Sam McGuffie

[ToughJ.Riggins]

The stupid drunken fans do sure change their minds fast. Check the Scout.com Wolverine message boards before last game calling for Minor and his 4.7 40 in the spread to start. This idiot Tom Hagan posted after the very first game that "McGuffie is a twig" "who doesn't play as fast as he times" and "goes down on first contact". Now after this game he is the one of the biggest supporters of McGuffie saying that Grady and Minor have shown they can't be trusted and they let us down.

My how fast these drunken fans make up their mind on a red-shirt freshman white player. What has Minor done to prove he's better than McGuffie other than get hurt and fumble in the last 3 seasons.

BTW, Minor was complaining about his role on the team according to the message board before this game...Well, it looked like he screwed it up big time!

 

[whiteCB]

Why do I get the feeling that this thread is going to turn into the "Brian Leonard" thread of the college football stars forum. You know 30+ pages...lol! Anyways great to see McGuffie getting the majority of the carries. I think a lot of this credit should go towards his black RB coach who is a HUGE Sam fan as am I!!!

 

[white lightning]

That's a good point whiteCB. It's been a really long time since we had an athlete as gifted as Sam to actually start for a major powerhouse team. When is the last time any BCS Team took a chance and started a white running back. I was just hoping he would play some this year but he has taken his opportunity and made the most of it. I commend him for that. He has really been the star on a very average to poor football team. Imagine the spotlight in the coming years if Michigan can go undefeated and challenge for the National Championship with McGuffie in the running for the Heisman Trophy. I can dream can't I? It can happen if they can get the other kids to play typical Michigan Football.


Sam McGuffie can be as important to breaking stereotypes as Jeremy Wariner and pave the way for other kids to shine in the years to come. Football should be about equal opportunity but the Caste System is very hard to break. McGuffie is showing the potential of giving some of these kids a chance to shine. My biggest fear is the jealousy of other athletes and the cheap shots he will face as he becomes an even bigger star. I just hope that he can stay healthy as his talent, will and desire will carry him straight to the top. I can't wait for next week.

 

[Bart]

My biggest fear is the jealousy of other athletes and the cheap shots he will face as he becomes an even bigger star.

I'm not saying ti was a cheap shot, but there was a play where Sam was pulled from behind and one leg went to the front of his body and the other to the rear in a very awkward position resembling a front split.It sure looked bad. The announcer called him Gumby when he popped right up.

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

Sam is very flexible and has a gymnastics background and is "extremely" elusive. He rarely takes direct crushing hits. I too saw that play and if Sam wasn't super flexible he could have torn a ligament Bart. And I do worry about an occasional huge cheap shot from any black defender who happens to be racist on the field. This is part of the reason I only want Sam getting around 3/4 of the carries this season. If he is overused he is more likely to get injured when he is tired. Next year will be the year where he can challenge for the Heisman if he stays healthy, not this one.

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

My how fast these drunken fans make up their mind on a red-shirt freshman white player.

TJR, Sam is a true freshman. but you are absolutely correct with your point. just wait until Sam has an off day, and those same hyenas will be salivating for his corpse.

It's been a really long time since we had an athlete as gifted as Sam to actually start for a major powerhouse team. When is the last time any BCS Team took a chance and started a white running back.

Vanderbilt plays in the SEC, man!

but i can understand how you'd forget about them in the BCS since they will never be in a big-time bowl game.

however, don't forget about Jared Hawkins at Vandy. he has started the past two games, and he is very similar to McGuffie in both running style (though most of Vandy's runs are called between the tackles so you don't often get to see his open-field ability) and in the fact he is the most explosive playmaker on an otherwise poor team.

best of luck to both of them this season.

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

Did I really say Sam is a red-shirt freshman, wow that's what happens when you drink and watch football all day.

Yeah, I definitely remember following Sam's H.S career last year and bogus Rival's and ESPN rankings.

BTW Jimmy it is good to hear that Jared has similar agility and explosiveness to McGuffie. I haven't watched his highlights, but he runs a 4.5 as compared to Sam's 4.32, so he must have the burst, but less of a second gear than Sam. I think Jared could really impress if he keeps up his good work in the SEC. And he is another guy that if he makes an NFL roster, they can't make a FB, A WR maybe. Gerhart will be made a FB by the NFL if he makes it..blahhh.

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

Wow I just checked Jared's Rivals profile and it says he runs a 4.52 40, but an amazing 4.03 second shuttle. You gotta be damn agile with short area burst to run a short shuttle like that.

Edited to add: I just saw his H.S highlights. He is damn elusive with a great burst and vision and even breaks some tackles as well. He reminds of a little bit slower version of McGuffie I agree JC. Add Vandy as a team I have to watch this season.Edited by: ToughJ.Riggins

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

i think this is another one of those many instances where rivals knowingly publishes false info on a white athlete.

Jared Hawkins has a personal best time in the 100 meters in high school of 10.81 seconds. that is fast!

i think Sam's 100 meters was about that, as well. he is also acknowledged as the fastest player on Vandy's roster.

it seems virtually impossible for rivals' numbers to add up correctly in order for Jared to have that kind of elite quickness and impressive top-end speed while running such a pedestrian 40. don't you?

 

[forty-four]

If you didn't see Sam's TD go to...

http://www.mgoblue.com/Sport/Default.aspx?sid=516&id=12116

Sorry, but I couldn't get the hyperlink feature to work. Look for the "Multimedia" box on the lower right hand side of the page. You want to select "Michigan Rewind (Notre Dame)." Sam's big play comes at the 2:50 mark on the highlight video. Tremendous!

UPDATE: Try this.http://www.mgoblue.com/multimedia/multimediacenter.aspxEdited by: forty-four

 

[Colonel_Reb]

Thanks for the link fourty-four! Great to see the TD catch and run, as I was still at the BYU rout of UCLA.

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

i think this is another one of those many instances where rivals knowingly publishes false info on a white athlete.

Jared Hawkins has a personal best time in the 100 meters in high school of 10.81 seconds. that is fast!

i think Sam's 100 meters was about that, as well. he is also acknowledged as the fastest player on Vandy's roster.

it seems virtually impossible for rivals' numbers to add up correctly in order for Jared to have that kind of elite quickness and impressive top-end speed while running such a pedestrian 40. don't you?

You've got to be right. Jared's time was an "estimate" by Rivals as it was not from an actual combine since he had no SPARQ rating or Rivals certification next to it. If he runs a 4.03 short shuttle and shows close to the burst and change of direction skills as McGuffie and runs the 100 meter in 10.81 as compared to Sam's 10.86, I would say Jared's 40 time should have been 4.45 or under.

But Jordy Nelson ran a 10.63 100 meter in H.S, but only ran an average 4.49 40 yard at the combine "for a starting" WR. Must be a slow starter or maybe his former knee injury slowed him down. It shocked me, I was expecting a legit 4.4 from Jordy.

I am very upset about Luke Lippincott's injury; other than Sharp, he was the only draft eligible guy that "might" have gotten drafted. With the way Bell is playing he has no shot at the NFL. Do any of you guys think Hawkins might have a shot in the NFL? He will have to go buck wild this or next season and run well at the combine and he "might" get a chance.

 

[Gi-15]

I think he could do it. But he will need production, and right now, he has it. 2 straight 1,000 yards season in the SEC will all but guarentee(can't spell this right) him a spot at the combine, and then, sky is the limit.

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

And they can't make him a FB, Jared is too small. 5'10-6'1 with a thiner frame with a huge showing at the combine is the only way a white RB will get a shot, regardless of production. 5'9 is considered too small for whitey. And look at the case of 6'2 Jesse Lumsden: they say he runs too high, is not elusive enough, is too big and would be a FB in the NFL..ridiculous. The stupid league may still try to make Jared Hawkins a slot WR though.

 

[Gi-15]

I was wondering if playing at vanderbilt would hinder his chances at making it to the NFL, because you never see a vanderbilt RB make it to the combine, and found out that Vandy didn't had a 1,000 yard rusher since 1995! and only THREE 1,000 yards rushers overall in their entire history!

 

[Colonel_Reb]

I was wondering if playing at vanderbilt would hinder his chances at making it to the NFL, because you never see a vanderbilt RB make it to the combine, and found out that Vandy didn't had a 1,000 yard rusher since 1995! and only THREE 1,000 yards rushers overall in their entire history!

Solid point Gi-15. I would say, however, that if Jared can lead Vandy to their first winning record and bowl bid since 1982, and even better, a bowl win, Vandy will get more attention next year than at any time in recent history and Jared will also get some attention as a result of being the starting RB on the team. If they can somehow put together two winning, bowl seasons in a row while he is the starter, he just might have a shot at the NFL, especially if he can reel off some long TD runs. I think even if Vandy as a team doesn't succeed at getting to a bowl this year or next, if Jared can have back to back 1,000 yard seasons, he'll still get a look by the NFL. After that, only God knows what will happen.

 

[Gi-15]

Back to Sam :

Tracking Rich Rod's first recruiting class

By Dan Feldman
Daily Sports Editor On September 16th, 2008

The Michigan football team signed 25 true freshmen to scholarships this year. On Monday, Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said this is the time of year he figures out which will be relied on and which will redshirt. Here's a breakdown of what to expect from each this season, ranked in order of projected impact.

(1)Running back Sam McGuffie
Hometown: Cypress, Texas
rivals.com ranking: four stars
scout.com ranking: four stars

McGuffie has shown the vision, speed and cutting-ability on rushes that made him a YouTube star. His 213 yards and 50 carries lead the team.

But he also proved he's capable of much more than a few impressive runs. His nine catches for 101 yards are both second on the team.

And, most importantly, he hasn't fumbled. That's why he's the starter.


(4)Running back Michael Shaw
Hometown: Trotwood, Ohio
rivals.com ranking: four stars
scout.com ranking: four stars

Shaw has just two carries in each game as McGuffie has grabbed control of the running back position. But Shaw, an explosive back, is second on the team with 8.5 yards per run (redshirt junior punter Zoltan Mesko is first because of a 13-yard run on a fake punt). Shaw will probably continue to be a quality change-of-pace backup.

I like that

Edited by: Gi-15

 

[Colonel_Reb]

Yeah,Shaw's so explosive the dang ball bursts forth from his grasp.

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

Glad to hear that last part on Shaw. But the part on McGuffie doesn't tell the whole story on his YPC etc. He was downright dominant last game against a good Notre Dame defense. He had about 5 runs where he made something out of "zero" blocking. More than a few impressive runs. That is a sign of a very rare RB. Sam showed the kind of elusiveness that Joe McKnight and Darren McFadden (who are both built similarly) showed in college in that game. If this kid gets some blocking, with his measurables and vision, he will have a legit shot at the Heisman. But right now he's a one man show for Michigan basically. I will be watching every Michigan game this season!

 

[Gi-15]

Yeah, Shaw's so explosive the dang ball bursts forth from his grasp.

 

[Colonel_Reb]

Thanks Gi, I hoped it would produce some laughs. Seeing Minor fumble that ball last week was, as my mom likes to sometimes say, "the pits." When I saw him get the ball, I felt that he would fumble, if for no other reason than it wasn't right to take the goal line carry away from Sam.

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

That was a good one Colonel...I missed your joke.

I want to see Sam used like Reggie Bush though, with a Lendale White like second option. Although not Lendale like, but as far as playing time Michael Shaw could see Lendale type carries. I think Sam will be most effective getting about 75% of the carries, not 100%. Grady could be made the FB (although rarely used by Rich Rod) and rare short yardage specialist, if he can hold onto the ball. Still, Sam should see at least half the goal-line carries.

Sam's YPC will go down noticeably if he gets 100% of the carries IMO. They should mix it up a bit to confuse the defense and even run some two half back sets, where they won't know who's getting the ball. TO win the Heisman, Sam will need at least 7 YPC as a white RB IMO, yards and TD statistics not withstanding.Edited by: ToughJ.Riggins

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

Article on Sam McGuffie I found:

Article published Friday, September 19, 2008
Wolverines' McGuffie graces YouTube  again

Sam McGuffie

Zoom | Photo Reprints
By JOE VARDON
BLADE SPORTS WRITER

ANN ARBOR  Wouldn't you know it? Michigan freshman running back Sam McGuffie found his way onto YouTube once more.

His left foot sliding forward on the wet Notre Dame turf last week, McGuffie looked like a human wishbone while an Irish defender held onto his right leg. (He's OK, by the way.)

It's all right there on YouTube.com, the popular video sharing Internet site, just like those famous clips of McGuffie from high school where he literally hurdles a standing defender en route to a touchdown.

In fact, there is more than one highlight tape of McGuffie  set to music, no less  on YouTube from his days at Cy-Fair High in Cypress, Texas, featuring shots of him spinning, juking, backflipping, sprinting, and, yes, hurdling all over the place.

"I've YouTubed him, as I'm sure everybody else in the country has," said Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema, whose staff must devise a way to stop McGuffie when the No. 8 Badgers and Wolverines return from bye weeks and meet Sept. 27.

"He's obviously got a lot of talent, raw talent that converts to being a very good football player."

Be it on the Web or on plain old game film, McGuffie is a sight to see with a football in his hands.

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound budding star is coming off the best game of his young career, in which he rushed for 131 yards and caught four passes for 47 yards and a touchdown in the Wolverines' 35-17 loss to Notre Dame. He had 100 yards of total offense ... in the first quarter!

"If you're watching the film and don't notice him, then you're not really watching the film," said Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio, who studied McGuffie watching game film in preparation for the Spartans' date with Notre Dame tomorrow.

Through three games, McGuffie is easily leading the Wolverines in all-purpose yards with 314  almost 200 more than the next closest player. He's started all three of UM's contests at running back and was averaging 71 rushing yards a game.

Though the starter, McGuffie is just one in a rotation of running backs that, ahem, runs five deep.

Then again, there hasn't been as much rotating because McGuffie has clearly been the most reliable of the Wolverines' five running backs.

Juniors Brandon Minor, Carlos Brown, and Kevin Grady have battled nagging injuries and/or fumbles, and in Grady's case, a one-game suspension for drunken driving.

Freshman Michael Shaw has looked explosive at times  he has six carries for 51 yards  but he too has been slowed by health problems and a costly fumble.

UM coach Rich Rodriguez praises McGuffie for what he has shown, but also regularly points out that his top runner is still making mistakes. He cites things such as making the right cuts and trusting his speed in the open field.

"He's making his reads even better each week, getting comfortable out there, which is a good thing. He's a really good competitor," Rodriguez said. "Still it would be good to get Mike Shaw healthy and get him, and then maybe Carlos, Brandon Minor, Grady, so we have a little bit of depth there. It gives us a little more luxury."

A man of few words, McGuffie hasn't spoken to the media since UM's 16-6 win over Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 6, and didn't have much to say then. He was stopping to do an interview with reporters after last week's game but was escorted to the team bus by a media relations staffer.

So much of what the outside world knows about McGuffie it learned through what it's seen of him, not heard.

"He seems like he's a great effort guy, and one that's going to be very hard to defend," Bielema said.

Contact Joe Vardon at:jvardon@theblade.com or 419-410-5055.
------------------------------------------------------------ -----------

Now here is another Rivals.com jab at McGuffie. Notice that they try to undercut his talent every chance they get. Here is what they say comparing McGuffie to Javon Ringer against the Notre Dame defense. Yeah I'm sure Ringer is this much better than McGuffie:


NOTRE DAME AT MICHIGAN STATE

When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
TV: ABC regional or ESPN
Broadcasters: Brad Nessler play-by-play, Bob Greise and Paul Maguire analysts
Line: Michigan State by 8½
Why you should watch: If history is any indication, this game is not for the faint of heart - especially now that Notre Dame is competent once again. The last time the teams met in East Lansing in 2006, Michigan State blew a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter to lose 40-37. The year before that, Notre Dame lost 44-41 in overtime despite trailing by three touchdowns in the third quarter. After allowing Michigan freshman Sam McGuffie to run for 131 yards Saturday, how worried is Notre Dame about Michigan State's Javon Ringer (498 yards, nine touchdowns)?

Damn Rivals!

 

[WHITE NOISE]

Hey TJR, I never knew McGuffie existed. That's to my shame. Good God is this guy dare I say athletic! I watched some of his runs on YouTube. I wish him all the best. He has what it takes and if he were a bit more tanned would be touted as the next Sanders, but with more straight-line speed. Thanks for posting about him, now I have a another great white brother to follow.

On the down side, we all know what will happen to him come draft day. Late round, or un-drafted,probably go to Seattle, never get a carry and cut before the season opens. I hate the Caste System!!!

 

[backrow]

On the down side, we all know what will happen to him come draft day. Late round, or un-drafted,probably go to Seattle, never get a carry and cut before the season opens. I hate the Caste System!!!

if he keeps playing like he is, gets better and even stronger there's no possible way he's not a first rounder.