South Carolina Football All-Decade Team: Fullback
by Gamecock Man on Jul 20, 2011 9:45 PM EDT
in South Carolina Gamecocks Football
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PrintThis post continues a series picking an All-Decade Team. Over the summer, we'll be honoring the best players Carolina has had at each position over the past ten years. We'll also give shout-outs to some of the other memorable players we've had. In our last four installments of this series, I picked Ryan Succop as our top placekicker, Spencer Lanning as our punter, Marcus Lattimore (with an honorable mention to Cory Boyd) as our runningback, Jared Cook at tight end, Alshon Jeffery and Sidney Rice at wide receiver, Travelle Wharton, Garrett Chisolm, T.J. Johnson, Shane Hall, and Melvin Paige on the offensive line, Stephen Garcia at quarterback, and Syvelle Newton and Ryan Brewer at all-purpose.
Today, we're talking about fullbacks. Fullback is a thankless position. Although fullbacks oftentimes enjoy a kind of backhanded praise for the work they're doing behind the scenes, they don't get many chances to shine on big plays, and the recent turn to spread offenses has seen many teams use more and more no-fullback formations. However, having a good fullback can be a great tool, when used correctly: you need a good fullback for the I-formation, cloud-of-dust ground game, and having one that can catch the ball oftentimes gives you a secret weapon.
The following players were regular fixtures at fullback for Carolina over the past decade:
2001-2002: Andrew Pinnock (a hybrid RB-FB who played FB in the NFL)
2003-2005: Daccus Turman (another hybrid)
2006-2007: Lanard Stafford
2007-2010: Patrick DiMarco
Of this group, Pinnock was the best and made the largest contribution to Carolina, so I'm picking him. That said, both Turman and DiMarco also made huge contributions to the program, so both deserve recognition. It should be remembered that Pinnock's numbers are helped because he played both FB and TB, and you might say that DiMarco did more in a true FB role than the others in the group. That said, I don't see that as being a reason to pick DiMarco over Pinnock; Pinnock played both roles because he was a more versatile player, and certainly he was punishing FB when he wore that hat. That's why he was selected in the NFL Draft, a rare accomplishment for someone projected as a FB.
That wraps up our posts on offensive players. We'll move on to defense soon.
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You've talked me into voting for Pinnock.
The UGA game 2002 had me convinced otherwise, but I see your reasoning and have come to the light to agree with you.
Also, I can’t remember why I was so big on Daccus Turman. For one reason or another his is a name that stands out to me in a way that doesn’t make me cringe.
- FOW
I dissent
Pinnock, DiMarco – both very good players. Neither are All-Decade caliber. FB has never been an every-down position under either Holtz or Spurrier. And, as you noted, both Pinnock and DiMarco were hybrids.
I would argue that Boyd is more deserving of first team co-RB with Lattimore than Pinnock is of being a first team FB in two offenses that do not rely much on the FB.
I havent seen a honors team that honored a FB in … practically forever. However, honors team routinely select two RBs.
Here's a health, Carolina, forever to thee! UNIVERSITAS CAROLIN MERID. 1801 Emollit mores nec sinit esse feros (Ovid)
Well, I wanted to honor a FB. And I actually think Pinnock stacks up pretty well overall against Boyd, although I would def. pick Body between the two if I had picked two runningbacks.
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog By and For Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Jul 21, 2011 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions
I obviously can't agree with this
the FB position is moreso about leadership, and the “unseen” stats than actual yardage+TDs. Dimarco was a key piece to last year, and I am not sure Lattimore has as good of a season without him, he himself even stated that.
"A school without football is in danger of deteriorating into a medieval study hall."
Frank Leahy / Notre Dame
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