Players in Focus: Terrance Ganaway

We are starting to settle the draft dust which means we can go into more detail on each selection that the Jets made. First up is a player who I believe represents excellent value for the Jets. Selected in the 6th round, 202nd overall it's Terrance Ganaway. A bowling ball running back from Baylor who will put the pound into our ground and pound. If we want to be as physical a team as many suggest, then bringing in another running back to unburden Greene was a necessity. So lets learn a little more about our newest Gang Green running back:

Born in New Boston Texas, Ganaway was a two time class 2A offensive player of the year at Dekalb high school in Texas. He rushed for 2,815 yards and 36 touchdowns as a senior in High school and was named Texas's most outstanding running back. Now high school football is a religion in Texas, so to be named as the top running back in the state is a massive compliment. Although renowned for his football ability, he also played basketball and was a four year regional qualifier in track and field.

Ganaway was the youngest of 11 children and grew up having to fight for everything, times were often hard and he has commented that it was not uncommon for the water and the electric to be out. The son of a pastor he always had high morals and a high belief system. His high school coach Buddy Ray commented that you never had to worry about Terrance because he would always treat people the way he wanted to be treated himself

However Terrance's story now gets a little more complicated. While playing at DeKalb high school he was diagnosed with an enlarged heart which threatened his football career and many believe this resulted in the sparcity of the scholarships offers he received. Doctors advised Terrance that the best thing to do may be to give up football all together. However after he expressed his wish to continue, they said it would be OK as long as certain limitations were put on his workout schedule at the time.Rice, SMU and Houston were the only colleges to formally offer Terrance, and after some deliberation he chose Houston. As a true freshman in 2007 he rushed for an impressive 550 yards and 6 touchdowns in only one start but 13 overall games.

Unfortunately just as Terrance was ready to get back to work in Houston, his mother passed away due to cancer and wanting to be closer to home to support and be supported by family, he left Houston and enrolled in Texarkana college where he took a year off from football and concentrated on attaining his associates degree. After a year away from the football field, Terrance decided it was time to pick up his helmet once again. He was recruited to Baylor by the same coach who had recruited him for Houston, Art Briles.

Using his past struggles to inspire him at Baylor. In one start and 12 appearances in total in 2009, Terrance rushed for 200 yards and five rushing touchdowns. Was selected to the Deans list and the Big12 commisioners list in the fall of 2009 and spring of 2010. As a reserve running back in 2010, he rushed for 295 yards total and two touchdowns. Was a first teal all academic as well.

2011 Terrance finally got the chance to start and he took that oppurtunity and literally run with it. He set or tied 13 school records as a senior in 2011 which included single-season rushing yards (1,547), single-season rushing TDs (21), single-season points scored (132), single-game rushing TDs (5, tied) and longest rush (89 yards)... Earned Valero Alamo Bowl Offensive MVP honor after a dominating almost unique 200-yard, five-TD performance in Baylor's victory over Washington. Keep in mind that he only started for one year at Baylor, he ranks 9th in school history with 2,042 rushing yards and fourth with 28 career rushing touchdowns.

What will he bring to the Jets? Well he has a nose for the endzone, he falls forward and power runs in the mould of Brandon Jacobs. People sleep on his quickness because of his size, doesn't have elite speed but plays quicker than you imagine. Has strong arms and hands to break arm tackles and would be an excellent back in short yardage situations and goal line sets. A good locker room guy who has never been in trouble. If you want a guy to root for, then this is the guy.

Welcome to the New York Jets Terrance.