Ranking the running backs from Sherrill era

[curseddawgs]

The Sherrill era took place before my time/when I was very young so I have no memories of players or moments that happened. That said, I know we had great running backs like Keffer McGee, JJ Johnson, and Dicenzo Miller among others. Who was the best and how would you rank them?

 

[Mayor of Little London]

JJ is #1

 

[paindonthurt_]

Rip but 21 would most likely be the clear number 1 If he was around the whole time.

After that it depends.

Discenzo was productive as hell but JJ had more talent.

Dontae walker might have been the most talented but turned into an offensive lineman by his junior year.

 

[FQDawg]

Just based on my fond memories from those seasons (and having nothing to do with talent or actual production on the field) Michael Davis is No. 1 and then there's everyone else.

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

Any list must include

Bouie and Davis

 

[the dog is on the loose]

For those of you that didn't get to witness JJ you really missed something. He was an absolute beast! Dude ran as hard as any RB i've ever seen and if you got in his way, look out! Clearly my #1 and we have had some good ones including Davis and Bouie.

 

[The Peeper]

JJ for the win, rare combination of power and really good speed. Michael Davis was a beast too but don't think he was nearly as fast as JJ and Dicenzo was fast but not as much a power runner as Davis and JJ

 

[DawgsOnTheWing]

JJ Johnson, Jerrious Norwood, and Anthony Dixon are my top three.
I always liked Decinzo Miller, as well. And I agree that Keefer would have been in the discussion of top three.

From way back........ Jim Cumberbatch had great potential that was never realized.

 

[MarkDallas]

Has to be JJ. 237 yards against Alabama in 1998. Fun fact: when he wasn't running through Alabama defenders, JJ could be found in the Tin Gym throwing up bricks from NBA range.

 

[dudehead]

The Sherrill era took place before my time/when I was very young so I have no memories of players or moments that happened. That said, I know we had great running backs like Keffer McGee, JJ Johnson, and Dicenzo Miller among others. Who was the best and how would you rank them?

I was going to say Michael Haddix, but realized Sherill came along about 10 years later. Haddix could play.

And, getting old makes life new again.

 

[stateu1]

Has to be JJ. 237 yards against Alabama in 1998. Fun fact: when he wasn't running through Alabama defenders, JJ could be found in the Tin Gym throwing up bricks from NBA range.

I don’t know where to even start about the goodness of that video.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

Keefer should have been. JJ and Bouie were bad men but Davis was a super hero in pads.

 

[$altyDawg]

It's always nice to have video evidence of us beating Alabama. In my 53 years, so far it's happened 7 times. 4 of those times in 5 years in the late 90's and early 2000's.

 

[Dawgg]

Has to be JJ. 237 yards against Alabama in 1998. Fun fact: when he wasn't running through Alabama defenders, JJ could be found in the Tin Gym throwing up bricks from NBA range.

It was nice of Alabama to let our coaching staff and cheerleaders borrow their windbreakers.

 

[047Dog]

Davis/Bouie
JJ
Keffer
Non offensive Lineman Dontae

It was fun when Jackie came on board because we were competitive and could move the ball on traditional SEC powers for the most part. The downs were bad though. The Arkansas and Arkansas State ties were awful and a couple of years later after the La Tech loss, people on the post game call-in show would ask him if he was going to resign.

If we had had ANY qb play we may have gotten an SEC title or 2 in that decade. The fact that we couldn't consistently have a 2000 yard passer was ridiculous. We had a period in there were Alabama, LSU, and Auburn were all down at various points.

 

[Dawgg]

The downs were bad though. The Arkansas and Arkansas State ties were awful and a couple of years later after the La Tech loss, people on the post game call-in show would ask him if he was going to resign.

I remember sometimes the Sunday call-in shows hosted by Jack Cristil were almost entirely people asking JWS when he was going to retire.

In fact, every time I pass a bag of Golden Flake potato chips, I think about that.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

And thankfully, all 4 of those while I was exiled in Alabama...

 

[Dawg1979]

1.) JJ
2.) D Miller
3.)Jerious Norwood
4.) Anthony Dixon
5.) K Magee (could have been 1)
6.) Dontae Walker (could have been 1 or 2)

Dontae was a 17ing beast his freshman/soph years. that fat bastard had to have eaten his weight at Perry daily his last years. i had several classes with him. when he showed up, he would literally sit in the back and yell Dontae with a real shreek/loudness. all class. every class. wasn't annoying at all.....

 

[NOATLDAWG]

as a former OL, sweet jesus... watching that OL (especially Randy Thomas) play made me go 6 to midnight.

 

[DoggieDaddy13]

A couple of previous posters mentioned Davis and Bouie. Those dudes had some monster games at State in the early 90's. It was fun watching those big bruisers truck through defenses.
Not saying they were better than J.J., but still... damn good!
of course we won't see backs like them playing for the Maroon & White for a long time if ever again.

 

[mcdawg22]

Has to be JJ. 237 yards against Alabama in 1998. Fun fact: when he wasn't running through Alabama defenders, JJ could be found in the Tin Gym throwing up bricks from NBA range.

I didn’t realize the banner logo was even around in 1998.

 

[NOATLDAWG]

1993 UF game... completely under valued as a great game. Bouie just ran all over them and Todd Jordan throwing nothing but go patterns. We gave them all they wanted in an early kickoff game. We just ran out of gas late.

 

[DAWGS1.sixpack]

If James Johnson is healthy in the SEC Championship game, I believe we win that game.
Lots of good RB’s during the JWS era.

 

[paindonthurt_]

Dicenzo wasn’t really fast but he was very quick.

 

[dudehead]

1.) JJ
2.) D Miller
3.)Jerious Norwood
4.) Anthony Dixon
5.) K Magee (could have been 1)
6.) Dontae Walker (could have been 1 or 2)

Dontae was a 17ing beast his freshman/soph years. that fat bastard had to have eaten his weight at Perry daily his last years. i had several classes with him. when he showed up, he would literally sit in the back and yell Dontae with a real shreek/loudness. all class. every class. wasn't annoying at all.....

I heard several times following Sherrill's years that he lost the team (and Dontae) when he lost Johnie Cooks as an assistant coach, that Johnie was of huge importance to keeping top players together and growing as players and men. Anyone else ever hear that? Any truth to it?

 

[cowbell88]

I didn’t either. Interlocking on helmets and banner MState on 50.

 

[SirBarksalot]

JaaayJaaay Johnnnson! In my most cringy Flick voice.

 

[MarkDallas]

It's always nice to have video evidence of us beating Alabama. In my 53 years, so far it's happened 7 times. 4 of those times in 5 years in the late 90's and early 2000's.

We were .500 against Alabama from 96 to 07.

 

[Hugh's Burner Phone]

I still remember the BYU game where Discenzo had that one run for a touchdown where he had to have broken at least 8 tackles. It felt like every defensive player for byu had at least two shots at him to bring him down.

 

[Dawg1979]

JaaayJaaay Johnnnson! In my most cringy Flick voice.

I miss Hank

 

[BrunswickDawg]

One of the things about Jackie's backfields that I don't think gets enough attention was how deep they were.
Look at 1994- you had Davis & Bouie blasting people, but then Fred McCrary, Keffer, and Nakia Greer backing them up or blocking for them. That's just unreal. It could be relentless when we were on a roll.