sure to get even more disagreement on this one - my take on this board is I recall Tony Boles' career more fondly than most -
Running Back: Biggest positive surprise: Tim Biakabutuka: I have always been highly skeptical of Canadian high school prospects. TD Tim overlapped with some strong high school RB talent (Powers, Wheatly, Floyd, Howard, Clarence Williams), yet got early PT and ascended to the top of the heap, culminating in one of the best individual single game UM performances with 313 yards versus Ohio. Biggest Disappointment: by nature, sooo many candidates. For me Tony Boles was the biggest disappointment, due to a freak injury versus Minnesota in his junior year. After a stellar sophomore year Boles’ 1989 season was a bit disappointing, with 822 yards after 9 games. Then came the career-ending knee injury after his first carry (17 yards) against Minnesota. So, while some would argue the injury to Antonio Bass might have been a bigger negative impact, Boles gained more than 1,400 yards as a sophomore and with that proven ability I think his senior year could have been monsterous. I loved Boles’ running style, as he seemed to have break-away speed, and the ability to break tackles.
Honorable Mention: Upside Surprise: Jesse Johnson, Jon Vaughn, Khalid Hill – Downside Surprise: Antonio Bass (injury), Allen Jefferson (fastest UM back ever?), Thomas Wilcher, Ricky Powers, Justin Fargas, Kevin Grady, David Underwood, Derrick Green
Running Back: Biggest positive surprise: Tim Biakabutuka: I have always been highly skeptical of Canadian high school prospects. TD Tim overlapped with some strong high school RB talent (Powers, Wheatly, Floyd, Howard, Clarence Williams), yet got early PT and ascended to the top of the heap, culminating in one of the best individual single game UM performances with 313 yards versus Ohio. Biggest Disappointment: by nature, sooo many candidates. For me Tony Boles was the biggest disappointment, due to a freak injury versus Minnesota in his junior year. After a stellar sophomore year Boles’ 1989 season was a bit disappointing, with 822 yards after 9 games. Then came the career-ending knee injury after his first carry (17 yards) against Minnesota. So, while some would argue the injury to Antonio Bass might have been a bigger negative impact, Boles gained more than 1,400 yards as a sophomore and with that proven ability I think his senior year could have been monsterous. I loved Boles’ running style, as he seemed to have break-away speed, and the ability to break tackles.
Honorable Mention: Upside Surprise: Jesse Johnson, Jon Vaughn, Khalid Hill – Downside Surprise: Antonio Bass (injury), Allen Jefferson (fastest UM back ever?), Thomas Wilcher, Ricky Powers, Justin Fargas, Kevin Grady, David Underwood, Derrick Green
