That has certainly been the case at Carolina where Anthony Saunders and Ronnie Robinson are scheduled to split time at that spot this fall. From Saulis Zemaitis in 1969 to players like Geof Hamlin, Tim Kirkpatrick, Dickie Oliver, Billy Johnson, Bob Loomis, Doug Paschal, Alan Burrus, James Jones, Brad Lopp, Eddie Colson, James Thompson, Michael Benefield, Mike Faulkerson, William Henderson, Malcolm Marshall, Chris Watson and Deon Dyer, Carolina fullbacks have wiped out more linebackers and defensive ends than Chapel Hill has done to parking spots around town. Most were also inside running threats themselves and kept defenses from completely keying on the tailback every play. Oliver, Johnson, Paschal, Burrus, Lopp, Colson, Henderson, Marshall and Dyer were especially dangerous with the football in their hands and some even played tailback on occasion. But, with the sophisticated defenses of today, teams can no longer just line up in the I-formation on every play and simply give the ball to the tailback as much as they have in the past.
Defensive teams are too well-coached and have too many good athletes for that.
Carolina, like almost everyone else in America, is trying to get more balance in its offense between the run and pass and thus keep opposing defenses guessing more. Then, they also needed to be good runners to take some pressure off the tailback. Now a fullback first has to be a great blocker, second a great receiver and third a great runner. Because of our offense, the fullback has to be able to catch the ball for us to be successful. It's harder to find backs who can combine excellent blocking skills and receiving ability.