45 second film on how all students should act at sporting event.
All coaches during meetings went through training on how they were to act and every parent had to receive training. Southern also assigned a person to greet every official while they were at any Southern home game and to make sure their stay was as pleasant as possible while on Southern's campus.
Coach Robbie Kennedy Athletic Director at Southern states that Southern Nash wanted to go the extra mile to show what Southern Nash stands for. That extra mile has made Southern Nash the North Carolina High School Sportsmanship Award for 2015.
Big East baseball Tournament Starts Tonight
Don't care what level of competition you play any end of the season tournament means different things for each team playing Those already guaranteed playoff spots Fike 8-2 13-6
first in the Big East and Rocky Mount 6-4-10-8 get to keep playing to stay in the rhythm for next weeks state tournament and then those that are sweating of making the state tournament.
The biggest sweater of all is Northern Nash 5-5-9-11 the number three seed. The Big East is provided three spots in this years state tournament but the way the conference tournaments rolls if any team seeded 4th or worse win the conference tournament they move up to the second seed in the state tournament from the Big East and second seed Rocky Mount falls to third. Fike the number one seed keeps number one regardless but Northern sitting on the catbird seat would be out.
There is always the possibility that something like basketball could occur and every team make the tournament but that is not likely in baseball since the seedings in the state tournament after your conference slots are filled are based on best overall record of the teams hoping to get in and no team below second has a winning record and that does not lean well for the Big East.
Then there are the bottom feeders Hunt 5-5 10-10 Hunt beat Fike Saturday 6-3 but they hold fourth but would seem to have to win tournament to get in State playoffs. They could steal third spot by winning more games in tournament than Northern Nash. Nash Central 4-6 - 5-13. Winners of their last two games in conference and you know they think this is their tournament for the taking. The bottom is held up by Southern Nash 2-8 -5-13. Middle of the season were scaring everyone to death but didn't finish well. Northern Nash host Southern Nash at 4pm Today.
These three teams truly need to win tournament to make no doubt they play next week. If they don't baseball season could be over.
Tonight's action finds Nash Central traveling to Hunt so for one of the teams hoping to win tournament to stay alive they will be alive Tuesday. They will head to Fike Tuesday night who Saturday lost their First game since March 31st when they lost at home 8-4 to Rocky Mount.
Southern Nash will travel to Northern Nash and for the Firebirds this is their last shot. If they lose tonight their record simply will not get them in to next week. Northern if they win takes out one of those teams that could steal third from them. The winner travels to Rocky Mount Tuesday for the semi finals to take on a Gryphon team winners of four of their last five conference games.
This league has been so close this year there is no reason to believe that Nash Central or the likes could not win it this year. If baseball goes like basketball then the top dog will win. We will find out Thursday.
first in the Big East and Rocky Mount 6-4-10-8 get to keep playing to stay in the rhythm for next weeks state tournament and then those that are sweating of making the state tournament.
The biggest sweater of all is Northern Nash 5-5-9-11 the number three seed. The Big East is provided three spots in this years state tournament but the way the conference tournaments rolls if any team seeded 4th or worse win the conference tournament they move up to the second seed in the state tournament from the Big East and second seed Rocky Mount falls to third. Fike the number one seed keeps number one regardless but Northern sitting on the catbird seat would be out.
There is always the possibility that something like basketball could occur and every team make the tournament but that is not likely in baseball since the seedings in the state tournament after your conference slots are filled are based on best overall record of the teams hoping to get in and no team below second has a winning record and that does not lean well for the Big East.
Then there are the bottom feeders Hunt 5-5 10-10 Hunt beat Fike Saturday 6-3 but they hold fourth but would seem to have to win tournament to get in State playoffs. They could steal third spot by winning more games in tournament than Northern Nash. Nash Central 4-6 - 5-13. Winners of their last two games in conference and you know they think this is their tournament for the taking. The bottom is held up by Southern Nash 2-8 -5-13. Middle of the season were scaring everyone to death but didn't finish well. Northern Nash host Southern Nash at 4pm Today.
These three teams truly need to win tournament to make no doubt they play next week. If they don't baseball season could be over.
Tonight's action finds Nash Central traveling to Hunt so for one of the teams hoping to win tournament to stay alive they will be alive Tuesday. They will head to Fike Tuesday night who Saturday lost their First game since March 31st when they lost at home 8-4 to Rocky Mount.
Southern Nash will travel to Northern Nash and for the Firebirds this is their last shot. If they lose tonight their record simply will not get them in to next week. Northern if they win takes out one of those teams that could steal third from them. The winner travels to Rocky Mount Tuesday for the semi finals to take on a Gryphon team winners of four of their last five conference games.
This league has been so close this year there is no reason to believe that Nash Central or the likes could not win it this year. If baseball goes like basketball then the top dog will win. We will find out Thursday.
Sunday, May 3, 2015
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.
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.
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