This year, a big part of the offseason coverage leading up to the draft will be my positional previews. This week, I will be breaking down tape and giving you a full evaluation of each running back prospect that I have watched so far. Included will be measurements, school, year, games I’ve watched (with links), draft range, strengths, weaknesses, summary, and a pro comparison of each prospect listed…

As you all likely know by now, scouting is a never-ending process. While I am still combing through the seemingly bottomless pit of prospects for this year, below are my top-13 running backs. Keep in mind that I plan on updating each position with more prospects as I continue to break down the tape.

1. | Saquon Barkley | Penn State | JR | 5-foot-11 | 230 lbs. |

Games Watched: USC (2016), Iowa (2017), Washington (2017), Ohio State (2017), Akron (2017)

Projected Draft Range: Top-5

Pro Comparison: Boobie Miles (Friday Night Lights)

– Pros –

  • Lightning speed; can take it to the house on any given touch.
  • Great size and balance; cannot be taken down with arm tackles.
  • As nimble and agile as they come. Possesses moves not seen since Barry Sanders or Reggie Bush, but his size brings his ability to the fictional world -- it’s how I came up with the Boobie Miles comparison.
  • Elite vision; always multiple steps ahead of defenders.
  • Leaping ability on par with the best hurdlers in the game today.
  • While most backs have a particular “style” there isn’t just one way to characterize Barkley because there isn’t anything he can’t do. He’s elite when tasked with planting and going as a one cut back, he’s elite as a pass catching back, he’s elite between the tackles, he’s elite in space and at the second level, etc.
  • Rare speed, rare size, rare vision, rare agility, rare athleticism. This kid is rare in every sense of the word.

– Cons –

  • Needs to square up in pass pro more. Too often throws his shoulder and hopes for the best.
  • Too many negative plays. Needs to learn that “three yards and a cloud of dust” is okay every now and then. A hard earned three yards can sometimes be the difference in a game just as much as one of his unnecessary four yard losses can be.
  • Needs to stick to play design more; propensity to bounce too many runs outside.

– Summary –

Bar none, Barkley is the most dynamic playmaker in the draft. He is big, strong, fast, and relentless. To best describe some of his most impressive and defining traits though, I had to go to another sport… He plays at the speed of Russell Westbrook and possesses the hesitation move of Allen Iverson. He’s got the body type of LeBron (build, not height) and he’s got the score from anywhere ability of Steph. Back to the the football field though, ultimately, there is nothing that he can’t do. With that though, likely the best scheme for him would be a zone. A zone scheme would give him the most freedom to create and freelance – his best quality as a runner. Entering the league he needs to improve with his decision making. By that I mean he needs to stick to play design a little more so that he can keep his momentum.

 

2. | Ronald Jones | USC | JR | 6-foot | 210 lbs. |

Games Watched: Western Michigan (2017), Stanford (2017), UCLA (2017)

Projected Draft Range: 1st/2nd round

Pro Comparison: Tevin Coleman/Jamaal Charles

– Pros –

  • Great speed, acceleration, agility combo.
  • Powerful at the point of attack. Always finishing off runs; rarely falls backwards.
  • Vertical shiftness -- something I have never said about a runner before. Absolutely zero wasted movement in his lateral steps; makes defenders miss while still accelerating upfield -- an incredibly rare trait.
  • Also checks boxes: plus jump cut, elite plant and go, great vision.
  • Thoughtful route runner with a chance to be great at it. Wasn’t asked to catch the football too much at USC.
  • Seems to understand pass blocking. Both conceptually and physically. Improved from sophomore season.

– Cons –

  • Rather high runner; could lead to injury with slender frame. I will concede that he knows when to lower pad level, particularly at point of attack.
  • Would benefit from developing a changeup. Runs at one speed -- which is an elite speed at that -- but when cluttered behind the line he struggles to slip by defenders. With an ability to change speeds would also come better overall patience.  
  • Can think ahead of his feet, which leads to loss of balance. Is on the ground unprovoked more than he should be.

– Summary –

Not particularly tall, but long. Runs high and fluidly; reminds of a young DeMarco Murray in that regard. Most impressive trait is his rare ability to take it to the house with only a sliver of daylight. Makes defenders miss without wasting any time or field position, while his ability to lower his shoulder and finish off runs is impressive for his build. With elite athleticism and suddenness, Jones shows promise as a receiver as well, however he wasn’t asked to do much of it at USC.

 

3. | Kerryon Johnson | Auburn | JR | 5-foot-11 | 215 lbs. |

Games Watched: Mississippi State (2017), Ole Miss (2017), Central Florida (2017), Missouri (2017), Texas A&M (2016)

Projected Draft Range: 2nd round

Pro Comparison: DeMarco Murray

– Pros –

  • Tough; probably the toughest back in the class, as he has a penchant for punishing defenders, despite playing most of his junior season with a myriad of injuries.
  • Looks bigger on tape than his measurables – translation being that he plays strong and confident with plus power and toughness.
  • World-class acceleration with the ability to reach top speed by the time he reaches the line of scrimmage.
  • Elite level patience and nuance to his game; waits until the last minute, while behind the line of scrimmage, before he explodes through the hole; reminds of Le’Veon Bell and DeMarco Murray in that regard.
  • Bruising back; defenders seem to just bounce off of him, while he offers a devastating stiff arm.
  • Good vision before and through the hole, giving himself great angles when in the second level.
  • Quick and choppy feet in the open field; able to make defenders miss without wasted lateral movement.
  • Always falls forward with a proper lean through the hole.
  • Physical nature as a runner, but knows when to run out of bounds; won’t take unnecessary hits.
  • Polished receiver out of the backfield and excellent pass protector.

– Cons –

  • Less than average top-end speed.
  • Narrow frame with thin legs; dealt with a lot of injuries in college because of less than ideal build.
  • Below-average balance; can tackle himself at times.
  • Upright runner; languid build makes it tough to lower his pad level through the hole.

– Summary –

While his build is less than ideal (top heavy with spindly legs), Johnson still sports a frame that we have seen become successful in the NFL over the last few years. For example, Tevin Coleman and DeMarco Murray immediately come to mind, but you can make the argument that even bigger backs in Darren McFadden and Derrick Henry sport a similar build. Point being that while Johnson doesn’t exactly look the mold of Adrian Peterson, there is a successful NFL archetype that exists for him. Beyond his build, Johnson is the hardest running back in this class, bar none. In the open field he sees defenders bounce off of him with either a shoulder blast or a devastating stiff arm, while his build up stutter step gets them off balance. His most defining trait is his ability to change speeds behind the line of scrimmage in a way that only Le’Veon Bell and DeMarco Murray have mastered over the last few years. Once the defenders have been lulled to sleep by him, that is just when Johnson flashes his elite acceleration through the hole that helps him frequently bust off big gains. My only concerns for him at the next level are his less than ideal top-end speed and his durability concerns (dealt with injuries his entire junior season). Even so though, the positives outweigh those concerns for me, and I wouldn’t have much of a problem if a team decided to take a chance on Johnson at the end of the first round.

 

4. | Derrius Guice | LSU | JR | 5-foot-11 | 215 lbs. |

Games Watched: Arkansas (2016), Florida (2016), Texas A&M (2016), Texas A&M (2017), Notre Dame (2017), Alabama (2017), Ole Miss (2017)

Projected Draft Range: 1st/2nd round

Pro Comparison: Marion Barber

– Pros –

  • Hard-nosed, downhill runner; loves contact.
  • Always fighting for extra yards; first hit is rarely enough to bring him down.
  • Explosive in the open field; surprising top-end speed with the ability to separate from defensive backs in a sprint.
  • Played through injuries as a junior and remained very productive; Shows selflessness for sake of the team and rare toughness at the position.
  • Good vision with decisive decision making in and out of his cuts.
  • A punisher at the point of attack; makes defenders pay for crossing his path.

– Cons –

  • Less than ideal acceleration; takes a bit to get going.
  • Doesn’t vary speeds well before hitting the hole; struggles to set up blockers both at the line of scrimmage and in the open field.
  • Average at best pad level through the hole; can be susceptible to poor balance and high center of gravity.
  • Slow developing juke moves and stutter steps; lacks natural agility (2017 tape only).

– Summary –

A heavy footed, downhill runner, who never thinks the play is dead. Guice makes defenders pay with his “never say die” attitude, as he drops the shoulder and destroys everything in his path. While this was the book on him in his first two seasons, it became quickly apparent when watching him this past season that something was wrong. While Guice remained productive as a junior, clearly injuries were nagging at him, as he appeared far slower, less dynamic, and less explosive than he had in all of his other years at LSU. Provided the injuries are behind him now though, Guice has a chance to provide a Marshawn Lynch type of dynamic to any offense that he joins. However, considering the fact that he only had one collegiate season as the feature back and failed to remain healthy throughout it, I will temper those expectations and give him the potential for a Marion Barber type impact. What I mean by that is that his ultra-physical running style is one that is going to have to be accompanied by a more than adequate spell back on the roster, just like Barber had with him in Julius Jones during his years in Dallas. Also in that comparison I am acknowledging the fact that Guice may too have a short career if he doesn’t learn how to avoid the unnecessary contact. All in all though, Barber was a player who had several productive years in Dallas and became a notorious touchdown machine for fantasy owners. Sporting a very similar build and running style, there is a good chance Guice can become the same type of fantasy hero.

 

5. | Sony Michel | Georgia | SR | 5-foot-11 | 215 lbs. |

Games Watched: Alabama (2017), Oklahoma (2017), Vanderbilt (2017), Florida (2017)

Projected Draft Range: 2nd round

Pro Comparison: Tiki Barber

– Pros –

  • Explosive from the word go; legs never stop moving; arm tackles CANNOT take him down.
  • Decisive runner with admirable trait to stick to play design; cut and go back who explodes through intended hole.
  • Dynamic playmaker who has the speed, agility, and acceleration to take it to the house on any touch; speed, agility, and acceleration combo also helps him capture the edge better than any other back in this class.
  • Shows high potential as a receiver; natural looking pass catcher with desired traits in his route running ability.
  • Excellent pad level through hole; can get so low that he can completely avoid contact at times.
  •  

– Cons –

  • Noted ball security issues throughout his career, which is alarming considering his low rate of touches overall.
  • Needs work as a pass protector; shows willingness and IQ, but needs technique polish.
  • Not the most creative runner; can get stuck behind blockers if designed hole isn’t there.
  • Pacing can be an issue; lacks patience to let hole develop; would benefit from change of speeds to set up blocks and fool defenders.

– Summary –

Michel is a well-sculpted, no-nonsense, running back, who can take any touch to the house at a moment’s notice. He features a decisive running style, with elite straight-line speed and tackle shedding ability. With his lack of patience as a runner, he’s not going to remind anyone of Le’Veon Bell anytime soon, but that also doesn’t mean that he is a guy lacking in vision, as he rarely misses the intended hole. Ultimately in Michel I see a lot of Tiki Barber. Like Michel, Barber too possessed breakaway speed and good vision, while both back’s were/are famous for their lack of wasted motion. Beyond that, Barber was one of the game’s best receiving backs in his day, while Michel looks to have all of the tools to do the same once drafted. Finally, I even see the comparison holding true in that Michel – while still only 23 years of age – has a noted ball security issue, just like Tiki had when he was a young back. Tiki managed to clean his issue up as time went on, so hopefully the same can be said for young Mr. Michel.

 

6. | Royce Freeman | Oregon | SR | 5-foot-11 | 234 lbs. |

Games Watched: Washington State (2015), Virginia (2016), Arizona (2017), Oregon State (2017)

Projected Draft Range: 3rd/4th round

Pro Comparison: Jonathan Stewart

– Pros –

  • Hulking back with obvious power built into his frame.
  • Would-be tacklers bounce off of him; doesn’t even have to lower shoulder or break strideto bowl over defenders.
  • Great patience and vision; sets up blocks well out of the backfield; shows creativity when hole isn’t there.
  • Quick moving feet makes stutter steps and jukes look incredibly natural; defenders fall down without much appearing to happen on Freeman’s end; slow motion camera shows devastating footwork.
  • Always wins leg churning battles; king of the “three yards and a cloud of dust.”
  • Should serve as an excellent goal line vulture at the very worst in the NFL.
  • Capable and willing blocker; improved in this area in each of his four seasons.
  • One of the most productive running backs in college football history, as he is seventh all time on the career FBS rushing yards list (5,621).
  • Decent receiver with reliable hands; may have more three down potential than people give him credit for.

– Cons –

  • Underwhelming top-end speed; will struggle to separate from defenders and capture the edge at the NFL level.
  • Doesn’t have a defense when hit down low; can be tackled around the knees and ankles.
  • Balance can be an issue down the field and through the hole.

– Summary –

Right off the bat when watching the tape, Freeman displays a defining quality that no other back in this class has. He possesses the unique ability, with his bulky frame, to bury would-be tacklers without even having to break stride or lower his shoulder. It’s a testament of his raw power and explosion as a runner really, as his burst through the line is surprising for his size. While some argue that Freeman’s best tape was earlier on in his career, I have to disagree. Sure his numbers may have been better as an underclassman, but his teams were better too. He also got hurt and played through injuries during his junior and senior seasons, which made the tape less impressive. Ultimately though, once healthy at the end of his senior season, Freeman displayed his best work, showing a full grasp of the running back position. In the final two games I watched (Freeman’s final two career games at Oregon), I saw a guy who could do it all. I’m comfortable knowing that Freeman is a back with patience and vision as a runner, while he always displays determination to get north and south. Giving ground is not an option for him, as he finishes off runs strong, necessitating gang tackling from the defense. He improved as a receiver and most importantly as a blocker as his career went on, which will only boost his draft value. If you are trying to get an idea of who he is as a running back, think of former fellow Oregon Duck, Jonathan Stewart, who is almost the exact same size as Freeman, and too isn’t the fastest. Both backs however use their power, patience, and vision to get into the end zone frequently. At worst, Freeman will be a goal line specialist in the NFL and subsequently a relevant fantasy option.

 

7. | Kalen Ballage | Arizona State | SR | 6-foot-3 | 235 lbs. |

Games Watched: Texas Tech (2016), Washington State (2016), Utah (2016), Oregon (2016), UCLA (2017), Colorado (2017)

Projected Draft Range: 5th round

Pro Comparison: Darren McFadden

– Pros –

  • Prototype for the position; built like an edge rusher with skill-position speed.
  • Home run potential any time he touches the ball; excellent straight line speed and should test well at the Combine.
  • Powerful runner at the point of attack; often buries defenders upon first contact; finishes off runs the right way.
  • Natural hands catcher with instinctual sense as a route runner; experience lining up in the slot; high-volume target as a Junior.
  • Stout and confident pass blocker; delivers a strong shoulder when protecting on the edge.

– Cons –

  • Struggles with vision behind the line of scrimmage; will miss cutback lanes; may run into offensive linemen.
  • Upright runner with disappointing lack of forward lean for his muscular build.
  • A little heavy footed; not the most agile with average-at-best speed in and out of his cuts.
  • Underwhelming collegiate production; could never steal the starting job in any of his four seasons.

– Summary –

I’ll kick it off with the pro comparison… Ballage, like Darren McFadden in college, worked out of a committee split and displayed phenomenal success as a wildcat quarterback. They are nearly identical in size, feature an elite combo of speed and power, and have the same main weakness – sub-par vision. Not many are yet clued into Ballage because his numbers don’t jump off the screen (aside from his eight touchdown game against Texas Tech in 2016), but much of this is because of his role as second fiddle in Arizona State’s offense. I wasn’t sure exactly who he was until I saw him practicing at the Senior Bowl. After evaluating the entire week in Mobile, including the game itself, I started to get the feeling that Ballage was at times the best player on the field. Boiled down, Ballage is a dual-threat back with elite potential as both a runner and receiver. Like Darren McFadden, he certainly has his shortcomings, as he lacks instinctual vision and sense for cutback lanes, but that is still no reason for him to be talked about as a fifth round or later selection. Despite his baggage, McFadden was still a top-five lock in the 2008 NFL draft and I think once we get to see Ballage test at the combine the narrative on him will change. Even so though, getting a McFadden like talent towards the back end of the draft is something that I wouldn’t sneeze at. For now, consider Ballage the sleeper of this running back class.

 

8. | Rashaad Penny | San Diego State | SR | 5-foot-11 | 220 lbs. |

Games Watched: Wyoming (2016), New Mexico (2017), Army (2017), Stanford (2017)

Projected Draft Range: 3rd/4th round

Pro Comparison: Mark Ingram

– Pros –

  • Ideal build for the position; smaller height helps him win with low pad level.
  • Patient, yet decisive runner; sets up blocks well on both offense and kick returns.
  • Excellent balance as a runner; sets a strong lower body for a base and uses short, choppy steps in and out of his cuts to maintain it.
  • Sheds arm tackles like he’s cutting through wind.
  • Possesses nice burst through the line of scrimmage to rack up big yards before the defense knows what hit them.
  • Relentless motor on every touch; always moving his feet and always falling forward.
  • Highly productive senior season; led the nation in rushing yards (2,248) and finished second in rushing touchdowns (23); finished off 2017 season with five straight games over 200 yards rushing.

– Cons –

  • Lacks ideal breakaway speed; Won’t be able to separate from NFL defensive backs.
  • Tends to bounce too many runs to the outside, which won’t fly in the NFL with his limited top-end speed.
  • Doesn’t devastate with cuts and jukes; limited wiggle; can make guys miss, but not at an elite level by any means.
  • Can shed tackles, but not a bulldozer; Rather easily tackled when hit down around his knees.
  • Some have reported that he struggles grasping a playbook quickly; potentially low football IQ was on display during his struggles at the Senior Bowl.

– Summary –

When I turned on Penny’s tape I thought, “Here’s a rock solid guy who will have a productive NFL career. He probably won’t be a Pro Bowler, but he knows better than most backs at his age how to get first downs.” While that was my initial reaction, after watching four cut ups of the kid I can’t really say much more. My pro comparison was Mark Ingram because despite the fact that he really broke out this past season, for most of his NFL career up to this point, he’s been just a real solid running back but nothing special. Also like Ingram, Penny was incredibly productive in college and contended for the Heisman Trophy as a senior. When watching, they both just have very similar running styles – no defining traits, but they get the job done with choppy cuts and a powerful shoulder blow.

 

9. | Nick Chubb | Georgia | SR | 5-foot-10 | 230 lbs. |

Games Watched: Louisville (2014), Florida (2014), Alabama (2015), North Carolina (2016), Oklahoma (2017), Vanderbilt (2017), Kentucky (2017)

Projected Draft Range: 3rd/4th round

Pro Comparison: Cedric Benson

– Pros –

  • Decisive, one-cut runner, with the power to get plenty of first downs.
  • Delivers the blow at the point of attack; uses forward lean and low pad level to punish defenders.
  • Tough to take down; needs a team of defenders to get him to the ground; no arm tackles allowed.
  • No negative plays; almost always at least finds his way back to the line of scrimmage.
  • Good around the goal line with instinctive nose for the end zone.

– Cons –

  • No longer has elite burst or breakaway speed after tearing up knee.
  • Limited third down ability.
  • Change of direction is tough for him; over steps when trying to capture the edge or make guys miss.
  • Lacks single elite trait that will catch scouts eyes.

– Summary –

It’s the story of two Chubbs when you pop in the tape, as there was a pre knee injury version of him and the post knee injury version. The pre injury version obviously possessed far more explosion than the post injury version, and while that’s not the only important trait a running back can possess, it was one that made Chubb an elite running back prospect as opposed to just a solid one. Here we are now though with Chubb and his post knee injury life, and to me he seems just like a really good, rock solid, running back prospect, as opposed to the special prospect that he once was. In the NFL, you pretty much know what you are going to get from Chubb – a guy who can get you the hard earned, early down, yards, while he will need a spell to relieve him in passing situations. As for the pro comparison, in Chubb’s prime college days, I saw a Thomas Jones level prospect, while where he is at now I see more of a Cedric Benson type ceiling. Both guys fit the size/power profile of Chubb, while their overall lack of involvement in the passing game has been noted as well. Ultimately Benson carved out a nice career, but it took a bit of time for him to reinvent himself as a pro in comparison to his historic days at the University of Texas. Chubb may have to do the same in regards to learning how to play around his newfound lack of elite explosion.

 

10. | Mark Walton | Miami | JR | 5-foot-9 | 205 lbs. |

Games Watched: Duke (2016), Virginia (2016), Toledo (2017)

Projected Draft Range: 4th/5th round

Pro Comparison: Steve Slaton

– Pros –

  • Slightly built, but sneakily powerful at the point of attack; teammates nicknamed him “Grown Ass Man.”
  • Incredibly shifty with good vision and mature patience through the hole; instinctual sense for developing cutback lanes; devastating jump-cut with vertical intentions.
  • Breaks/avoids more tackles than he should for his size; Always seems to make something out of nothing.
  • Shows high IQ and willingness as a blocker, both as a pass protector and down the field.
  • Home run hitter with plus burst and long speed.
  • Natural pass catcher and route runner.
  • Sells fakes well to set up play action and slip screens.

– Cons –

  • First play I watched was of Walton in pass protection… He was destroyed by the blitzer; definitely needs to improve in his blocking base and play strength.
  • Coming off of season ending ankle surgery.
  • While an excellent athlete, Walton thinks he’s Reggie Bush in his prime, which he’s not. This causes unnecessary negative plays; also known as “hero ball.”
  • Slight frame makes me wonder if he can ever be a feature back; he struggled to hold up in three years at Miami; tended to wear down later in games.

– Summary –

Walton is not going to live up to the hype as “the next Alvin Kamara” that everyone is looking for, but he will give a team an instant impact as a change of pace contributor – think more along the lines of a Duke Johnson or Theo Riddick. He’s slight in stature, but packs a surprising punch at the point of attack. He has the speed to take any touch to the house with his plus speed and elusiveness, which will make his limited work more valuable on a per touch basis. His high-end ability as a pass catcher and willingness as a blocker will make him an instant presence on third downs early on in his career, giving him relevancy in PPR leagues as a rookie. Ultimately I felt that his running style and game-breaking ability most reminded me of a young Steve Slaton who saw early success in the NFL with the Texans. His potential as a receiver only further strengthens the comparison.

 

Image result for bo scarbrough gif

11. | Bo Scarbrough | Alabama | JR | 6-foot-2 | 232 lbs. |

Games Watched: Washington (2016), Florida (2016), Auburn (2016), Georgia (2017), Clemson (2017), Florida State (2017), Fresno State (2017)

Projected Draft Range: 5th round

Pro Comparison: Latavius Murray

– Pros –

  • Massively built and looks every bit of his nearly 240 lb. frame.
  • Carries weight well, as he builds up a head of steam as a downhill runner and punishes would-be tacklers.
  • Long legs help him generate surprising speed, while his overall length helps him get unexpected first downs and touchdowns.
  • Solid blocker in pass protection; willing to throw his weight around.

– Cons –

  • Lost his job in his junior season; far less productive from sophomore to junior year; barely played in national title game.
  • Runs upright; almost vertical runner who struggles to lower his pads.
  • Thin legs makes him susceptible to ankle tackles.
  • Non-existent as a receiver, with no evidence for potential in that area.
  • Average burst; takes a while to get going.
  • Not a home run hitter.
  • Disappointing patience and vision behind the line of scrimmage and through the hole.
  • Dealt with a lot of injuries in college; will his body hold up at NFL level?

– Summary –

People may question the comparison here, but I see a lot of Latavius Murray in Bo Scarbrough. They both are physical freaks and possess almost the same exact build. They both struggle with vision, while they both also struggle as receivers in the passing game. Where they both equally succeed is around the goal line and in other short yardage situations, as they can uniquely use their rare length and power combination to their advantage. For now though, take this with a pinch of salt, as I still see Scarbrough as a poor man’s version of Murray, who does things as a feature back and downfield runner that Scarbrough may never be able to. To put a bow on things, in Scarbrough, you’ve got a one dimensional back who needs space to get going and to be at his best. He rarely creates for himself unless he is near the goal line or the first down marker. He’ll have early impact in the NFL as a goal line threat, but I still reserve questions if he will ever develop beyond that. I don’t often trust guys who lose their jobs and regress as their college years go on.

 

12. | Darrel Williams | LSU | SR | 6-foot-1 | 230 lbs. |

Games Watched: Missouri (2016), Syracuse (2017),

Projected Draft Range: 6th/7th round

Pro Comparison: Tim Hightower

– Pros –

  • A load to handle at over 230 lbs.; finishes off runs like he should by delivering the blow and falling forward.
  • Fierce stiff arm with downward shoving motion.
  • Sticks to designed play well; won’t abandon intended hole and will bulldoze his way through it if necessary.
  • Limited tape available, but showed ability to be a true three-down player; plus receiving and blocking skills exist within him.

– Cons –

  • Hefty looking back with heavy feet and limited wiggle.
  • Underwhelming vision; doesn’t set up blocks or his cuts well.
  • Limited speed; won’t separate from NFL defensive backs.
  • Below-average acceleration through the hole.

– Summary –

It took me a while to come up with a comparison for Williams, as he really possesses a unique skill set, especially considering his combination of size and ability as a receiver out of the backfield. Eventually I stumbled upon Tim Hightower, who throughout his career not only served as a constant goal line and short yardage threat, but he also posted a season in which he caught a whopping 63 balls out of the backfield. Like Hightower has been throughout his entire career, I see Williams best served as a complimentary back in an offense that needs a reliable, do-it-all talent. He will provide excellent value towards the back end of this draft.

 

13. | Roc Thomas | Jacksonville State | SR | 5-foot-11 | 193 lbs. |

Games Watched: UT-Chattanooga Game (full game), Georgia Tech Game (full game), Eastern Illinois Game (full game), UT-Martin Game (full game), General Highlights

Projected Draft Range: 7th round/priority free agent

Pro Comparison: Tarik Cohen

– Pros –

  • Top-five recruit in the country (2014); committed and signed with Auburn; only transferred due to crowded backfield.
  • Devastating jump-cut, juke move, and spin move; elite elusiveness; can make defenders look silly.
  • Good top-end speed with ability to hit home runs and pull away from defenders.
  • Shows ability as a pass catcher; great on screens because he’s dangerous in the open field.
  • Will provide kick and punt return ability at next level, at the very least.

– Cons –

  • Short and slender; less than ideal build; won’t ever be more than a change of pace back.
  • Played severely inferior competition; will his on tape speed and elusiveness translate to NFL?
  • Suspect as a pass blocker.
  • Tries to hit home run on every play; struggles to accept positive yardage; gets himself into trouble by trying to do too much.
  • Bounces outside too often; needs to stick to play design.

– Summary –

The tape on Thomas was very limited, which was not so dissimilar to last year’s rookie sensation Tarik Cohen, who also came from a small school. Like Cohen, Thomas possesses a less than ideal build but makes up for it in top-notch elusiveness and game-breaking ability. At the next level I see Thomas making an impact as a change of pace back and as a return man, and while you may not think much of that, he will A) hold fantasy relevance for most of his career and B) will only cost teams a late round selection, if at all, in this upcoming draft. Seems like a win, win to me, making him a very deep sleeper in this class.