Running Back
Clarence Farmer
College: Arizona
Year: Junior
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 220
Birthday: October 16, 1981
Strengths: The workhorse of the Arizona offense, Clarence Farmer is not just a bruiser who can move the chains. He has the sub-4.5 breakaway speed to score from anywhere on the field. Farmer’s at his best when he’s grinding out the yards between the tackles, but he possesses the moves to make anyone miss.
Farmer’s 1,229 yards last fall marked the fourth highest total ever for a Wildcat, and he will surpass the school’s all-time record if he kept this pace for two more seasons. Farmer’s best games seem to come against the better teams of the PAC-10. Against Oregon, he had fifteen carries for 158 yards, then went 21-147 at Washington, and 12-141 against Stanford, including three scores. Of players with at least 100 attempts, his per carry average of 5.9 yards was second in the conference behind Oregon’s Onterrio Smith and tenth overall in Divison 1-A.
Areas for Concern: How much of his success came during garbage time against opponents’ second units? Two of his touchdowns against Standford came in the last 10 minutes of the game, well after it was decided. At least he doesn’t quit.
Farmer also spent time playing baseball this spring for Arizona, so there’s a little concern over how that may impact his preparation for the 2002 season. He does not catch many balls out of the backfield in Head Coach John Mackovic’s offense, only notching four all of last season.
Farmer’s also got to learn when to shut up. On the advice of referees, Mackovic benched Farmer before the back was to be ejected from a game against UNLV for excessive trash talking. He also looked a little silly taunting a Washington State player late in a game last season after scoring a touchdown. His score in the first quarter was Arizona’s first following a 28-point drubbing by the Cougars.
How Would He Look in Steel Blue? Farmer already knows what it is like to make Houston his home. The former Booker T. Washington standout was born here, and his father played semi-pro football locally.
He is the type of big back that Casserly probably wants in his offense, and he has the speed to be an effective weapon in Houston’s arsenal. Farmer’s size is similar to Jonathan Wells, but Farmer is possibly a little faster and at least ten pounds lighter, and he’s more willing to initiate contact running inside.
(profile written by Keith Weiland
)
Clarence Farmer‘s 2001 Stats G CAR YDS AVG TD 11 209 1,299 5.9 10
Clarence Farmer 
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