having lost Willie Parker, we will definitely draft a RB. maybe even a FB?
Draft preview: Running backs
April 5, 2010
NFLDraftScout.com
There is always a need for fresh legs to carry the football in the NFL, and the 2010 draft has plenty of prospects in all sizes, speeds and a variety of intriguing abilities.
In a draft loaded with talent at other positions, only three running backs may be selected as high as the first round, according to ratings by NFLDraftScout.com. But the list of prospects includes such a range of talents that it's very likely some team will find a future star in the fourth round or later.
The running back at the top of most charts is Clemson's C.J. Spiller, who has the quickness, moves and speed to sprint to stardom immediately in the NFL. Among many others who have gained increasing attention over the last year is Fresno State's Ryan Mathews, who has been productive since high school and led the nation in rushing in 2009, but needed to convince scouts he was more than a fast fish in a slow pond.
Although fullbacks appear to be heading the way of the Dodo bird in the NFL, Missouri State's big, tough, explosive Clay Harbor will certainly attract attention from some team wanting to use him to create interesting mismatches.
Here's a closer look at the best running backs and fullbacks in the 2010 draft:
RUNNING BACKS
1. C.J. Spiller, Clemson, 5-11, 196, 1
He can be something special in the NFL, a big-play waiting to happen -- and happen quickly. Although his quickness was evident in games, he verified it in his 2.41-second clocking in 20 yards that tied the fastest 20 ever at an Indianapolis combine, set in 2008 by East Carolina's Chris Johnson, who used that speed to rush for more than 2,000 yards for Tennessee last season. Spiller's best 40-yard time at the combine was 4.27, sixth best in the event's history in Indy. On the field, he has the strength to run through tackles and a jump cut-and-go move that leaves defenders reading the back of his jersey. He returned to Clemson for a senior season rather than be a first-round pick in 2009 because he had something to prove. After sharing carries with James Davis for three years as "Lightning" in the "Thunder and Lightning" backfield, Spiller wanted to show he could be a featured back. He did that by gaining 1,212 yards rushing, 503 yards receiving and scoring 21 touchdowns, at least one in every game. He is the first player in college history with at least 3,000 yards rushing, 2,000 yards in kickoff returns, 1,000 yards receiving and 500 punt return yards.
2. *Ryan Mathews, Fresno State, 6-0, 218, 1
Despite leading the nation in rushing in high school and college, NFL scouts seemed to remain skeptical about Mathews until he dazzled them at the combine, where his best time in 40 yards was 4.37 seconds. He is a decisive, strong, cut-and-go runner who uses exceptional leg and body strength to run right through most tackles. He is also an effective blocker both on passes and in space and has soft, reliable hands as a receiver. In 2009, Mathews rushed for 1,808 yards, despite missing a game and a half due to injuries. He was at his best against the best on the Bulldogs' schedule, such as Boise State (234 yards, three touchdowns), Wisconsin (107 rushing yards), Cincinnati (145 rushing yards, touchdown) and Illinois (173 rushing yards, three touchdowns).
3. *Jahvid Best, California, 5-10, 199, 1-2
Although his overall talent is sensational, Best's durability remains a major concern and he probably will be considered a situational player in the pros. His college career ended prematurely last season after scoring a 7-yard touchdown against Oregon State that resulted in a concussion and back injury that knocked him out for the final four games. Best is an entertaining runner in open space, where his quickness, lateral agility and an extra gear make him a constant threat. These abilities serve him well as a returner, receiver and even on runs from scrimmage, although usually only if he is able to get to the outside. He quantified his speed at the combine with a 40-yard time of 4.34, second only to Spiller among running back prospects.
4. *Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech, 5-11, 229, 2
JIn his three-season career, Dwyer pounded the ball 517 times for 3,329 yards -- an impressive average of 6.4 yards per carry -- with 35 touchdowns. He earned him the nickname "Diesel" for his powerful, tackle-breaking, inside running in Georgia Tech's triple-option attack. But scouts wonder if his ability as an inside runner will continue in the NFL without being part of a deceptive, triple-option offense. He didn't help himself at the combine, where his workouts included a poor 40-yard time of 4.64 and a broad jump of less than 9 feet. Also, Dwyer caught only 15 passes and was rarely asked to pass block in college. Still, some teams like him on film and might think his combination of brute force, bursts of speed and surprising lateral moves will work well in the NFL.
5. Toby Gerhart, Stanford, 6-0, 231, 2-3
Gerhart is a durable, powerful back who is quicker than he is fast and manages to gain decent chunks of yardage as a tackle-breaking, north-south runner. He set a single-season school record with 1,871 yards rushing in 2009, was selected Pac-10 Conference Offensive Player of the Year and finished second to Alabama's Mark Ingram by only 28 points in the closest Heisman Trophy vote ever. Gerhart was a key player on Stanford's 2008 College World Series team and is expected to get attention from Major League Baseball. He set a California high school career record with 9,622 yards rushing, including 3,233 yards and 39 touchdowns as a senior. He didn't hurt himself at the combine, where his explosion was evident in an excellent vertical jump of 38 inches and he ran 40 yards in an acceptable 4.50 seconds.
6. Ben Tate, Auburn, 5-11, 220, 2-3
Tate is a physical runner who many thought flashed surprising bursts of speed during his college career. The real surprise was that he actually does have excellent speed, as he showed at the combine when he shocked scouts with a 40 time of 4.34 seconds at 220 pounds. He has been compared to Marion Barber of the Dallas Cowboys in terms of being a tough, inside runner. Some scouts believe Tate may have the combination of toughness and speed that will make him very productive in the NFL, which shouldn't be all that surprising when his college career is put into perspective. Although many believe he was inconsistent at Auburn, Tate's career total of 3,321 yards rushing was fifth in school history, behind the likes of Bo Jackson, Carnell Williams, James Brooks and Joe Cribbs (known in this century as Josh's father).
7. Montario Hardesty, Tennessee, 6-0, 225 2-3
Multiple knee injuries sidelined Hardesty so often that he had only six starts in 36 games heading into last season. But he managed to stay on the field long enough in 2009 to rush for 1,345 yards, only 119 yards short of a school record. Hardesty is a classic, cut-and-go runner who accelerates quickly into the second level but lacks true home run speed. He shows decent ability as a receiver. Scouts were disappointed when he pulled out of the Senior Bowl, but he gained their favor again at the combine where his results included a 41-inch vertical leap and a 4.49 40 time. NFL teams must consider that he already had three knee surgeries, but the question of his durability must also consider that he carried the ball 560 times, second most in Tennessee history.
8. *Joe McKnight, Southern California, 6-0, 198, 3-4
McKnight lacks the size needed to be an every-down, power-style runner, but he is a versatile performer with solid receiving skills out of the backfield. He should serve some NFL team well as an explosive receiver out of the backfield and as a returner. McKnight has been surrounded by controversy since the day he signed a letter of intent for USC, an unpopular decision in Louisiana where he was a star in a high school career interrupted by Hurricane Katrina and where LSU recruited him hard. There were allegations that he was improperly recruited with the help of USC alum Reggie Bush. At USC, McKnight's production never quite measured up to his promise, but he certainly showed flashes of brilliance. He opted for the draft amidst reports that he was driving an SUV supplied in a manner unacceptable to the NCAA. He was also suspended from participation in the 2009 Emerald Bowl during another NCAA investigation involving several USC alumna receiving improper benefits.
9. Anthony Dixon, Mississippi State, 6-1, 233, 4
Dixon is a big, tough back who can run, catch and block. Critics were skeptical if Dixon was ready to be a team leader after he was arrested for a DUI in July 2009, but he put that -- and a lot of defenders -- behind him. Dixon left Mississippi State as the school's all-time leading rusher with 3,994 yards. He also owns school records for career attempts (910), rushing touchdowns (42) and single-season rushing yards (1,391 in 2009) and attempts (287 in 2007). In addition, he caught 56 passes for 449 yards and four touchdowns in his career. He is a durable back who hasn't missed any games over the past three seasons and played through a broken finger in 2006, undergoing surgery on a Wednesday and playing Saturday. This is one back whose potential cannot be defined by his speed -- or a lack of it, judging by a 40 time of 4.67 at the combine -- but rather one who can do anything required of a back except win a world class foot race.
10. James Starks, Buffalo, 6-2, 218, 4-5
Starks is a wild card in this draft after sitting out his entire senior season while rehabilitating a shoulder injury. So scouts might become intrigued when they dig in to research a guy who was one of those do-everything athletes in high school, where he mainly played quarterback but was more of a threat to run than pass. Starks leaves college as the school record-holder for rushing yardage (3,140), rushing touchdowns (34) and points scored (222) -- all this in 36 games. He appeared to be in great shape at the combine, where his shoulder was healthy enough for 15 reps of 225 pounds in the bench press. Starks began his college career as a cornerback before being moved to offense.
11. Lonyae Miller, Fresno State, 6-0, 221, 5
Miller qualifies as a low-mileage prospect who might have a lot of productivity to offer. Despite starting only 14 of his 45 college games, Miller's career average of 5.51 yards per carry ranked 13th among NCAA backs active last year. He arrived as Fresno State as a star high school recruit, but never became a featured back in a system laden with talent such as Mathews. But scouts who study his games will see flashes of brilliance that make Miller intriguing, such as runs of 90 yards (vs. Idaho), 80 (vs. Hawaii), 72 (vs. Nevada) and 69 (vs. Colorado State). These bursts show that he may be more than a tough, short-yardage back. He also had the longest run at the Senior Bowl (18 yards) and finished with a game-high 44 yards rushing. His athleticism was validated at the combine, where his workouts included a 40 time of 4.43 seconds, a 10-foot broad jump and 26 reps with 225 pounds in the bench press.
12. Joique Bell, Wayne State (Mich.), 5-11, 220, 5-6
Here is a young man willing to work hard to get what he wants. Bell, from a tough childhood in a poor Michigan neighborhood, has already graduated with a degree in criminal justice. And, oh yes, he owns every significant rushing record in school history despite a lack of great speed. Bell, whose 40-yard time was only 4.68 seconds at the combine, rushed for more than 2,000 yards as a redshirt freshman (2006) and did it again last year. His 2,084-yard, 29-touchdown effort in 2009 earned him the Harlon Hill Award as the best player in Division II. His 8,055 all-purpose yards rank fourth in Division II history and ninth in the NCAA career-record books. He accounted for 100 total touchdowns in his career (88 rushing, eight receiving, four passing) and left Wayne State as the school's all-time leader in rushing yards (6,72, rushing attempts (1,181), total offense (7,00 and total plays (1,19.
FULLBACKS
1. Clay Harbor, Missouri State, 6-3, 252, 3-4
Harbor is an athletic beast who can line up as a fullback, tight end or H-back and create matchup problems for a defense. As a receiver he set the school record with 150 career catches and his 1,906 yards ranks third all-time at Missouri. As a senior, Harbor's 59 catches for 729 yards and four touchdowns reflected his ability to get open in zones and stretch the field. His blocking has improved each year so he can be a significant block-or-catch weapon as an H-back. His explosion was demonstrated at the Indianapolis combine when he soared 40 inches in the vertical jump. And his strength was quantified when he bench pressed 225 pounds 30 times.
2. Rashawn Jackson, Virginia, 6-1, 239, 5-6
Jackson's play was one of the few bright spots for the Cavaliers in 2009. After rushing for only 134 yards over his first two seasons as the team's fullback, the powerful back led the team with 461 rushing yards, averaging 4.8 yards per carry last year. He also caught 25 passes for 222 yards as a senior, which certainly will help as a prospect for the pass-happy NFL. Jackson was charged in October 2008 with grand larceny and breaking and entering in a November 2007 dorm incident, but charges were dropped due to lack of evidence.
Frank Cooney is the Publisher of NFLDraftScout.com, published by The Sports Xchange.
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