I was a pretty young tike when Walter Payton was in his Hey Day, so I can't say that I saw enough of him to really analyze him intelligently. But what I can do is describe the impression he made on me. I was a little guy (first gradish) and was just starting to play football, and I played running back. So my obvious heroes were the good backs of the time, i.e. Sweetness, Dorsett, Freeman McNeill, etc. I always admired Sweetness the most because he, more than any others, seemed to defy logic. He seemed to be kinda slender and smallish to me, but he was a beat faster, a step quicker, and a lot stronger than you would think he'd be. I'd see him rip off runs where he seemed done for. And nobody was tougher or had more heart. Dude REFUSED to back down or remain tackled. If there was a will, Sweetness would find a way. I can still recall his signature run where he busted it up the gut and ran over all 53 players of the opponent and their coaches. I haven't seen anybody like him since. Until now...

Virginia Tech David Wilson Highlights 2011-2012 (via 757vt)

I introduce to you David Wilson, RB, Va Tech, Sweetness Redux. Wilson is 5-10, 205, and he's packed full of dynamite. He's kinda slender and smallish, but he's a beat faster, a step quicker, and a lot stronger than you would think he'd be. I LOVE this kid. He's got speed, power, quickness and elusiveness in tight spaces as well as in the open field, fantastic vision, INSANE balance, good hands, and a nose like a bloodhound for the endzone. But what I love about him most of all is his heart, his guts, his pride, and his fearlessness. Listen to him in his pre-game speech and how he chokes up with emotion over representing his country. Watch him truck that guy on that kickoff return (saw that one live and fell in love on the spot). Watch him churn out chunks of yards time after time when any other "normal" human being would be down. Sometimes you don't know what you're lookin for until you find it. This kid oozes "IT." He's got the Sweetness. And what better way to go for the trophy than with that good old 46 Bear defense and some Sweetness in the backfield.