BYU Football: 3 recruits that can change the running back situation

With graduations and transfers, BYU Football’s running back situation is a major concern for the fan base. There are a few chances that the Cougars could snag some special playmakers, though.

The running back position for BYU has been a work in progress for the last two seasons. Injuries, personal issues, and the lack of a dominant performer have been the culprits. For the time being, there doesn’t seem to be anything in the cards to hint that any changes are coming soon.

As is usually the case in college football, things aren’t always as they seem. The fact is, there are three prospects that would be immediate contributors the minute they walked on campus if they were to come to Provo. Let’s take a look at them.

No.1 – Thomas Grayson – Booker T. Washington High School (Tulsa, Oklahoma)

Grayson (6’0, 190) ran for 1,063 yards on 184 attempts his senior season and averaged 5.8 yards per carry. What’s more impressive, evident from his highlight footage, is his speed and elusiveness.

He uses his rumored 4.45 forty-yard dash quickness in both the rushing and passing game. He’s particularly dangerous in the open field, but can get tough yards as well.

Grayson would be a huge get for the BYU coaching staff. He was previously committed to Nebraska, but decommitted and is being courted by several schools. Besides BYU, he has offers from Kansas St., Tulsa, Arkansas St.

247 Sports reports that KSU has a lead here , but the Cougars remain a dark house in the competition to sign him.

No. 2 – Darrin (DJ) Smith – Frisco Lone Star High School (Frisco, Texas)

DJ Smith (5’10, 189) racked up 450 yards on 81 carries in his senior year, averaging 5.6 yards per attempt. Though not mind-blowing, his highlights show what he’s capable of. 247 Sports rates him as a 3-Star athlete, but one look at his film demonstrates just how valuable he will be to a lucky program in the years to come.

Smith runs a 4.6 forty and was once clocked at 10.82 in the 100 meter dash. He’s not just fast, though. Explosive and shifty, Smith is a handful for opposing defenses the moment he’s handed the ball.

Smith currently holds offers from UConn, Florida Atlantic, and Colorado. The Cougars are still in the hunt, even though they have not made an official offer for scholarship yet. If BYU Football is serious, they’ll have to change that in the next couple days.

No.3 Christian Grubb – Notre Dame High School (Sherman Oaks, California)

Grubb (5’11, 175) is the complete package. The 1,306 yards his final season in high school were impressive, but not as shocking as the number of ankles he broke while doing it. Just take a peak here.

Grubb boasts a 4.4 forty time and runs a 10.73 in the hundred. He is the type of player that change a game in a heartbeat. But there is something that makes him more appealing than the other two that might be the most surprising of all.

Grubb has garnered attention from several Power 5 institutions, but only has offers from Army, Drake, Cal Poly, and Sacramento St. The Cougars still have not committed a scholarship to Grubb, but with the uncertainty of the two aforementioned candidates, they’d be crazy not to. If they do, the chances of landing this multi-talented sleeper should be high.

The Outlook

If BYU Football can get a commitment from any of these three athletes on Wednesday they’d be adding their best running back to the roster. Any of the bunch would likely be on the field against the Utes come August, firmly in the rotation and competing with Lopini Katoa for the majority of the snaps.

Thomas Grayson is unlikely, but still a possibility. Getting DJ Smith is more feasible, but still a stretch. Christian Grubb on the other hand, is a prospect that if approached correctly in the next few days should become a Cougar.

Not signing any of the three would be a lost opportunity, but a commitment from any of the three would put BYU Football back in the Running Back Business again.