The Plight of White Running Back Dillon Romain
College Football, High School Sports, NFL, Race, Recruiting, Video October 15th. 2009, 4:00pm
There isn’t a white running back among the 30 leading rushers in the NFL. There’s only one white running back among the top 20 rushers in college football (Stanford’s Toby Gerhart, who is 1st). White running backs have been bordering on extinction for years. The last white running back to rush for 1,000 yards was Craig James with New England. In 1985. The last white running back to lead his team in rushing? Carolina’s Nick Goings in 2004. [Ed. When googling for this post, many places on the always-reliable web referred to Nick Goings as 'white.' Including ESPN. Apparently, that is not the case.]
These statistics have not been lost upon the New Jersey 2008 Gatorade high school player of the year, running back Dillon Romain. He led his school to three straight state titles. He had the requisite GPA, SAT, and a good 40 time. The last 10 State players of the year from Jersey all received D1 scholarships. Several of them are in the NFL. Romain didn’t get one Division I offer.
Others such as Melvin and Toal think a contributing factor could be that Romain is white and plays running back.
“Being a white running back is not the easiest thing,” Toal said. “There’s stereotypes out there in this day and age.”
Romain did not wow recruiters with his physical gifts, but he always produced — and at the highest level since Don Bosco played some of its games against national competition, including teams from California and Ohio.
What’s the move here? Should Romain have just switched positions?
At 5-foot-11, 200 pounds, he probably could have been an slightly undersized safety (adding 15 pounds of muscle in college is nothing) in D1 and gotten a partially free education. At worst, couldn’t he have been a backup DB who also played on special teams? Problem is, Romain pigeonholed himself by only playing running back in high school.
Why didn’t Romain just accept a I-AA scholarship? There have been quite a few players who have made the leap from I-AA to the NFL in the last 40 years – Walter Payton, Jerry Rice, Kurt Warner, Marques Colston, and Donald Driver to name a few.
Why not dominate at the Division II level? Reaching the pros that way isn’t unheard of – Danny Woodhead made the Jets this year. He’s a 5-foot-8, 200-pound Division II legend (2nd most all-purpose yards ever at that level; he was the Nebraska Gatorade high school player of the year in 2004).
Romain decided to prep for a year, and he’s now trying out multiple positions to enhance his chances of playing Division I.
Former Don Bosco star Dillon Romain, passed over for Division 1 scholarship, hoping year at Blair Academy helps college dream come true (Star Ledger)
103 Responses to “The Plight of White Running Back Dillon Romain”
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October 15th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
i still dont know why brock forsey never got a shot after rushing for over 100 yards in 3 straight games for the bears.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Rick Fenney came to my elementary school.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
He may be complaining now, but his song will change once he goes on a job interview or tries to get a bank loan.
/too far?
October 15th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Could be wrong, but I don’t think Nick Goings is white.
At least, I didn’t think so in high school when I saw him play.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
The media just wants to see a white running back do well.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
For the life of me I cannot remember the running back from BYU about 6 years ago who was awesome until he broke his leg late in the season. Go figure the Mormons would have a white dude toting the rock.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
If that’s him in the picture, he’s got one hell of a tan.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
I always thought Brian Leonard would have made the white running back come back.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Nick Goings
October 15th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Alstott
October 15th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Nick Goings dad is black and mom is white. This has somehow made him white, but means Obama is black. I don’t get it.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
And now he’s making college football less enjoyable.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
I’m going to split on Nick Goings based on google images. I’m going to say he is whatever PC term has replaced Mulatto.
Please note that I am not saying mulatto. I am saying whatever word replaced mulatto.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
dirt the term you are looking for is red boneded
October 15th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
swirl? oh wait, that’s soft serve ice cream. nm.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Alstott
Twice, as late as 2001. I just looked that up.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
I am saying whatever word replaced mulatto.
Halfrican.
/justified because I am one.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
or high yellowed.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Donald Brown?
October 15th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
White people are just slow.
/white dude
//slow
October 15th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
I just know it’s not high yella. That’s really offensive. I’m not saying high yella under any circumstances.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
It’s the racial draft. Politics got the first pick.
/picking the Wu-Tang clan.
TBL – Madden has made a habit of stealing one or two of your posts everyday and making it a segment on his show. This post was his last segment. Of course he gives you no credit.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
wheat saltine?
October 15th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
the start of my all white team!!!!
/not sure we could come up with 22 players for that
October 15th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
All the white RBs traded jobs with the black baseball players.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
We always use the term French Canadians so as not arise suspicions.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
The last white running back to rush for 1,000 yards was Craig James with New England.
That’s SMU’s own Craig James to you.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Luke fucking Staley:
In 11 games, he rushed for 1,596 yards and 24 touchdowns (both totals shattered school records). His incredible rushing average (8.1 yards per carry) led the NCAA, and his 143.8 rushing yards per game ranked third nationally. Staley added 32 receptions for 334 yards and 4 touchdowns; he led the nation in total touchdowns (28) and scoring (15.5 points per game). Staley twice tied BYU’s school record for touchdowns in a game, scoring 5 against both Utah State and Colorado State.
Staley decided to forgo his senior season at BYU and entered the 2002 NFL Draft. However, because of his injury-prone past, Staley was not selected until the seventh round (214th overall) by the Detroit Lions. He participated in Lions’ training camp as a rookie, but suffered a knee injury that required a season-ending surgery.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
I don’t know how Alstott was skipped in this discussion, unless you wanted to consider him a FB
October 15th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
there could totally be an all white team…it just wouldn’t have any CB’s.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
i wish cnn would worry more about where the boy is at instead of talking about whether he could be lifted by the balloon.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
That’s SMU’s own Craig James to you.
Big Time Backfield, big time salary.
it just wouldn’t have any CB’s.
Jason Sehorn?
October 15th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
For those of you outside of the area, Roeth is referring to the living, breathing embodiment of Spencer’s meth addicted, cousin-fucking Pittsburgh stereotype. Actually, I’m not sure about the meth or the incest… But Madden is a talentless piece of shit who needs to
dieget fired from yet another radio station.October 15th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Jason Sehorn and Adam Archuleta would put the pads back on, I’m sure.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Alstott
Twice, as late as 2001. I just looked that up.
Twice what as late as 2001? Not 1,000 yards.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
33 posts about white RBs without mentioning the great very good #33, Merrill Hoge?
October 15th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Jason Sehorn was badass until he tore his knee up. he was never the same after that. though he did have one of the coolest pick 6s ever.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
strike “great”
/code fail
October 15th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Adam Archuleta wasn’t a CB, ever. He was a safety, but not even really that. He was a steroid enhanced Combine warrior with a good agent who stole from both St Louis and Washington.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
That’s SMU’s own Craig James to you.
Big Time Backfield, big time salary.
James has always denied the was on the take. He says he went to SMU because that’s where his girlfriend went and he wanted to follow her.
Everyone knows Dickerson was getting money and cars and other shit, so it seems pretty reasonable to think that James was too.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
412, you can strike very good, too. Merrill Hoge sucked, sucks, and will suck.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
yeah he should have never tried to field punts. fuggin idiot
October 15th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
/concuss’d
October 15th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
I don’t think Archuleta played a down at CB in his career. As for putting the pads back on…he’s still active — with the Las Vegas Locomotives of the UFL.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Bosco running backs are all overrated…
October 15th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
it was a nice return too on the one kickoff. of course, they tore the astroturf out of Giants stadium the following season.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Merrill Hoge is white, and he did lead his team in rushing for three years (when they sucked hard).
October 15th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Alstott rushed for 950 yds in 99′, had 58 career TD’s. Pretty respectable career.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Two white dudes playing in the secondary with ridiculously hot wives.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
segal on knocked up. is he the douche bag on HIMYM or is it the other faggot that wants to be an architect?
October 15th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Segal is on HIMYM.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
He certainly stunk in Washington, but he had some VERY good seasons for the Rams, particularly 01-03.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Nice Angie Harmon picture. Lovely Texan, that one.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
yes…is he the douche bag or the other guy?
October 15th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
he should have played baseball.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Why one is married to the “wives” in “hot wives” in those links? if you get my drift. I would put it right in her garbage holder.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
I like this Angie Harmon picture even more.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
He’s the tall married one. From Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
idk, I’ve watched it three times and never got into it. That whole show is just NPH.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
okay let me try this again. apparently im retarded. i know who jason segal is and i just saw him on knocked up. a lot of people having been talking about a “douche bag” on HIMYM. i want to know if everyone was referring to jason segal or the other guy? the one who wants to be an architect
October 15th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
South Park is going to have fun with balloon boy. book it.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
There was a guy in the 60’s who talked about judging people by their ability/character and not by the color of their skin. What was his name again? Martin something or another?
/just glad to see how we’ve come
October 15th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
If Nick Goings is white, so is Donald Brown.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
martin landau?
October 15th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Keith Elias. He was a beast
on the Giantsat Princeton.October 15th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
DIBBS!!!!!!!!!!
/Cleveland Browns Mgt
October 15th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Nope, Martin Sheen is who I was thinking of.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
i think it was Martin S. Thefuckup.
that’s nonsense groin. if he was good enough and fast enough, he’d be playing D1.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
+1 cookie for Groin
October 15th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Stef Djordjevic
October 15th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
“He led his school to three straight state titles. He had the requisite GPA, SAT, and a good 40 time.”
Am I missing something? It sounds like he has the tools from what was written.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Martin Blank
October 15th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
TJ
rap video featuring kid from the balloon and his brothers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBWJXXgaYBo&feature=player_embedded
/TJ
October 15th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Stefan: “There’s not much call for a 5-10, white cornerback in the NFL. I do think I could do the job in college, though.”
John Locke: “Yes, you could, you hit like a truck.”
October 15th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Sounds like he didn’t have the tools.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Am I missing something?
That two of those aren’t football related numbers, and that there’s more to being a RB than 40 speed. And that he WAS offered scholarships, just not D1 scholarships. And he could have proven it on the field in DII and then transferred.
Or, you could just chalk it up to reverse racism, sarcastically reference MLK Jr., and take the 412’s cookie.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Texansfan: Segal is the married one. He isn’t the douchebag (Ted) or Barney.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
I was just asking a question, Dirtheavy. No need to be a fucking asshole about it.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Furrey played nickle/extra safety this year, give the little guy a chance at CB on the all-white team
/desperate times in Cleveland
October 15th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
I was just asking a question, Dirtheavy. No need to be a fucking asshole about it.
where’s the fun in not being an asshole?
October 15th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
thanks
October 15th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Haha who is F-U-ManKok? That is great
October 15th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
come on! he just won his first game in cleveland. that isnt good enough?
October 15th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
When the unholy Hispanic/African-American Alliance makes all whites work in their salt mines we’ll look back on this minor inconvenience and laugh.
October 15th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Alstott is a fb
goings… Most places I look said he was white. Will change
October 15th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
He should have walked on at a SEC school. He could have been the next Jacob Hester.
October 15th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Nick Goings looks black (aka mixed) to me. I would be interested to see what his hair is like when it is longer.
If Nick Goings is white, Derek Jeter is also white.
October 15th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Marcus_Graham = Gary Sheffield?
October 15th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
so that still means he is a running back. if we want to get technical, i think you mean halfbacks or tailbacks.
October 15th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Jeter is a rich, famous athlete who dates white women. He’s black.
October 15th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
here’s ESPn saying goings is white
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=hill/080926
October 15th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Jeter is a rich, famous athlete who dates white women. He’s black.
Who gives white women herpes.
/fixed
//don’t know how to do the cross out shit
October 15th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Really TBL, a Jemele Hill article?
October 15th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
/you know..the people that did the actual reporting.
October 15th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
whites are slow(er) on the field. blacks are slow(er) in the classroom. generally. since i’ll never be a pro athlete, i’ll take the intellect over big muscles and a huge cock. well, maybe the huge cock wouldn’t be so bad.
October 15th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
the fact that you would equate intellect with the classroom means your intellect and cock size are battling in the quest for inferiority.
October 15th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Gil Fenerty was the shit!
/ask Jay
October 15th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Pretty sad you equate speed, dick size, and intellect with color. What year is this?
October 15th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Rutgers would have given him the free ride but we already have a slow white guy who led the NJ High Schools in rushing for 3 years in Joe Martinek, only have room for one of these guys at a time.
October 15th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
doesn’t Tebow count
/seriously
October 15th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
Given that there are so many players in the NFL from lower division schools in the NCAA, I see a major disconnect between college recruiting and NFL recruiting also due to likely more political factors involved in certain localities. This is true irrespective of race or ethnicity.
It does not help Romain that he comes from a state that is not a high school football powerhouse such as CA,FL,TX,PA and OH in no particular order, which have long been the hotbeds for recruiting amongst the premier national Division I programs.
October 16th, 2009 at 1:05 am
Craig James. Nice.
SMU references, ftw.
/alum’d
October 16th, 2009 at 8:01 am
Disappointing to see the thread ended with gutter commentary from “weezy”.
Regarding Goings, I’d briefly crossed paths with him at The O (The Original Hot Dog Shoppe in the Pitt campus) when he was still in school. My buddy knew him from a class and introduced us. I remember saying at the time, “I didn’t know Nick Goings was white”. He may be “black” or of mixed race, but it’s an easy mistake to make, as he has a light complexion. I’d totally forgotten that meeting until this morning.
By the way, Rod Woodson also came from mixed parents (not sure that’s the verbiage) and he had a little bit of speed and talent for the game.