Despite not being the fastest, the most powerful, or the most electric running-back NIU has had, and to some, not even the best back on the team at the moment, Joel Bouagnon has put together quite a season so far through 10 games. It might possibly be the best for an NIU running-back since Garrett Wolfe in 2006.

Looking at the stats through 10 games of the last 5 running-backs to eclipse 1,000 yards in a season, Wolfe (2006), Justin Anderson (2007), Chad Spann (2010), Cameron Stingily (2013), Bouagnon (2015), Bouagnon's put up some interesting numbers when compared to them.

Note: Spann rushed for 1,000 yards in both 2009 & 2010, but I'm only using 2010 because it was his best season. I am also not including the numbers for quarterbacks like Harnish & Lynch.

Through 10 games:
Rushing Yards
Wolfe - 1,533
Bouagnon - 1.106
Anderson - 1,096
Spann - 1,070
Stingily - 958

Rushing TDs
Bouagnon - 17
Spann - 15
Wolfe - 14
Stingly - 9
Anderson - 7

Yards Per Carry
Wolfe - 6.69
Stingly - 5.77
Spann - 5.30
Bouagnon - 4.94
Anderson - 4.79

Rushing Attempts
Wolfe - 229
Anderson - 229
Bouagnon - 224
Spann - 202
Stingily - 166

100-Yard Rushing Games
Wolfe - 6
Anderson - 6
Spann - 6
Bouagnon - 6
Stingily - 3

Games W/Rushing TD
Bouagnon - 9
Spann - 9
Stingily - 7
Wolfe - 6
Anderson - 6

Games W/Multiple Rushing TDs
Bouagnon - 6
Wolfe - 5
Spann - 4
Stingily - 2
Anderson - 1

His yards and TD numbers might owe it to the fact that he's gotten as many carries as backs in the late Novak era did, which explains why he's fourth out of five in YPC, but he's got more rushing TDs through 10 games than any of the others and he's got more rushing yards through 10 games than everybody but Wolfe.

Bouagnon will likely be First-Team All MAC this year, over guys like Franklin and Hunt who were arguably the two best players in the conference last season. Not too shabby.

You certainly are making a valid case.

Just for his manly runs against OSU I'd agree.

I really liked Chad Spann, but he had Chandler Harnish. ACRB is running tough and is having a very good season. I Like him with Huff combo.

If you're Joel Bouagnon you score touchdowns. It's what you do.

If you want to save 15% on car insurance, you switch to Geico. It's what you do.

You know, Barsema, when I saw the title of your thread, my immediate reaction was to laugh in jest. No way Bouagnon is having that good of a season.

Your numbers are pretty compelling, however.

I think what you wrote about him not being flashy is the impetus for me not having the perception of him being a top tier runner. He's boring, blue collar...but apparently pretty darn effective.

He has the size that they like at the next level. Does anyone know how fast he runs the 40 yard dash?

Stingily got a look because of his size but he was not as polished of a running back as Bouagnon. It will be interesting to see what happens.

Those numbers certainly make a case. Nothing against ACRB, but I'll take Spann.

(11-15-2015 08:24 PM)niubrad00 Wrote:  If you're Joel Bouagnon you score touchdowns. It's what you do.

If you want to save 15% on car insurance, you switch to Geico. It's what you do.

Everybody knows that.

He's not the fastest, he's not the most powerful, he's not the most shifty, he's not the most explosive...but the great thing is he's at least OK in all of them, he has very little weakness in his running game.

(11-16-2015 02:34 PM)17Huskies Wrote:  He's not the fastest, he's not the most powerful, he's not the most shifty, he's not the most explosive...but the great thing is he's at least OK in all of them, he has very little weakness in his running game.

He gets the yards, and that's what matters. He could hop, skip, jump, salchow and moon-walk, for all I care, as long as he gets the yards.

(11-16-2015 10:20 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(11-15-2015 08:24 PM)niubrad00 Wrote:  If you're Joel Bouagnon you score touchdowns. It's what you do.

If you want to save 15% on car insurance, you switch to Geico. It's what you do.

Everybody knows that.

Well, did you know that curiosity killed the cat?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F13kVhu8UmY