This year’s class of running backs is very deep, and talented. I have 25 backs with draft worthy grades, making this the best running back class in 10+ years. Here is how I have them ranked based upon my film study.
1. RB Todd Gurley 6’1 227 lbs Jr. Georgia (#6 on the Big Board) Grade: 1st Round
Career Stats: 30 games 510 carries 3,285 yards 6.4 avg 36 TD 65 rec 615 yards 6 TD
Strengths: Gurley is the best running back prospect to come along since Adrian Peterson in my opinion. He’s a complete, three down back that can pretty much do it all. Elite combination of size, strength and speed, to go along with patience and great vision. He can pound it between the tackles, threaten the edges, run you over, make you miss, and run by you and not get caught from behind. He also catches the football very well, natural soft hands.
Weaknesses: Gurley missed games in 2013 with an ankle injury, then tore his ACL in 2014 after returning from a NCAA suspension. Outside of needing to improve his pass protection, injuries are his only weakness. How his knee tests out before the draft will be key to his draft position.
2. RB Melvin Gordon 6’1 215 lbs rJr. Wisconsin (#20 on the Big Board) Grade: 1st Round)
Career Stats: 45 games 631 carries 4,915 yards 7.8 avg 45 TD 22 rec 228 yards 4 TD
40 yard: 4.52 Bench Press: 19 reps Vertical: 35 inches Broad Jump: 10’6 3 Cone: 7.04 Short Shuttle: 4.07
Strengths: Started out as a strictly jet sweep back, but has worked on his body, gotten big and stronger physically. He’s now a guy who can get around the edge, but also runs well between the tackles. He has elite burst through the line of scrimmage, is very dangerous once he gets to the 2nd level. Played in a pro style running offense, really understands being patient, but also making that one cut and hitting the hole like a bat out of hell. Some think he’s a product of Wisconsin’s system like the backs prior to him, but he’s a different beast.
Weaknesses: Must improve in the passing game and a blocker and receiver. Wasn’t asked to catch the football much during his career, and while he’s a willing blocker, he must improve his overall technique.
3. RB Tevin Coleman 5’11 206 lbs Jr. Indiana (#28 on the Big Board) Grade: 1st Round
Career Stats: 33 games 452 carries 3,219 yards 7.1 avg 28 TD 54 rec 383 yards 30 KR 690 yards 1 TD
40 time: 4.39
Strengths: Big time prospect with elite acceleration, and speed. He is the best home run threat at the RB position in the entire draft. Catches the football very well out of the backfield. Good vision, sticks that foot in the ground and can make cuts on the dime. Willing pass blocker.
Weaknesses: I’d like to see him run with a lower pad level on a consistent basis. He sometimes got away with running high in college, but in the NFL he will learn quick to run lower, and drop those pads on defenders. On the tape I watched, he tends to hold the football in his left hand the majority of the time. He has to learn to carry it in his right arm, guys pursuing from the inside will go after that football. Coming off an broken foot that he played with for a majority of the season.
4. RB Mike Davis 5’9 217 lbs Jr. South Carolina (#40 on the Big Board) Grade: 2nd Round
Career Stats: 37 games 454 carries 2,440 yards 5.4 avg 22 TD 70 rec 755 yards 2 TD
40 time: 4.52 Vertical: 35.5 Bench 17 reps Broad Jump: 9’8 3 Cone: 7.00 Short Shuttle: 4.18
Strengths: Complete running back, runs it, catches it, and can pass protect. Good patience and vision. Built low to the ground, runs with power, has good speed, and has a little wiggle to him as well. Caught 30+ passes over the last two seasons.
Weaknesses: Davis has dealt with nagging injuries in games during his career. He has to prove that he can stay healthy for a full sixteen games and be the guy that his talent says he can be.
5. RB Jeremy Langford 6’0 208 lbs Sr. Michigan St. (#45 on the Big Board) Grade: 2nd Round
Career Stats: 49 games 577 carries 2,967 yards 40 TD 39 rec 219 yards 1 TD
40 time: 4.42 Short Shuttle: 4.27 Bench: 19 reps Broad Jump: 9’10
Strengths: Played in a pro style offense in which he was asked to not only run the football, but catch the ball and pass protect. He can do all three things efficiently. Not only effective running between the tackles, but his speed was evident on tape, and his 40 time matches what I saw on film. Runs with great pad level, rarely gets knocked backwards…..reminds me of Washington RB Alfred Morris except he has more speed and is a 3 down back in my opinion.
Weaknesses: Not a guy who makes you miss out in the open field, takes on a lot of tacklers, takes a lot of square hits.
6. RB Duke Johnson 5’9 207 lbs Jr. Miami(FL) (#46 on the Big Board) Grade: 2nd Round
Career Stats: 33 games 526 carries 3,519 yards 6.7 avg 26 TD 69 rec 719 yards 10.4 avg 4 TD 41 KR 1,288 yards 31,4 avg 2 TD
40 Time: 4.50 Vertical: 35 inches Short Shuttle: 4.16 3 Cone: 6.68
Strengths: Big time explosion and speed in game. Plays much faster then his 40 time. Great lateral quickness, wiggle and cutback ability. Catches the football very well out of the backfield. Sets up his blockers well with good natural feel and patience. Is also a very good kick returner.
Weaknesses: Johnson has legit durability concerns, broke his ankle in 2013 vs Florida St and missed the rest of the season. Johnson has added weight to his frame, but he still has to prove that he can be a full time back at the next level. He has to learn to lower those pads and protect himself better.
7. RB Ameer Abdullah 5’9 205 lbs Sr. Nebraska (#50 on the Big Board) Grade: 2nd Round
Career Stats: 53 games 813 carries 4,588 yards 39 TD 73 rec 690 yards 7 TD 61 KR 1,592 yards PR 31 316 yards 1 TD
40 Time: 4.53 Bench: 24 reps Vertical: 42.5 Broad Jump: 10’10 3 Cone: 6.79 Short Shuttle: 3.95
Strengths: Abdullah is a home run hitter with good vision, patience, and the ability to make guys out in the open and in small spaces. Decent inside runner for a guy his size, strong and explosive lower half. Catches it well, can return punts and kicks.
Weaknesses: Small, wore down as the season went along. Wasn’t as fresh at the end of the season, dealt with nagging injuries. I don’t think he’s a three down, feature back. Will have to share the load with another back. Has 20+ fumbles in his career, he must work on ball security or he won’t be trusted.
8. RB Jay Ajayi 6’0 221 lbs rJr. Boise St. (#54 on the Big Board) Grade: 2nd Round
Career Stats: 38 games 678 carries 3,796 yards 50 TD 73 rec 771 yards 5 TD
40 Time: 4.57 Bench: 19 reps Vertical: 39 inches Broad Jump: 10’1 3 Cone: 7.10 Short Shuttle: 4.10
Strengths: Big running back with good speed, can bounce runs to the outside and get the edge on the regular. Catches the football well, and runs decent routes. Really elusive for a big back. Not a great pass blocker, but really improved from 2013 to 2014.
Weaknesses: Had some ball security issues due to he carrying the football in his left hand majority of the time. Looks for the big run a lot, tries to bounce it outside instead of pounding it , taking the 3,4,5 yard runs. Ajayi must also learn to drop his pad level on a more consistent basis, deal out some punishment, while protecting his lower half.
9. RB Javorius “Buck” Allen 6’0 221 lbs rJr. USC (#61 on the Big Board) Grade: 3rd Round
Career Stats: 30 games 417 carries 2,306 yards 5.5 avg 25 TD 63 rec 710 yards 2 TD
40 Time: 4.53 Bench: 11 reps Vertical: 35.5 Broad Jump: 10’1 3 Cone: 6.96 Short Shuttle: 4.28
Strengths: Allen is a big back with surprising short area quickness, agility, and ability to make guys miss. Very good in the passing game. Catches the football very well, runs the screen pass pretty well, allowing blocks to develop in front of him. Willing and able pass protector, not afraid to stick his face in there and put a hit on someone.
Weaknesses: For a 220 lb back, Allen isn’t very physical, doesn’t run hard at all times, imposing his will on the defense. He also lacks the breakaway speed to make him a home run threat.
10. RB David Johnson 6’1 224 lbs rSr. No. Iowa (#86 on the Big Board) Grade: 4th Round
Career Stats: 50 games 866 carries 4,682 yards 5.4 avg 49 TD 141 rec 1,734 yards 12.3 avg 14 TD 12 KR 438 yards 36.5 avg 1 TD
40 Time: 4.50 Bench: 25 reps Vertical: 41.5 inches Broad Jump: 10’7 3 Cone: 6.82 Short Shuttle: 4.27
Strengths: Smooth, big back, with good speed, vision, and feet. Small school prospect with elite level athleticism. Was very good during Senior Bowl week, proved that he’s more then worth of a top 100 draft grade. Lined up outside and in the slot as a WR, the best route runner, arguably has the best hands of the RB’s in the draft. He’s also a very effective kick returner.
Weaknesses: He’s a natural upright runner, but he’s going to have to learn to drop those pads and dish out some punishment at the NFL level. Johnson is a terrible pass protector, probably the worst I watched at the RB position on film this year. He’s going to have to improve if he’s going to play a lot in the NFL.
Other RB’s with draft worthy grades:
11. RB David Cobb 5’11 229 lbs Sr. Minnesota ( #87 on the Big Board) Grade: 4th Round
12. RB Michael Dyer 5’8 218 lbs Sr. Louisville ( #105 on the Big Board) Grade: 4th Round
13. RB T.J. Yeldon 6’1 226 lbs Jr. Alabama ( #108 on the Big Board) Grade: 4th Round
14. RB Josh Robinson 5’8 217 lbs rJr. Miss St. (#123 on the Big Board) Grade: 4th Round
15. RB Zach Zenner 5’11 223 lbs rSr. South Dakota St. (#142 on the Big Board) Grade: 4th Round
16. RB Karlos Williams 6’1 230 lbs Sr. Florida St. (#144 on the Big Board) Grade: 5th Round
17. RB Cameron Artis-Payne 5’10 212 lbs Sr. Auburn (#148 on the Big Board) Grade: 5th Round
18. RB Dominique Brown 6’2 234 lbs rSr. Louisville (#157 on the Big Board) Grade: 5th Round
19. RB/FB Tyler Varga 5’11 222 lbs Sr. Yale (#163 on the Big Board) Grade: 5th Round
20. RB Terrence Magee 5’8 213 lbs Sr. LSU (#191 on the Big Board) Grade: 6th Round
21. RB Malcolm Brown 5’11 224 lbs Sr. Texas (#193 on the Big Board) Grade: 6th Round
22. RB John Crockett 6’0 217 lbs rSr. North Dakota St. (#230 on the Big Board) Grade: 6th Round
23. RB Kenny Hilliard 6’0 226 lbs Sr. LSU (#237 on the Big Board) Grade: 6th Round
24. RB Matt Jones 6’2 231 lbs Jr. Florida (#241 on the Big Board) Grade: 7th Round
25. RB Synjyn Days 6’2 231 lbs rSr. Georgia Tech (#244 on the Big Board) Grade: 7th Round
Muslim Football Scout 