It is huge. This is a BIG TIME player and a big time "get" for LA Tech. Auburn was still chasing him last week. I can't believe the backfield we've ended up with in 2021. WOW!!
Henry-Brooks joins a Tech backfield that includes Marcus Williams, Greg Garner, Harlan Dixon, and Marquis Crosby.
After entering the transfer portal in February, Henry-Brooks was considered one of the top transfer RBs available in the country.
Wow things are really looking up. What a difference a week makes. A starting QB and a starting RB in one week.
Looks like I need to raise my expectations for the year- yes, I know that is dangerous, but the season is certainly looking more promising!
With all due respect for our 2020 players who were on the roster last season, we'll have a big influx of very good transfer player talent this season that could make us a much better football team than initially expected. Some of these transfers are very good players, and hungry for playing time. This football program needs that! Of course, as the old saying goes, "the proof will be in the pudding". While this transfer class may not change everything, it sure appears to change a lot!
The skilled positions are looking up, but as everyone knows it comes down to having at least a decent OL. Even the best QBs can't complete passes lying on their backs, and the best RBs can't be expected to break a bunch of tackles just to get positive yards.
In baseball it's all about pitching, in offensive football it's all about the OL. Have to have it!
This is awesome!!!!!! As mentioned above, though, how ARE we looking with our OL? I was so happy to get a QB transfer (IMO our greatest need) and adding a RB is even better. Now, just to improve that OL and we could have an exceptional year!!!!! If anyone could give a really good analysis of our OL, I would love to see what we have that might make a difference.
By my count, here's a list of 7 OL additions to the LA Tech roster. None of these guys were at LA Tech last December. This list includes 4 transfers and 3 incoming Freshmen.
1) Chris Fournier, 6'4, 285, SR, OL, Lehigh - Made 28 career starts at Leigh
2) Kellton Hollins, 6'2, 291, SR, OL, TCU - Played in 23 games in 5 yrs at TCU. He started all 11 games at Center, that he appeared in as a sophomore in 2018
3) Samuel Williams, 6'7, 322, SR, OL, ULM - Appeared in 33 games for ULM, including 16 career starts at Right Tackle
4) Kenneth Bannister, 6'6, 290, FR, OL, New Orleans/Edna Karr - Incoming Freshman
5) Erron Bean, 6'5, 280, FR, OL, Shreveport/Huntington - Incoming Freshman
6) Carson Bruno, 6'4, 290, FR, OL, Shreveport/Byrd - Incoming Freshman
7) DeMarcus Gordon, 6'5, 320, JR, OL, Tunica, MS/Copiah-Lincoln CC - Appeared in 10 games. Earned All MACCC South Division
Also, our RB's will be MUCH better in 2021 than last season. The new guys are bigger, stronger and faster than last years class. And they'll be able to help out our OL in pass blocking formation. Last year, our RB's were smaller, and just got "pancaked" almost every time they tried to block on-coming rushers.
Tech only had 3 RB's on the roster last season; Israel Tucker (5'8, 200), Justin Henderson (5'10, 218) and Greg Garner (6'0, 205). Henderson --the expected starter for last season-- showed up badly "out of shape", and only rushed 75 times for 252 yds. This was a terrible performance for Henderson, who had rushed 188 times for 1,062 yds the previous season (2019) and had made the All-CUSA team. In short, Henderson was a "no show" for 2020, and it hurt Tech badly. That left Tucker the bulk of the remaining carries, and he rushed 149 times for 648 yds last season. So, the much smaller Tucker had TWICE as many carries as the supposed more durable Henderson in 2020. The sophomore Garner was only used sparingly in 2020. Not sure why.
This 2020 RB corps was just not enough to meet Tech's needs. Tucker --at 5'8-- is not and was never intended to be an every-down back. But with Henderson' disappearing act in 2020, Tucker had to do it. This contributed heavily to a "bring the house" defensive strategy by our opponents on almost every down. And our OL just couldn't handle it.
Make no mistake, our RB's were a HUGE part of the "OL" problem last year. It was Skip Holtz's fault for letting our RB ranks get so thin. (only 3 RB's, and one badly out of shape?) I think that's why he beefed up the RB class considerably this year.
I also think some of our OL were thrown into the fire before they were ready last year, especially at tackle. OL really benefits from experience, so having played last season (as poorly as that went in some cases) plus just having another year in the weight room/training table plus getting a spring and fall camp in, hopefully will also improve our blocking.