H-Back Thoughts

Joe Gibbs invented the H-Back formation in the early 1980's



H-Back Possibilities

Who would be the best candidate to play the H-back position if Head Coach Pete Mangurian really does institute a two-tight end set with a motion H-back offense?

The leading contender could be rising junior Zack McKown who performed well with the varsity in limited playing time last season. At 6”2 and 224 pounds, McKown is just a little too small to be a pure TE, but he’scertainly big enough to block and fast enough to be a great receiving weapon coming out of an in motion position.

Rising sophomore Garrett DeMuth seems like a great candidate to play the pure blocker tight end position, freeing up TE Hamilton Garner to pursue his rising star as QB Sean Brackett’s top target.

But since the H-back position is really just a tinkering with the traditional fullback spot, we have to look at the existing fullbacks coming back this fall.

I like what I hear about rising sophomore Steven Silvio, who comes from a great high school program in Alabama. But at just 5”10, he may not be the best receiving target downfield.

A leading incoming freshman candidate could be Mike Zunica from St. Rita HS in Chicago. Zunica stands 6”1 and weighs 210 pounds. He wa salso speedier than your average fullback at St. Rita’s, so this may not be a tough transition for him.

In the 2-TE/H-back formation, there is just one running back and whoever that is has to be built to last. I’d say that favors returning players like Marcorus Garrett and Griffin Lowry as opposed to the smaller Nick Gerst who will still be coming off an injury this fall and his younger brother Mike Gerst who is the same size.

The wildcards in all of this could be the inevitable two or three players who often change positions when teams go through massive changes like Columbia is doing right now. I expect the roster to look a lot different by the time the spring game rolls around in 38 days.