LSU Tigers: Racean Thomas
ATLANTA -- More than 1,700 student-athletes took part Saturday in the Nike SPARQ Combine here, a record for the event. Players from across the Southeast braved freezing conditions, snow flurries and significant wind chill to compete and test their athletic ability in the 40-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle, vertical jump and power ball throw. Below are the standouts from the event, which includes several prominent recruits and some off-the-radar prospects for the 2014 and 2015 classes.
Top SPARQ Ratings
Daryl Rollins, RB (Knoxville, Tenn./Fulton) - 111.21
Dillon Bates, LB, (Ponte Vedra, Fla./Ponte Vedra) - 109.05
Nick Chubb, ESPN Watch List RB (Cedartown, Ga./Cedartown) - 107.16
Khari Blasingame, DB (Huntsville, Ala./Buckhorn) - 106.89
Taj Griffin, 2015 RB (Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern) - 105.42
Top 40-yard dashes
Top SPARQ Ratings
Daryl Rollins, RB (Knoxville, Tenn./Fulton) - 111.21
Dillon Bates, LB, (Ponte Vedra, Fla./Ponte Vedra) - 109.05
Nick Chubb, ESPN Watch List RB (Cedartown, Ga./Cedartown) - 107.16
Khari Blasingame, DB (Huntsville, Ala./Buckhorn) - 106.89
Taj Griffin, 2015 RB (Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern) - 105.42
Top 40-yard dashes
2014 position preview: Running backs 
November, 6, 2012
11/06/12
11:04
AM ET
By
David Helman | ESPN.com
The lack of a running back in LSU's 2013 recruiting class signals two obvious situations. First, as has been repeated plenty, the Tigers are absolutely loaded at the position with five quality players, none of whom are seniors. Second, it creates a pretty big need for a ball carrier -- more likely two -- in the 2014 class, as three of those five scholarship backs are guaranteed to leave after the 2013 season, if not sooner.
The emergence of true freshman Jeremy Hill gives plenty of hope for the future of the position. But any of the trio of Alfred Blue, Michael Ford or Spencer Ware could depart at this season's end. And even if not, all three will graduate after next season. So the time is now to restock the stable, and 2014 looks like a good class to do so.
TARGETS
The emergence of true freshman Jeremy Hill gives plenty of hope for the future of the position. But any of the trio of Alfred Blue, Michael Ford or Spencer Ware could depart at this season's end. And even if not, all three will graduate after next season. So the time is now to restock the stable, and 2014 looks like a good class to do so.
TARGETS
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
RB Racean Thomas closes in on decision
September, 11, 2012
9/11/12
1:05
PM ET
By
Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com
Recruiting has picked up for Racean ‘Rock’ Thomas in recent weeks, but the 2014 running back might be ready to shut the process down and make a commitment. Thomas says he wants to try to make a decision sometime during the next few weeks.
The Oxford, Ala., native has double-digit scholarship offers, including an offer from nearly half of the teams in the SEC. Currently, Alabama, Florida State and LSU are the three schools that stand out.
Alabama: “I just like how close they are to home,” Thomas said. “They have great coaches. I like how they produce their running backs. They just make them a lot stronger when they come in, put some weight on them, make them be able to play the game better than they did in high school and make them great character-wise.”
The Oxford, Ala., native has double-digit scholarship offers, including an offer from nearly half of the teams in the SEC. Currently, Alabama, Florida State and LSU are the three schools that stand out.
Alabama: “I just like how close they are to home,” Thomas said. “They have great coaches. I like how they produce their running backs. They just make them a lot stronger when they come in, put some weight on them, make them be able to play the game better than they did in high school and make them great character-wise.”
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
It looked for a while like LSU had added a new running back for 2013 in Adam Taylor (Katy, Texas/Katy). Reports of Taylor's commitment to LSU turned out to be premature, but the Tigers' interest in the 200-pounder hasn't dwindled.
Taylor was at LSU's July camp working out for the coaches. The soon-to-be senior at Katy suffered a season-ending knee injury early in his 2011 campaign and, like many other LSU targets, the main question is how well Taylor is recovering.
Of course, one look at LSU's roster raises an important question: how badly do the Tigers even need running backs at this juncture?
Taylor was at LSU's July camp working out for the coaches. The soon-to-be senior at Katy suffered a season-ending knee injury early in his 2011 campaign and, like many other LSU targets, the main question is how well Taylor is recovering.
Of course, one look at LSU's roster raises an important question: how badly do the Tigers even need running backs at this juncture?
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
ABOUT GEAUX TIGER NATION
Gary Laney
Gary Laney joined ESPN.com in 2012 after spending a year and a half as online sports editor of the Baton Rouge (La.) Advocate. Before that, he covered LSU sports for the Advocate. He has also been the sports editor at the Beaumont (Texas) Enterprise and covered McNeese State athletics for the Lake Charles (La.) American Press. Laney currently lives in Baton Rouge. Email him at glaneyespn@gmail.com