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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Both of Rashad Jennings’ brothers — Butch and Bryan — made it to the NFL, so it’s natural that the thought of playing professional football has crept into Rashad’s mind over the summer. He ran a personal best in the 40-yard dash during Liberty’s pro timing day this past March. He’s even changed his number from 3 to 23 to conform to NFL standards.
All of which will be meaningless, of course, if Rashad doesn’t live up to the hype during his senior season at Liberty. The expectations are considerable. After rushing for 1,113 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior, Jennings was a no-brainer choice for Big South preseason player of the year honors at Friday’s conference media day. The Flames were the overwhelming choice to repeat as conference champions, garnering 12 of 13 first-place votes.
“All they did is put a target on me,” Jennings said. “Everybody’s going to be gunning for me. I’m going to take that to heart and work hard. I take (the award) humbly, and I’m just looking forward to the season starting.”
And as far as looking to the future?
“I’m starting to look at things more maturely in a business aspect,” Jennings said.
Right now prior to the season my nfl sources...2 Scouts from the Redskins and Ravens have rashad ranked 12th out of over 175 Draft Eligible RBs in the class of 2009..he is actually ranked higher than Vince was..so Im thinking with another season like last year he will def get drafted..if he goes for over 1500 yds then I look for him to be a very hot commodity with his size and speed drawing him alot of interest...especially if he improves on that 40yd dash and gets into the Combine
I really like Rashad's attitude. Hopefully that is just a spillover from Coach Rocco and it's more widespread on the team. I can't wait to see Rashad on the field.
I really like Rashad's attitude. Hopefully that is just a spillover from Coach Rocco and it's more widespread on the team. I can't wait to see Rashad on the field.
Yea, me too. If all goes well, he should hopefully have another 1,000+ rushing season.
Play...and pray for the playoffs!
LU football 2008.
He has always been an incredible physical speciman and top notch football player dating back to HS days, but he has matured greatly over the years. He has turned into a great football player with a great head on his shoulders. I always knew he could run the football, but what has truly impressed me is his maturity and work ethic. I hope he has super season and breaks every record in the books and leads LIberty into it's first playoff appearance.
Jennings finished the game with 195 yards on the ground and accounted for three touchdowns. But one of his most impressive plays came in the second quarter, when he didn’t even touch the ball.
On Brock Smith’s third touchdown pass late in the second quarter, Jennings picked up a blitzing Coastal linebacker perfectly, giving Smith a few extra seconds to find Dominic Bolden for a 23-yard touchdown.
“He’s really stepping up,” Smith said. “He’s an unbelievable athlete. You ask him to do anything, he’ll do it.”
Jennings also sprung a key block on Hayes’ touchdown run.
Both Rocco and Liberty athletics director Jeff Barber have received numerous phone calls and e-mails commending LU running back Rashad Jennings’ smart play at the end of the Coastal game.
With the Flames up 43-38 and needing just a first down to run the clock out and secure the victory, Jennings broke through the Coastal line on a third and short and raced to the Chanticleer 2. Instead of scoring, he dropped to a knee, and the Flames were able to take a knee twice and run the remaining time off the clock.
If Jennings would have scored, Liberty would have led by two scores, but its weary defense would have to take the field again to stop a Coastal team that shredded LU’s pass defense in the fourth quarter. Coastal nearly recovered an on-side kick after scoring to cut the lead to 43-38, so there was no guarantee the Flames would get the ball back.
“It showed great intelligence,” Rocco said. “It was the right thing to do from a tactical standpoint.”
And even more positive buzz surrounded his last carry at CCU.
Knucklevision wrote:Player Praised for Not Scoring
posted 7:54 pm Wed October 08, 2008 - Lynchburg, VA
reporter: Dennis Carter posted by: Webteam
Liberty Flames (web) tailback Rashad Jennings leads the Big South in rushing and scoring. But it's a touchdown he didn’t score Saturday at Coastal Carolina that's drawing plenty of praise. With the Flames up five late in the game and needing just a first down to run the clock out and secure a win, Jennings broke through the line and could easily have scored another TD. Instead, the senior dropped to a knee just before the end zone, allowing LU to run the remaining time off the clock and secure the win.
We got a call from this one man from South Carolina who was at the CCU game. He said he was almost 60 years and had never seen a football player do what "Reeeshad" did. He said it moved him so much that he cried. He also called to congratulate us and to tell us that "Reeeshad" has a lot of fans down in South Carolina!!! What a nice guy!!
inRich.com wrote:Long road to a dream
Brotherly love helps put Liberty senior on NFL radar screen
Thursday, Oct 09, 2008 - 12:07 AM
By TIM PEARRELL
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Rashad Jennings played a season at Division I-A Pittsburgh before transferring to Liberty. Butch Jennings opened the door to his home. Standing there soaking wet from sweat was his younger brother.
Rashad Jennings had run and walked 18 miles from his mother's home in Forest to his brother's home in Lynchburg.
A crazy exercise, but one that proved something to both brothers on that day four years ago. Rashad finally was serious about taking ownership of his lifestyle. A few years of tough love had taken hold.
Roanoke Times wrote:Jennings earns attention
Liberty's leading rusher believes he could get a shot at making the NFL after this season ends.
Mark Berman
LYNCHBURG -- Rashad Jennings has played for two high schools and two colleges. The Forest native's next team could be in the NFL.
Liberty University football coach Danny Rocco said 20 NFL scouts have been to campus this season to check out Jennings, a University of Pittsburgh transfer who ranks fourth in Division I-AA in rushing (148.5 ypg).
"I feel real confident he's going to make it in the NFL," Rocco said.
Funny, I was doing a search for any Rashad news out there, and came across an old thread circa 2005 from the Firehouse board http://libertysports.proboards29.com/in ... thread=655. I know it was 2005, but I had to point out a very funny comment in retrospect, sorry Medic.
we're pretty deep at RB. Ya think he could be converted to a TE or WR?!
