The Fullback Weekly
ICYMI: Week of 08/24/24-08/31/24
Add it to your Playbook this week…
University of North Alabama vs. Southeast Missouri State (2024, Week Zero)
Same-side Down G (12 personnel)
The best from this past week:
Head Coach Gus Kapolka 𝕏 (Cedar Springs High School, Michigan) shared this video via his 𝕏 account of his Power T offense:
QB sweep! But check out the QB ball handling, hidden on the hip! Gotta love it. I appreciate Coach letting me share this.
Kansas City Chiefs Fullback Karson Steele: Human wrecking ball. Looking forward to how Andy Reid and company find ways to utilize his skillset.
[Video via NFL App]
Troy Hairston, Houston Texans Fullback catching his first NFL touchdown in the preseason finale. Hairston, a (2023) undrafted free agent linebacker/defensive end out of Central Michigan, was converted to play fullback in the NFL.
[Video via NFL App]
Nate Atkins, FB/TE for the Denver Broncos catching a TD in the flats out of I-formation
[Video via NFL APP]
Honorary Fullback of the Week 🏆
Check out RB Jaison Patterson (#20) escorting the returner with two crucial blocks en route to a 100 yard opening kickoff return.
Congrats Jaison Patterson for being the Last of the Fullbacks Honorary Fullback of the Week!
[Video via Mac Sports 𝕏]
Top Collegiate Rushing Performances Last Week - Week Zero (Total Yards):
Montana State (47 rushes, 362 yards 3 TD) vs. New Mexico (35-31 W.)
RB Adam Jones - 17 carries, 167 yards 1 TD
RB Scottre Humphrey - 19 carries, 140 yards 1 TD
Norfolk State (43 rushes, 227 yards 3 TD) vs. Florida A&M (23-24 L)
RB Kevon King - 14 carries, 146 yards 2 TD
North Alabama (35 rushes, 216 yards 2 TD) vs. Southeast Missouri State (15-37 L)
RB Jayvian Allen - 13 carries, 100 rads 1 TD)
McNeese State (46 rushes, 200 yards 1 TD) vs. Tarleton State (23-26 L)
Tarleton State (43 rushes, 195 yards 1 TD) vs. McNeese State (26-23 W.)
Georgia Tech (36 rushes, 190 yards 3 TD) vs. Florida State (24-21 W.)
[Statistics via. ESPN app]
This Week in Fullback News:
NFL teams cut down rosters from 90 to the final 53. Following the cut downs, (August 30th) 14 of 32 teams will carry players listed as fullbacks on their rosters:
*Note: Players must be listed as FB or FB/? on the roster to qualify
Baltimore Ravens - Pat Ricard
Buffalo Bills - Reggie Gilliam
Chicago Bears - Khari Blasingame
Cleveland Browns - Nick Harris (FB/C)
Dallas Cowboys - Hunter Luepke
Denver Broncos - Michael Burton *signed to practice squad*
Green Bay Packers - Andrew Beck *signed to practice squad*
Kansas City Chiefs - Karson Steele
Miami Dolphins - Alec Ingold
Minnesota Vikings - C.J. Ham
New Orleans Saints - Adam Prentice
New York Giants - Jakob Johnson
Pittsburgh Steelers - Connor Heyward (FB/TE)
San Francisco 49ers - Kyle Juszczyk
Week One of the Opening Week of College Football starts this weekend.
Here are a few of the games I’m looking forward to:
(FCS) #1 South Dakota State @ #17 Oklahoma State
Whats not to love about this matchup? The Back-to-back defending FCS National Champions & current #1 Preseason ranked Jackrabbits march into Stillwater with no lack of confidence after returning their starting QB Mark Gronkowski (Payton Award Watch list). Although, South Dakota will be looking to replace (2023) All-American running back Isaiah Davis after being picked in this years draft by the New York Jets. The #17 preseason ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys look to start the season off with a statement behind superstar running back Ollie Gordan. The Cowboys are 9.5 point favorites heading into the matchup.
Carson-Newman vs. #18 Reinhardt (Thursday Night - 08/29)
I’ve been looking forward to this game since the opening press conference of Head Coach Ashley Ingram’s tenure earlier this year because one thing was clear; Triple Option Football was back in Jefferson City. Coach Ingram took the job following 16 seasons at the Naval Academy working in various capacities. While with the Midshipmen, Ingram held titles such as offensive line coach, offensive coordinator and Assistant Head Coach. Since this newsletter will release on Saturday morning, I will update with how his first game at the helm turned out.
*Update: Carson-Newman opened up their season with a boom Thursday Night against Reinhardt. Coach Ingram and the Eagles debuted the return of the under center triple option with ease on their way to a 50-7 stomping of a Reinhardt team that finished 6-0 in conference play and 8-3 overall last season. Carson-Newman rushed for 388 total yard on 61 carries and 5 TD’s on the ground. They also completed 5-6 passes for 109 yards and 1 TD.
North Dakota State @ Colorado (Thursday Night - 08/29)
FCS Powerhouse North Dakota State Bison head to Boulder, Colorado to take on Deion Sanders & Sons in a week one Thursday Night matchup. Bison New Head Coach Tim Polasek returns to NDSU after stops as offensive coordinator at Wyoming and offensive line coach at Iowa. Coach Polasek served as running backs/tightends/fullbacks coach at NDSU from 2007-2012. Coach Sanders is entering year two of his regime after finishing the season 4-8 (1-8 in Pac 12). Colorado was 1-11 the year before Sanders took over. Coach Prime is looking to build on last years season and turn the hype train into visible success. Is NDSU still the powerhouse that they have been? What will their offense look like under new Head coach & a new offensive coordinator? I will update this with the results.
*Update: Colorado outlasted NDSU thursday night in a highly anticipated matchup between the two teams. NDSU showed many of the same similarities on offense that we have become so accustomed to seeing from the Bison. NDSU rushed the ball 43 times for 157 yards and 2 TDS, adding 292 yard through the air on 20 of 26 attempts and a TD. Colorado proved to be too much in the end. Shadeur Sanders thew 26 of 34 for 445 yards and 4 TD (1 INT). WR Travis hunter and WR Jimmy Horn JR. combined for 14 of those catches on 330 yards and 4 TD between the two.
All The Service Academies (Army, Navy, Air Force)
Every year I look forward to service academy football. The triple option, The lack of NIL, the traditions, all of it. It’s one of the few untouched spaces in college football that still has a level of purity to it.
The Air Force Academy and their Head Coach Troy Calhoun will need to replace their entire offensive line from last year. Fullback Dylan Carson returns and is looking to continue the tradition of recent fullback Brad Roberts and all those who came before.
Army West Point moved away from the under center flexbone offense last year after years of devotion. They returned late in the year to the traditional offense and found late success winning 4 in a row and finishing the season 6-6. I’m still a believer in their coaching staff and Jeff Monken is still one of the best in the business. I look forward to seeing the offense continue to build behind QB Bryson Daly, Sr. RB Tyrell Robinson and Soph. RB Kanye Udoh.
*Update: Army Football beat Lehigh 42-7 friday night at home in Mitchie Stadium behind a familiar offensive attack, the flex-bone offense. Army rushed 56 times for 375 yards and 6 TD. Army only attempted 8 passes, completing 5 of them for 57 yards. Starter Bryson Daily was 3-6 for 36 yards and Dewayne Coleman finished 2/2 for 22 yards.
The Naval Academy is in its 2nd season under Head Coach Brian Newberry. Navy returns two great Fullbacks in Alex Tecza and Daba Fofana. Tecza rushed for 758 total yards and 5 TD’s last year while Fofana gained 283 yards and 3 TD’s on the ground. Navy had a heavy running attack last year based out of multiple formations. Fullbacks & heavy run scheme? I’m in.
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