University of North Texas Athletics
Green Gang: Is Dunbar The Next Jamario?
11/2/2009 12:00:00 AM | Return to Play
By Steven Bartolotta, November 2, 2009, 1:24 p.m.
Another week, another award for Lance Dunbar. While Dunbar needs to continue clearing out space in his closet for the College Football Performance Awards he's getting every week, I started to wonder if we are seeing a repeat of the season Jamario Thomas put up in 2004.
Haha, Bartolotta's on something pretty good again you're saying. What if I told you through four starts Dunbar is averaging more rushing yards, more receiving yards, and has more touchdowns. Liar you say!
Ahhh put let's take the CFPA approach and look at some hard core numbers shall we.
Before I forget, Dunbar was honorable mention again but QB Riley Dodge, SBC Offensive Player of the Week, is also on the list as honorable mention for Quarterback Performer of the Week. BTW, the good folks at the CFPA also tell me that Dunbar is the only running back in the nation to receive running back honors in four straight weeks starting in week 6. (Ahem, Doak Walker anyone? Maybe too soon for that)
Okay, back to the Dunbar vs. Thomas battle.
2004 saw fate, a little dumb luck on behalf of some guys, and next thing you know Jamario starts against Colorado. The rest of his story his legend. 1,801 yards later Thomas etched that season in stone as one of the greatest in NCAA history.
So how in the world does Dunbar compare to Thomas? Well let's see. We are going to compare the first four starts for each running back and see how they did.
Thomas
247 yards vs. Colorado
58 yards vs. Baylor
179 yards vs. MTSU
256 yards vs. Utah State
740 yards- 185.0 yards a game.
Dunbar
187 yards vs. Louisiana-Lafayette
238 yards vs. FAU
111 yards vs. Troy
227 yards WKU
763 yards- 190.75 yards a game.
Here is the intangible stat that makes what Dunbar is doing even more mind boggling. Thomas was a one-trick pony, rushing, rushing, and rushing. And he was quite the pony. Dunbar is rushing, rushing, ......and receiving.
His ability to catch balls out of the backfield makes him a threat in multiple ways and creates more problems for the defense.
Through his first four starts, Dunbar has 963 yards of total offense compared to 740 yards of total offense (all rushing) for Thomas. Dunbar also had the edge in scoring, 11 TD's to seven for Thomas.
It's probably a stretch to think Dunbar is going to keep up these ridiculous numbers, but I thought the same thing about Jamario 2004.
Dunbar faces two pretty stout defenses against the run in these final four games in ULM and Arkansas State. Army is no slouch either.
Where Dunbar ends up is anyone's guess, but the way he has burst onto the scene is very reminiscent of Jamario. Jamario kept up his magical season for four more games and the New Orleans Bowl. Only time will tell if Dunbar can keep momentum going like Jamario did, but he's off to a pretty nice start.
