If you haven’t noticed, it seems as if the Oakland Raiders have three running backs that can run, catch, block, throw, and even run the option. Well, the truth is that one of them is a fullback, primarily used for blocking. However, the Raiders’ Marcel Reece may be the first in a new movement of multi-use fullbacks.
The 6’3″, 250 lbs. Marcel Reece played wide receiver at the University of Washington and tallied 761 yards and eight touchdowns his senior season. He also holds the Huskies’ record for longest play from scrimmage with a 98-yard reception against Arizona. Then UW Head Coach Tyrone Willingham may not have known that he was sitting on a future pass-catching fullback in the NFL, or he may have changed his lineup to give first-year starter Jake Locker more closely positioned play-makers.
The departure of tight end Zach Miller appears to leave a hole in the Raiders short passing game, but Reece’s increased involvement in the Raiders offense will help fill that void. Opposing defenses can scheme to stop running back stars, Darren McFadden and Michael Bush, but to account for a multifaceted fullback is a more difficult task.
The last NFL fullback that made an impact as a runner and blocker was Tampa Bay’s Mike Alstott, who rushed for 5, 088 yards in his 10-year career, and scored 58 touchdowns. His receiving yard totals were low, as he only managed 2,284 or 14.5 yards per game. In addition, he added 32 career fumbles, giving him 3.2 per season. Alstott is undoubtedly a Hall of Fame player, but in regards to his positional achievements, he’s about to be outdone.
In comparison, Reece is going into his third season in Oakland, and the second of which he is slated to start all 16 games. Last season he totaled 333 yards receiving on top of 122 rushing. In addition, he has only one fumble in 61 touches. These numbers put him on pace, given he is fortunate enough to play a full 10 years, for 3,330 receiving yards and 10 total fumbles, surpassing the career totals of Alstott.
By the end of the 2011 season, Marcel Reece could amass over 500 yards receiving and no less than 5 receiving touchdowns. Couple that with 250+ rushing yards and another 5 touchdowns, you have the making of a completely unique fullback that could change expectations of the position across the NFL. You have been warned.