Very interesting. With Ohio losing Ouellette, Irons, and Burroughs, RB is a position of interest. It's good to know that there is more talent at RB than we knew. That means a six way competition at RB for next year:
Ja'Vahri Portis
https://www.hudl.com/profile/7468336/JaVahri-Portis Julian Ross
https://www.hudl.com/profile/3789360/Julian-Ross Jake Neatherton
https://www.hudl.com/profile/2716148/Jacob-Neatherton O'Shaan Allison
https://www.hudl.com/profile/3945347/OShaan-Allison Walter Wilbon III
https://www.hudl.com/profile/6338355/Walter-Wilbon-III De'Montre Tuggle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhD0PJg_a5E As I watch these films, I'm struck how similar most of these running backs are, and to be honest, they all look good. One is different than the others, Ross. He seems to be considerably faster, and if he gets an opening, he's gone, so he's like having Papi White at RB, but with more size. The others are all tough runners, with good balance, who run low, with forward lean, good balance, and who get yards after contact.
I have no idea who will earn the position at the top of the depth chart. My guess is that we will see at least 3 running backs sharing the carries next year. I think one will be Ross, though it's possible they could do with him as they did with Papi White, and move him to WR. I think that another will be Allison. The third might be Portis, or might be Tuggle. My second guess is that any RB that fumbles very much will find themselves down the depth chart in a hurry.
On the walkon to scholarship question, there are multiple players who will be getting significant PT next year who started out as walkons or preferred walkons. I wonder which, if any, of these now have scholarships:
Marlin Brooks - Jr, probable starter at CB
DL Knock - Sr, 1st or 2d string WR
Nick Sink - R-Jr, May start at LG
Jarren Hampton - R-Jr, probable starter at SS
Brian Long, Jr. - R-Jr, played a lot last year