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Tracking the College Gridiron Stars of the Future
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Football Recruiting Report
Wednesday, July 17, 2002

By Sammy Batten
Staff Writer for The Fayetteville Observer

South Robeson backfield star opts for ECU

Tillman, McQueen inject youth into veteran running backs corps

©2002 Bonesville.net

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Mike Brill admits he didn’t see it coming.

That’s why, when Robert Tillman was a freshman football player at South Robeson High School in Rowland, Brill first played him at offensive guard.

“You know how my guards have to be able to run, and I saw how fast he was,’’ Brill said, “but then I saw him return that punt.’’

Tillman gave Brill a glimpse of things to come when, in a junior varsity game against Red Springs in 1999, he took a punt back 85 yards for a touchdown.

“That was it,’’ Brill said. “He was playing in the backfield the next practice.’’

Tillman has spent the last two seasons as a starting halfback in South Robeson’s Wing-T alignment. He employed a fast, slashing running style reminiscent of former East Carolina great Leonard Henry to pile up 2,000 yards rushing, despite missing half of 2001 with a broken collarbone.

The 6-foot, 174-pounder decided to follow in Henry’s footsteps on Tuesday by making an oral commitment to play for the Pirates.

ECU head coach Steve Logan offered a scholarship last Saturday while Tillman was in Greenville for summer camp.

“I went through the workout that day and they called me up to Coach Logan’s office,’’ Tillman said. “They told me I had to let them know in a little while if I was interested in them.

“But that didn’t take me long. They have nice facilities, good academics and it’s a place I know I’ll get to play.’’

Tillman who was being recruited by schools such as Maryland, North Carolina, N.C. State, Richmond and South Carolina. He said the Wolfpack and Spiders had extended scholarship offers.

Most of those schools were pursuing Tillman as a defensive cornerback because of his speed, which has been measured at 4.41 seconds in the 40-yard dash and 10.7 over 100 meters.

But the Pirates may see Tillman as another Henry, the ex-Clinton High star who completed his eligibility last fall as ECU’s No. 2 all-time rusher. Henry was drafted by the NFL’s Miami Dolphins in April.

“He’s another Leonard Henry, that’s exactly what he is,’’ Brill said. “He’s got those long arms, and that stiff arm that we teach. As a matter of fact, we teach that because we saw Leonard do it in high school. Robert is able to keep people off his body by doing that.

“And he’s just so doggone fast. He’s the total package. He can catch the ball, too. He had five touchdown catches last year.’’

Tillman describes his running style as “straight up running.’’

“There’s not a lot of shakes and bakes,’’ Tillman said. “I use my speed to get outside. I don’t do a lot of fancy moves, unless I have to.’’

Juniors Art Brown and Marvin Townes are expected to replace Henry as the fullback position in ECU’s one-back set this fall. Beyond those two players, however, the Pirates have only one underclassman currently listed at that position. That’s incoming freshman Markeith McQueen from East Manatee, Fla.

McQueen, a 5-10, 175-pounder, was a late addition to ECU’s recruiting Class of 2002. He signed in May after achieving academic qualifying results.

McQueen rushed for 1,740 yards to earn second-team all-state honors as a junior. McQueen also relies heavily on speed. He finished fourth in the state as a junior in the 200-meter dash.

“He’s an impact player,’’ Lakewood coach Faust DeLazzer said. “It took some time for him to learn how to read blocks. Sometimes early in his career he’d run right into people instead of avoiding them and using his speed.

“Last year he became a really good running back. Two years ago he was a track guy playing football. Last season, he was a football player.’’

Tillman welcomes the competition with McQueen, and is excited about becoming a Pirate.

“I liked everything about the place,’’ Tillman said. “It felt like home to me.’’

Tillman becomes the second South Robeson player in four years to choose the Pirates. Ex-Mustang Vonta Leach signed with ECU in 1999 and will be a junior linebacker with the Pirates next fall.

The addition of Tillman gives East Carolina two known verbal commitments. He joins Williamston offensive lineman Michael Horner, who committed last spring.

Send an e-mail message to Sammy Batten.

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02/23/2007 02:35:31 PM
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