Has Bielema ever utilized a running back this small as a head coach? No doubt he is talented, just not sure he fits within the staff's plans based on their recent recruiting + Bielema's past. Laughery is on the smaller side of running back recruits at Illinois since BB took over and he's listed at 5'11 200lbs. Battie is listed at 5'8 165lbs.
Unless I am missing someone he has never had a feature back at the RB position anywhere close to 5'8 165lbs
BB has used bigger backs before but Brown is definitely the biggest size one that had the biggest impact. Majority of his big time backs were in the 5'10 to 6'0 range and 195-220 lbs but he used bigger while at Wisconsin, Arkansas and now Illinois.
Just being Laughery's first year with team but he is the typical size BB utilized most at Wisconsin
BB has an exquisite eye for talent and college game you can have backs of all different sizes. That Battie kid will definitely have some teams after him.