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2/22/2010, 01:02 AM
Coming to OU: The big play
Roy Finch: Freshman running back might be small, but he’s known to deliver
By Jake Trotter The Oklahoman Comments Comment on this article0
Published: February 22, 2010
Roy Finch
→School: Niceville, Fla.
→Position: RB
→Height: 5-8
→Weight: 170
→Position rankings: Rivals No. 4 (all-purpose back); ESPN No. 17; Scout No. 20
→Noteworthy: Totaled almost 2,200 all-purpose yards and 35 TDs while leading Niceville to the sate finals as a senior
At 5-foot-8, 170 pounds, Finch isn’t big.
But he sure knows how to deliver the big play.
Finch spoke with The Oklahoman about proving to scouts he could be more than a scat back, who he models his game after, and what Sooner coaches have told him about possibly playing next season.
→ Trotter: The knock on you from recruiting services coming into this year was that you weren’t big or physical enough to shoulder the rushing load. Do you feel like the way you played this past season, especially in the playoffs, eliminated a lot of that talk?
Finch: "My junior year, I had a pretty good year. I went to a lot of summer camps, and that’s where people said I was a scat back. That I didn’t have the physicality of other running backs around the country.
"So I wanted to work on getting stronger in my upper body. Become more physical when I run, but keep my speed. That work in the off-season really helped me out. I was able to get the tough yards, those two- and three-yard runs, instead of just bouncing everything to the outside and using my speed.
"You always want to prove people wrong who say you can’t do a certain thing. I knew in the back of my mind I needed to prove (myself). What I wanted to do was bring more versatility to my game. OU recruited me before my senior year. They saw my junior highlight film, saw I was good in open space. But they didn’t see that physicality. I wanted to show something different. Show that when I come in, I can get that tough yardage. That they can put me in on first down or third down, I’m not just a scat back.”
→I’ve heard people say you resemble Quentin Griffin or Kendall Hunter on your highlight films. Is there any player out there you believe you resemble or try to model your game after?
"I’ve seen Hunter play, saw him play couple a games last year. Quentin Griffin is one of the all-time greats. But one person I’ve been watching since I was in middle school was Reggie Bush. He’s my idol, my favorite player. When he was in college, he had that burst, the quickness, the versatility out of the backfield. But he also showed that power to get those tough yards. Even in the NFL, he can bust for 80, but has the strength to get 5 or 6, too. I look up to him a little bit.”
→Do you know who you’ll be rooming with?
"I don’t know for sure, but I think I might know. Justin McCay. We’ve been keeping up on Facebook, seeing how each other is doing.”
→Who out of this class have you developed friendships with?
"I would say Brennan Clay and Justin McCay. I met those two in person. McCay on an official visit. We had a great time together. He’s a funny guy to hang out with. Brennan is somebody I can see becoming brothers with.”
→Julian Wilson recently said of all the highlight films he’s watched of OU’s other signees, yours was the most impressive. How does that make you feel?
"It’s a blessing. I thank God for my abilities. He gives me the strength to do what I do. Some of my teammates have said that about me, about my highlight film. That’s great. But I have a lot to prove to the coaches and the fans.”
→What has OU told you about playing time next season?
"On my official visit, I talked to Coach (Cale) Gundy about that. Basically, he said they can’t make any promises or guarantee playing time. He just said I have a unique skill set that they really like, and can do a lot of things in their offense. He said if I come in and work and do the things I need to do, I could be right in the mix, even as a punt or kick returner. He said I have the chance to get on the field early.”
Read more: http://newsok.com/article/3441271#ixzz0gF3YG59Q
Roy Finch: Freshman running back might be small, but he’s known to deliver
By Jake Trotter The Oklahoman Comments Comment on this article0
Published: February 22, 2010
Roy Finch
→School: Niceville, Fla.
→Position: RB
→Height: 5-8
→Weight: 170
→Position rankings: Rivals No. 4 (all-purpose back); ESPN No. 17; Scout No. 20
→Noteworthy: Totaled almost 2,200 all-purpose yards and 35 TDs while leading Niceville to the sate finals as a senior
At 5-foot-8, 170 pounds, Finch isn’t big.
But he sure knows how to deliver the big play.
Finch spoke with The Oklahoman about proving to scouts he could be more than a scat back, who he models his game after, and what Sooner coaches have told him about possibly playing next season.
→ Trotter: The knock on you from recruiting services coming into this year was that you weren’t big or physical enough to shoulder the rushing load. Do you feel like the way you played this past season, especially in the playoffs, eliminated a lot of that talk?
Finch: "My junior year, I had a pretty good year. I went to a lot of summer camps, and that’s where people said I was a scat back. That I didn’t have the physicality of other running backs around the country.
"So I wanted to work on getting stronger in my upper body. Become more physical when I run, but keep my speed. That work in the off-season really helped me out. I was able to get the tough yards, those two- and three-yard runs, instead of just bouncing everything to the outside and using my speed.
"You always want to prove people wrong who say you can’t do a certain thing. I knew in the back of my mind I needed to prove (myself). What I wanted to do was bring more versatility to my game. OU recruited me before my senior year. They saw my junior highlight film, saw I was good in open space. But they didn’t see that physicality. I wanted to show something different. Show that when I come in, I can get that tough yardage. That they can put me in on first down or third down, I’m not just a scat back.”
→I’ve heard people say you resemble Quentin Griffin or Kendall Hunter on your highlight films. Is there any player out there you believe you resemble or try to model your game after?
"I’ve seen Hunter play, saw him play couple a games last year. Quentin Griffin is one of the all-time greats. But one person I’ve been watching since I was in middle school was Reggie Bush. He’s my idol, my favorite player. When he was in college, he had that burst, the quickness, the versatility out of the backfield. But he also showed that power to get those tough yards. Even in the NFL, he can bust for 80, but has the strength to get 5 or 6, too. I look up to him a little bit.”
→Do you know who you’ll be rooming with?
"I don’t know for sure, but I think I might know. Justin McCay. We’ve been keeping up on Facebook, seeing how each other is doing.”
→Who out of this class have you developed friendships with?
"I would say Brennan Clay and Justin McCay. I met those two in person. McCay on an official visit. We had a great time together. He’s a funny guy to hang out with. Brennan is somebody I can see becoming brothers with.”
→Julian Wilson recently said of all the highlight films he’s watched of OU’s other signees, yours was the most impressive. How does that make you feel?
"It’s a blessing. I thank God for my abilities. He gives me the strength to do what I do. Some of my teammates have said that about me, about my highlight film. That’s great. But I have a lot to prove to the coaches and the fans.”
→What has OU told you about playing time next season?
"On my official visit, I talked to Coach (Cale) Gundy about that. Basically, he said they can’t make any promises or guarantee playing time. He just said I have a unique skill set that they really like, and can do a lot of things in their offense. He said if I come in and work and do the things I need to do, I could be right in the mix, even as a punt or kick returner. He said I have the chance to get on the field early.”
Read more: http://newsok.com/article/3441271#ixzz0gF3YG59Q