DRC: UNT breakout candidate No. 3 -- RB Nick Smith

Brett Vito · March 24, 2017

DRC:

http://beta.dentonrc.com/sports/mean-green/2017/03/24/unt-breakout-candidate-3-nick-smith-force-backfield

Harry · March 25, 2017

Best and most accurate selection thus far.

MeanGreenTexan · March 25, 2017

I guess you have to define "breakout". Because if Wilson is still here, he's the man. There is no "breakout" while playing behind him.

Now, if "breakout" means replacing Ivery, who was a great complimentary piece last year, then yeah! Smith can do that.

I expect WAY more out of Vito's #5 (Smiley) than I do out of Smith this year.

Smith may wind up being a lock to win the "breakout candidate" award next year though once Wilson is graduated.

Green Lantern · March 25, 2017

Quick Nick is my pick to click.

GrayEagle · March 25, 2017

10 hours ago, MeanGreenTexan said:

I guess you have to define "breakout". Because if Wilson is still here, he's the man. There is no "breakout" while playing behind him.

Now, if "breakout" means replacing Ivery, who was a great complimentary piece last year, then yeah! Smith can do that.

I expect WAY more out of Vito's #5 (Smiley) than I do out of Smith this year.

Smith may wind up being a lock to win the "breakout candidate" award next year though once Wilson is graduated.

Maybe I'm short-sighted but I look at breakout as producing far more than you produced the previous season. Since Nic Smith was red-shirted last year the only thing that he learned was the offense. So that whatever he produces this year will be far above zero. Frankly, I expect him to produce more than Ivery produced last year and depending on how much he gets used, perhaps even close to Jeff Wilson. While there is no question about Wilson's ability, there are questions about his durability. My wish is that both get used at the same time; swapping running back and h-back slots without the opposition knowing who is the hot back so that they cannot key on just the running back.

Now if I'm right on the "breakout" definition the next two will be Jalen Guyton and Bryce English. I expect Guyton to be the top receiver and English to be the top defensive lineman and since neither played last year let's hope that their stats will be better than those of last year.

Mean Green 93-98 · March 25, 2017

I consider "breakout" generally to mean:

Contributed little to nothing to team in terms of on-field production in previous seasons

Current season, was a major contributor and a difference maker

Considering Turner Smiley has been a major contributor already, I don't see him as being eligible for a "breakout" season. . . . UNLESS he ends up putting up ridiculous (1st team all-conference plus) numbers, clearly "breaking through" to another level.

GrandGreen · March 25, 2017

Breakout, means the player goes to the next level. It could be a former starter that turns into an all conference level performer or a freshman that becomes a major contributor to the team. Any player on the team could have a breakout year.

GrayEagle · March 26, 2017

Grand, what is the next level? Not seeing the field to backup? Backup to starter? Starter to stat leader? HM all-conference? Second team all-conference? First team all-conference? Or, just a vast improvement over last year's performance? Are these the levels for a breakout season? Must you jump more than one level?

I know that sportswriters have used this term but I can find no clear definition for it.

GMG24 · March 27, 2017

On 3/25/2017 at 3:32 AM, MeanGreenTexan said:

I guess you have to define "breakout". Because if Wilson is still here, he's the man. There is no "breakout" while playing behind him.

Now, if "breakout" means replacing Ivery, who was a great complimentary piece last year, then yeah! Smith can do that.

I expect WAY more out of Vito's #5 (Smiley) than I do out of Smith this year.

Smith may wind up being a lock to win the "breakout candidate" award next year though once Wilson is graduated.

I think he'll breakout even behind Wilson. Best back I've watched with my own eyes not named Eno Benjamin.

SilverEagle · March 27, 2017

On 3/25/2017 at 2:30 PM, GrayEagle said:

Maybe I'm short-sighted but I look at breakout as producing far more than you produced the previous season. Since Nic Smith was red-shirted last year the only thing that he learned was the offense. So that whatever he produces this year will be far above zero. Frankly, I expect him to produce more than Ivery produced last year and depending on how much he gets used, perhaps even close to Jeff Wilson. While there is no question about Wilson's ability, there are questions about his durability. My wish is that both get used at the same time; swapping running back and h-back slots without the opposition knowing who is the hot back so that they cannot key on just the running back.

Now if I'm right on the "breakout" definition the next two will be Jalen Guyton and Bryce English. I expect Guyton to be the top receiver and English to be the top defensive lineman and since neither played last year let's hope that their stats will be better than those of last year.

That's what I always think about when someone says (insert name of player here) is having a break-out season. It can also mean that they have finally "broken out" of previous limiting situations such as being injury plagued. Wilson could have a "break out" season just by playing every game without injury........kind of like Sean Lee did this last season with the Cowboys.

It can also mean changing positions and finally contributing to the team. Kind of like Mr. Chumley who seems to be having a "break out" spring now that he has been moved to TE/H-back.

5 hours ago, GMG24 said:

I think he'll breakout even behind Wilson. Best back I've watched with my own eyes not named Eno Benjamin.

Are you talking about Smith or Wilson?

Edited March 27, 2017 by SilverEagle

GMG24 · March 27, 2017

3 hours ago, SilverEagle said:

That's what I always think about when someone says (insert name of player here) is having a break-out season. It can also mean that they have finally "broken out" of previous limiting situations such as being injury plagued. Wilson could have a "break out" season just by playing every game without injury........kind of like Sean Lee did this last season with the Cowboys.

It can also mean changing positions and finally contributing to the team. Kind of like Mr. Chumley who seems to be having a "break out" spring now that he has been moved to TE/H-back.

Are you talking about Smith or Wilson?

Smith. I never got to see Wilson live.