Zach Barket

[Riddlewire]

Obviously there is a prejudice against white runningbacks, and Zach should be playing at an FBS school, but it will not happen if nobody is working to get him there.

You think black runningbacks have to put any effort into getting noticed?!?
HELL NO!
They just sit back on their fat black asses and the recruiting services wear thin the paths to their doors.
Even in small school classifications, if you run the ball and have dark skin, either Rivals or Scout WILL FIND YOU.

 

[Electric Slide]

You think black runningbacks have to put any effort into getting noticed?!?
HELL NO!
They just sit back on their fat black asses and the recruiting services wear thin the paths to their doors.
Even in small school classifications, if you run the ball and have dark skin, either Rivals or Scout WILL FIND YOU.

I know, Riddlewire I wasn't saying it was fair. I was saying that since the deck is stacked, white players need to do more in order to get noticed. I would much rather white players do the extra work and actually get noticed, then not do it and linger in a lower division or not playing football at all. It's a messed up situation, but white players need to do whatever it takes to make the most of it. It's just like any situation, even when the odds are against you, you need to be resolute and find ways to make things happen.

Any ideas for white players to get scholarships at FBS schools should be said, so that they will get the chance.

 

[Electric Slide]

Coalregion, thanks for clarifying the situation. I understand that no matter how talented someone is, their goal might not be sports glory. I'm sure Zach will enjoy a great college life at Lehigh being the big man on campus.

 

[Guest]

Coalregion, how much of Zach's decision to "pursue a good career and life" was based on his race? I'd say that being an NFL running back is a pretty good career and offers a very high quality of life.

Is he really that passionate about some other career or did he just resign himself to the fact that a White tailback would never get a shot in the NFL?

There are black kids who don't have one fifth of his talent that honestly believe that they are "gifted" enough to be an NFL MVP...and many of them will turn out to be just that, thanks in large part to the Caste system but also their faith in their own ability.

I'm not here to judge Zack or his family for their personal decisions but I find it hard to believe that he would willingly forgo a chance to pursue an NFL career to work some office job. Does Zack doubt that he can compete at the highest levels or does he just see resisting the Caste system as an exercise in futility?Edited by: Latspread

 

[celticdb15]

Coalregion, how much of Zach's decision to "pursue a good career and life" was based on his race? I'd say that being an NFL running back is a pretty good career and offers a very high quality of life.

Is he really that passionate about some other career or did he just resign himself to the fact that a White tailback would never get a shot in the NFL?

There are black kids who don't have one fifth of his talent that honestly believe that they are "gifted" enough to be an NFL MVP...and many of they will turn out to be just that, thanks in large part to the Caste system but also their faith in their own ability.

I'm not here to judge Zack or his family for their personal decisions but I find it hard to believe that he would willingly forgo a chance to pursue an NFL career to work some office job. Does Zack doubt that he can compete at the highest levels or does he just see resisting the Caste system as an exercise in futility?

Yeah black parents seem to install a sense of unrelenting wieneriness in their kids.

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

i would like to know Zach's official 40 time and other measurables, if anyone has access to them.

 

[Guest]

Here's a newspaper article that gives his height, weight, and 40 (4.7).

Granted, that 40 time isn't very impressive but I doubt he did any plyometric/explosive training as most tailbacks that plan to play big time football do. That stuff can make a world of difference.

Also, the author suggests that he is undersized despite having the prototypical running back proportions. I wouldn't trust him to give an accurate 40 time.


http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/high_school/20081121_S cholastic_rushing_star_here_tonight.html <a href="http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/high_school/20081121_Scholastic_rushing_star_here_tonight.html" target="_blank">
Article from Philly paper</a>Edited by: Latspread

 

[Riddlewire]

That's the same 40 time that every media outlet picks up and reprints. When was it done? Was it on grass? With a handheld stopwatch?
Here's what I know. Zach runs away from every defender in every highlight clip. Most especially in the first ten yards (the most important zone for a tailback). Even if he ran a 5.2 forty, as long as he was quick to the hole and the second level, he would still be a successful runningback. Javorskie Lane will be drafted an an NFL runningback. Does anyone doubt that his forty time is far north of 4.9 seconds? He's close to 300lbs now. But he won't be drafted as a fullback. Obviously the "loose hips" rule knows no weight limit.

 

[Mike]

That's the same 40 time that every media outlet picks up and reprints. When was it done? Was it on grass? With a handheld stopwatch?
Here's what I know. Zach runs away from every defender in every highlight clip. Most especially in the first ten yards (the most important zone for a tailback). Even if he ran a 5.2 forty, as long as he was quick to the hole and the second level, he would still be a successful runningback. Javorskie Lane will be drafted an an NFL runningback. Does anyone doubt that his forty time is far north of 4.9 seconds? He's close to 300lbs now. But he won't be drafted as a fullback. Obviously the "loose hips" rule knows no weight limit.

Can you cite one reputable source which actually claims Lane will be drafted as a tailback? If you actually think that you're crazy. Easy on the exaggerations.

 

[johnnyboy]

this kid doesn't impress me and on top of that his heart doesnt seem to be in it. 4.7 is not an elite time. he's no Cory McCaffrey. he'll be more like an RC Lagomarsino.

 

[Guest]

Priest Holmes = 4.7
Emmitt Smith = 4.7.
Franco Harris = 4.7
Walter Payton = 4.6
Marcus Allen = 4.6

There are probably many more examples but, generally, if a black player runs a sub-par 40, especially if he turns out to be successful, the media doesn't write about it. I'm pretty sure Jerome Bettis, Corey Dillon, and Curtis Martin weren't far from this range, also.

I don't know if these are the best times these players ever ran or not but the same could be said of Barket's 4.7, and he's still only in high school. I'm almost certain all of these less than "elite" 40 times were taken when these players were about to be drafted (i.e. around 22 years or older as compared to 17 or 18 like Barket).

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

again, i submit that no matter what a white skill position player's measurable are, they will be said to "not be enough."

this, as Latspread pointed out (as have so many here at Caste Football), is complete nonsense. as numerous blacks across the nation at both the collegiate and professional levels indicate, being black and running a 4.7 is "plenty fast enough." that black skin somehow works wonders, doesn't it?

 

[coalregion570]

Coalregion, how much of Zach's decision to "pursue a good career and life" was based on his race? I'd say that being an NFL running back is a pretty good career and offers a very high quality of life.

Is he really that passionate about some other career or did he just resign himself to the fact that a White tailback would never get a shot in the NFL?

There are black kids who don't have one fifth of his talent that honestly believe that they are "gifted" enough to be an NFL MVP...and many of them will turn out to be just that, thanks in large part to the Caste system but also their faith in their own ability.

I'm not here to judge Zack or his family for their personal decisions but I find it hard to believe that he would willingly forgo a chance to pursue an NFL career to work some office job. Does Zack doubt that he can compete at the highest levels or does he just see resisting the Caste system as an exercise in futility?

Latspread, I hear what your saying, But look at it this way. Look at Baltimore Ravens QB Joe Flacco, He started at D1 University of Pittsburgh, there was a log jam at QB than he transferred to D1-A University of Delaware. A smaller school and he made it to the NFL, If he didn't take that step down he wouldn't have made it to the NFL. So its kind of looking at it like the glass is half full, not half empty. Zach loves playing football, and yes it would be hard for him as a RB to make it in the NFL, But take it for what it is, Its playing football in trade for a free collage ride. And me personal I would love to see him try to make it in the NFL, I think sometimes we as a family want football for him more than he does, But it comes so naturally to him he just works hard and lifts and if you saw any video's of his running, you can't teach what he does, some players have it and some don't.Edited by: coalregion570

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

Since we are discussing solid measruables. I will say a solid 10 yard time for a RB or WR would be a sub 1.55. An elite time would be sub 1.5. If you can run a 1.55 10 yard; virtually any athlete would have to be sub 4.9 in the 40. It just takes too much power, cordination and solid leg lift to get the burst to cover 10 yards in sub 1.55 without being able to run a sub 4.9 40 yard.

Jacob Hester is rare in that he ran a 1.50 10 yard time; the same as McFadden; but only managed a solid 4.6 flat 40 time for a power back. Eric Weddle had the former record for electronic 10 yard times with a 1.42; his top end speed had him run a 4.48. Chris Johnson has the current record of 1.4 flat for 10 yards and ran an amazing 4.24 electronic 40 yard time.

The white guys measure up or even slightly out-measure the blacks in 10-15 yard burst, but lose a little ground in the last 20 yards.

But with DeAngelo Williams topping Jim Browns record of seven 30 yard runs in a season with 8 this year; this shows how rare even 30 yard runs are. Gale Sayers was in 3rd place with 6. I believe even the amazing Barry Sanders never had more than 5 30 yard runs in a season. This proves that the NFL should really be measuring 30 yard dash times.

The slowest guy to get 100 carries in a season I've ever heard of in recent memory over 40 yards is Le'ron McClain who runs a 4.88, but generally any black RB (not FB) who is first or 2nd team runs a 4.7 or faster.

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

I'm just stating these stats because 4.7 is certainly fast enough to run the ball in Division IA with a solid 10 yard burst (Brandon McAnderson of Kansas only ran a 4.9 and was declared too slow for the NFL, but had a stellar 2007 season), but it is very borderline for the NFL.

Zach Barket had ridiculous stats in Pennsylvania, but he played in Group I which was for schools of 300-500 students; I believe he could have a good career in the FBS, but to say that a guy with a 4.7 40 time who played in a H.S grouping in Western Pennsylvania for 300-500 students is a probable star in the making in the NFL is probably a stretch. I haven't watched his video highlights like some of you have yet, so maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think Zach is at top 100 overall prospect in the nation from what I know.

However, the fact that Rivals doesn't even have a profile for him is just sickening. He deserves recognition for what he's done.

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

with all due respect, TJR, how can you say a guy you've not seen play isn't good enough?

maybe he is, and maybe he isn't. but i'd be interested to know if there has EVER been a black back who put up Zach's kind of numbers and not been given a D-I scholarship.

of course, i answered my own question. of course there hasn't been. he has the second-highest rushing total in American high school football history, and he doesn't even get a chance to play D-I football?!? gimme a break. if he were black, he'd have a list of offers longer than my arms. (and i have long arms.) even if he ran a 4.9! they might move him to linebacker, or he might never see the field, but he would DEFINITELY be on a Division I roster somewhere.

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

I agree that he deserves a Division I scholarship for sure there's no denying that. But he plays in a high school grouping of only 300-500 kids according to a Scout forum thread I read and his 4.7 40 time is very borderline to become an elite runner in the FBS unless it was a north-south power-blocking running scheme.

I had just read also what Johnnyboy posted saying he wasn't overly impressed with the highlights. I will watch them myself tomorrow to find out.

I just got a PM from a poster with a highlight link. So I will do my thing and break down the film tomorrow. But you have to remember he was playing against schools with 400 kids on average. What he did at any level is phenomenal and he's got to be a definite Division I prospect. I will have to see his film first. From what I know now and have heard I think some of the posts about him might have been over the top regarding his potential.

 

[Riddlewire]

But he plays in a high school grouping of only 300-500 kids...

Infinitely worthless argument.
If being a dominant runner is so easy on the small school level, then why don't all the black supermen do it? Terrelle Pryor played AA football, one level up in classification from Zach, yet he was the most sought after recruit in at least a decade. Cam Saddler (tiny black RB) also played at that same level, and he was awarded multiple D1A scholarship offers. Billy Bair played in that same classification, outperformed Saddler his final two years, yet still couldn't land a D1A scholarship.
Zach could be a terrible runner. Logic still dictates that his numbers should earn him a major college scholarship. The only difference is skin color.

 

[johnnyboy]

I agree that he deserves a Division I scholarship for sure there's no denying that. But he plays in a high school grouping of only 300-500 kids according to a Scout forum thread I read and his 4.7 40 time is very borderline to become an elite runner in the FBS unless it was a north-south power-blocking running scheme.

I had just read also what Johnnyboy posted saying he wasn't overly impressed with the highlights. I will watch them myself tomorrow to find out.

I just got a PM from a poster with a highlight link. So I will do my thing and break down the film tomorrow. But you have to remember he was playing against schools with 400 kids on average. What he did at any level is phenomenal and he's got to be a definite Division I prospect. I will have to see his film first. From what I know now and have heard I think some of the posts about him might have been over the top regarding his potential.

hey ToughJ,

i think it would be nice to see this kid get a D1 scholarship, but at the same time, judging from his 40 time, his comformity with going to Lehigh, his Class A competition, and the quality of defense on the highlight video, i just don't think he's a top white back. there are a heck of a lot better and more ambitious (football wise) white kids to get behind. i'm not knocking the kid at all, i just don't think he's the cream of the crop, regardless of the record.

having said that i still think he would be a productive back at the college level.

cheers

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

I saw his video so I will give my try at breaking down the film. He appears to be a one cut and find the hole guy with an impressive burst. His agility is pretty impressive, but not the cream of the crop amongst the Division IA level. He has good balance, displays good power to break some tackles (although the level of competition is lower; so would be the tackling). However, his weakness is he has to slow down more than the cream of the crop guys like McGuffie, Wegher, Trumpy, Cory McCaffrey, Rex Burkhead and others to make a cut in the second level and his top end speed is not all that great. He wouldn't make LBs and Safeties miss the tackle much in the second level against top defenses in the FBS and his speed isn't good enough to break many longer runs by outrunning angles.

He of course can work on his speed. He's a definite division IA prospect (who had an absolute all-time great historical season at a low level of competition). He is definitely good enough to find playing time at a mid-major FBS school IMO; but an NFL prospect and stud in the FBS, probably not.

I personally think Shad Bride who had an amazing season in Arizona (slightly better competition) and has been ignored just as much as Zach is better...But like I said it is very unfair IMO that this kid didn't get a Division IA scholarship.

By my analysis there are at least 250 Division IA scholarships given every year for FBS schools to guys as RB prospects. I believe Zach is certainly amongst the top 250 RB prospects in the nation (he's probably somewhere toward the bottom of the top 100) and to top that off had the second best season in H.S history.

What did Rivals and ESPN give Zach for his accomplishments? Not even a profile in their database.

By the way ESPN has now passed Rivals in my book as enemy number one of people with conscience and integrity. Edited by: ToughJ.Riggins

 

[FootballDad]

I found this thread to be incredibly instructive on the thought process of the Caste System, and how people respond to it. Zach had a reasonably productive freshman year at Lehigh, 37 attempts for 151 yards and a TD in the 8 games in which he saw action. Here is a link to his page at Lehigh.

I hope we see big things from him this year. I found the posts from coalregion570 to be a fascinating look into some of the big differences between the typical ghetto black, who doesn't look at college as a means to making yourself a better person and getting an education, but as a means to get some "bling". While a white athlete will often look at it from a prism of overall education and betterment, as opposed to just sports, with a few underwater basketweaving courses thrown in to make it look like they are "student"-athletes like all too many blacks.