The 2011 running back class lacks elite talent. There is no
Adrian Peterson. No member possesses a size-speed combination like
Darren McFadden or even
Jonathan Stewart. (Aside from, perhaps,
Roy Helu. More on him in a bit.)
Mark Ingram is considered the only likely first-round back, and even he isn't a
lock for the top 32,
according to NFL Network's Mike Lombardi. Lombardi and former longtime NFL GM Charley Casserly, however, have praised the depth and quality of running backs projected to go in rounds two and three.
Our latest mock didn't have a single running back in the first round, and it wasn't a mistake. It's not a premium position in the NFL. The league's leading rusher was an undrafted free agent in 2010, and the postseason's top rusher was a sixth-round pick.
LeGarrette Blount was the best rookie running back in football. Blount was not drafted last April, and he got cut out of Titans camp.
These backs won't come off the board quickly over the weekend of April 28-30. But they'll continue to be the heart and soul of fantasy football teams.
Let's have a closer look at this year's crop.
1. Mark Ingram, AlabamaHeight/Weight: 5'9/215
College Experience: Third-year junior
Combine #s: 4.62 forty, 1.55 10-yd split, 21 x 225, 31.5" vertical, 9'5" broad jump, 4.62 ss
Style Comparison: Ray Rice2010 Stats: 158 - 875 (5.5) - 13 Tds; 21 - 282 (13.4) - 1 Td
Draft Prediction: Patriots, No. 33 overall.
Positives: Ingram is NFL ready every way you slice it. He played in a pro-style college offense, is versed in blitz pickup, catches the football naturally, and consistently busts through arm tackles. A former four-star recruit, Ingram took over as Alabama's starting tailback after
Glen Coffee left for the pros in 2009. Ingram won the Heisman in his first year on the job, setting a single-season school rushing record (1,648). He lost two fumbles on 632 career touches, scored 60 touchdowns, and averaged 5.70 yards per carry in college football's toughest conference. Ingram has the best balance of any running back in the 2011 class. Though he didn't run a top forty time in Indianapolis, Ingram's elite short-area acceleration was evident in his impressive ten-yard split, a full tenth of a second faster than the running back average from last year's Combine.
Negatives: Ingram is not a special athlete. He shed 10-15 pounds following the college season, but his 4.62 forty ranked 20th out of 33 running backs who ran in Indy. Ingram's 31 1/2-inch vertical ranked 27th, bettering only USC's Allen Bradford and four fullback types. Ingram underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in August of 2010, and recent reports indicate NFL teams have concerns about his longevity as well as the possibility of degenerative arthritis in the joint.
Outlook: Ingram projects as a three-down back on day one, and workhorse in the NFL. While the decreasing value of the position Ingram plays may ultimately keep him out of the top-20 picks, he's a safe bet for immediate production. There are few weaknesses in Ingram's game.
2. Mikel Leshoure, IllinoisHeight/Weight: 6'0/227
College Experience: Third-year junior
Combine #s: 4.56 forty, 1.53 10-yd split, 21 x 225, 38" vertical, 10'2" broad jump, 4.40 ss
Style Comparison: Rashard Mendenhall2010 Stats: 281 - 1,697 (6.0) - 17 Tds; 17 - 196 (11.5) - 3 Tds
Draft Prediction: Bengals, No. 35 overall.
Positives: Leshoure is the most powerfully built back in this top five, and has drawn comparisons to
Steven Jackson for his running style, size, and speed. Carrying 12 more pounds, Leshoure beat out Ingram in every athletic test at the Combine after a far more productive 2010 campaign. Leshoure set Illini single-season rushing and touchdown records as a junior, and his 6.03 career YPC average is fourth in the class behind only backs from Nevada, Hawaii, and D-IAA Eastern Washington. Really only a one-year starter at Illinois, Leshoure has little wear on his tires and was at his best when given heavy workloads. He flashes exceptional physicality, is rarely caught from behind, and is quick enough to make linebackers and some defensive backs miss.
Negatives: Leshoure only had 424 career carries, all in a spread offense. He'll be fairly difficult for NFL decision makers to evaluate because of the sample size and system. Leshoure caught 37 passes in three years at Illinois and is inexperienced in blitz protection. He probably won't help on any third downs initially. Leshoure is considered raw in terms of vision, how to use his body, and most finer points of the position. Character may be a concern. Leshoure missed three games as a freshman after breaking his jaw in a fight with Illini tight end
Jeff Cumberland. As a sophomore, Leshoure was suspended one game for another violation of team rules.
Outlook: Leshoure has a better chance to be a home-run pick than Ingram because of his superior size, speed, and long-term upside. The arrow is pointing skyward for the recently turned 21-year-old. With a skill set suited for all offenses, he projects as a value anywhere in round two.
3. Ryan Williams, Virginia TechHeight/Weight: 5'9/212
College Experience: Third-year sophomore
Combine #s: 4.59 forty, 1.53 10-yd split, 19 x 225, 40" vertical, 10'3" broad jump, 4.18 ss
Style Comparison: Thomas Jones2010 Stats: 110 - 477 (4.3) - 9 Tds; 10 - 109 (10.9) - 1 Td
Draft Prediction: Rams, No. 47 overall.
Positives: The nation's No. 4 tailback recruit out of high school, Williams exploded onto the college scene as a redshirt freshman, setting the Hokies' single-season rushing record (1,655 yards) and scoring 22 TDs to garner ACC Rookie of the Year honors. He was also consensus first-team all-conference in 2009. An angry, muscle-bound runner, Williams is a broken tackle waiting to happen with his feet moving. He does not waste steps and consistently finishes runs. Williams plays with suddenness and is considered better in the pass game than his college stats indicate. He fights for every yard, draws high marks for work ethic, and rarely fumbled in college.
Negatives: 2010 was a disaster season for Williams. He tore his right hamstring in the third game of the year, missed a month, and lost his starting job to
Darren Evans. Proneness to injury isn't new for Williams. He missed nine games combined as a high school sophomore and senior with various maladies, and also sprained an ankle after tearing the hamstring in 2010. Williams' relentlessly physical run style could be mostly to blame. Williams wasn't asked to pass protect much at Virginia Tech and only caught 26 passes in his college career. Throw out one 84-yard run last year, and he averaged 3.57 yards a carry. Evans' average was 5.66 for the season.
Outlook: Had Williams played a full, healthy 2010 season, we might be talking him up as the top back in the draft. He has dangerous talent. Ultimately, Williams may be another boom-or-bust type of prospect. He needs to overcome his injury history to become a featured NFL back.
4. Roy Helu, NebraskaHeight/Weight: 6'0/219
College Experience: Fourth-year senior
Combine #s: 4.4 forty, 1.51 10-yd split, 11 x 225, 36.5" vertical, 9'11" broad jump, 4.01 ss
Style Comparison: Felix Jones2010 Stats: 188 - 1,245 (6.6) - 11 Tds; 5 - 46 (9.2) - 0 Tds
Draft Prediction: Colts, No. 119 overall.
Positives: Helu possesses ideal size and speed for the position, and his wheels show up in a 6.62 senior-year YPC average that ranks first among the top seven running backs on this list. His Combine forty time isn't a mirage. Helu is a home-run hitter with the ability to plant, make one cut, and go the distance. A second-team All-Big 12 honoree by the conference's coaches, Helu graduated as one of Nebraska's top-five all-time rushers despite sharing carries throughout his career. Helu also posted the top ten-yard split time by a running back at the Combine. He has big hands (10 1/8 inches) and flashes tackle-breaking power. Helu was a team captain in 2010.
Negatives: Helu needs a lot of weight-room work, and not just because he managed only 11 reps of 225 pounds in Indianapolis. He doesn't maximize his size, too often plays without physicality, and is highly inconsistent. Helu carries a pile six yards upfield on one play, and gets tackled one-on-one by a defensive back on the next. He benefited from a dominant front five in a weak Big 12 North; the Cornhuskers may have three offensive linemen picked in April. Draft analysts question Helu's vision, down-to-down competitiveness, ball security, and blocking.
Outlook: We like Helu because he has a sky-high ceiling. 220-pound tailbacks just don't run 4.4 flat with elite acceleration very often. But Helu is still a project after four years in college. His best fit would be with a team that relies heavily on zone blocking, and less on power plays.
The 2011 running back class lacks elite talent. There is no
Adrian Peterson. No member possesses a size-speed combination like
Darren McFadden or even
Jonathan Stewart. (Aside from, perhaps,
Roy Helu. More on him in a bit.)
Mark Ingram is considered the only likely first-round back, and even he isn't a
lock for the top 32,
according to NFL Network's Mike Lombardi. Lombardi and former longtime NFL GM Charley Casserly, however, have praised the depth and quality of running backs projected to go in rounds two and three.
Our latest mock didn't have a single running back in the first round, and it wasn't a mistake. It's not a premium position in the NFL. The league's leading rusher was an undrafted free agent in 2010, and the postseason's top rusher was a sixth-round pick.
LeGarrette Blount was the best rookie running back in football. Blount was not drafted last April, and he got cut out of Titans camp.
These backs won't come off the board quickly over the weekend of April 28-30. But they'll continue to be the heart and soul of fantasy football teams.
Let's have a closer look at this year's crop.
1. Mark Ingram, AlabamaHeight/Weight: 5'9/215
College Experience: Third-year junior
Combine #s: 4.62 forty, 1.55 10-yd split, 21 x 225, 31.5" vertical, 9'5" broad jump, 4.62 ss
Style Comparison: Ray Rice2010 Stats: 158 - 875 (5.5) - 13 Tds; 21 - 282 (13.4) - 1 Td
Draft Prediction: Patriots, No. 33 overall.
Positives: Ingram is NFL ready every way you slice it. He played in a pro-style college offense, is versed in blitz pickup, catches the football naturally, and consistently busts through arm tackles. A former four-star recruit, Ingram took over as Alabama's starting tailback after
Glen Coffee left for the pros in 2009. Ingram won the Heisman in his first year on the job, setting a single-season school rushing record (1,648). He lost two fumbles on 632 career touches, scored 60 touchdowns, and averaged 5.70 yards per carry in college football's toughest conference. Ingram has the best balance of any running back in the 2011 class. Though he didn't run a top forty time in Indianapolis, Ingram's elite short-area acceleration was evident in his impressive ten-yard split, a full tenth of a second faster than the running back average from last year's Combine.
Negatives: Ingram is not a special athlete. He shed 10-15 pounds following the college season, but his 4.62 forty ranked 20th out of 33 running backs who ran in Indy. Ingram's 31 1/2-inch vertical ranked 27th, bettering only USC's Allen Bradford and four fullback types. Ingram underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in August of 2010, and recent reports indicate NFL teams have concerns about his longevity as well as the possibility of degenerative arthritis in the joint.
Outlook: Ingram projects as a three-down back on day one, and workhorse in the NFL. While the decreasing value of the position Ingram plays may ultimately keep him out of the top-20 picks, he's a safe bet for immediate production. There are few weaknesses in Ingram's game.
2. Mikel Leshoure, IllinoisHeight/Weight: 6'0/227
College Experience: Third-year junior
Combine #s: 4.56 forty, 1.53 10-yd split, 21 x 225, 38" vertical, 10'2" broad jump, 4.40 ss
Style Comparison: Rashard Mendenhall2010 Stats: 281 - 1,697 (6.0) - 17 Tds; 17 - 196 (11.5) - 3 Tds
Draft Prediction: Bengals, No. 35 overall.
Positives: Leshoure is the most powerfully built back in this top five, and has drawn comparisons to
Steven Jackson for his running style, size, and speed. Carrying 12 more pounds, Leshoure beat out Ingram in every athletic test at the Combine after a far more productive 2010 campaign. Leshoure set Illini single-season rushing and touchdown records as a junior, and his 6.03 career YPC average is fourth in the class behind only backs from Nevada, Hawaii, and D-IAA Eastern Washington. Really only a one-year starter at Illinois, Leshoure has little wear on his tires and was at his best when given heavy workloads. He flashes exceptional physicality, is rarely caught from behind, and is quick enough to make linebackers and some defensive backs miss.
Negatives: Leshoure only had 424 career carries, all in a spread offense. He'll be fairly difficult for NFL decision makers to evaluate because of the sample size and system. Leshoure caught 37 passes in three years at Illinois and is inexperienced in blitz protection. He probably won't help on any third downs initially. Leshoure is considered raw in terms of vision, how to use his body, and most finer points of the position. Character may be a concern. Leshoure missed three games as a freshman after breaking his jaw in a fight with Illini tight end
Jeff Cumberland. As a sophomore, Leshoure was suspended one game for another violation of team rules.
Outlook: Leshoure has a better chance to be a home-run pick than Ingram because of his superior size, speed, and long-term upside. The arrow is pointing skyward for the recently turned 21-year-old. With a skill set suited for all offenses, he projects as a value anywhere in round two.
3. Ryan Williams, Virginia TechHeight/Weight: 5'9/212
College Experience: Third-year sophomore
Combine #s: 4.59 forty, 1.53 10-yd split, 19 x 225, 40" vertical, 10'3" broad jump, 4.18 ss
Style Comparison: Thomas Jones2010 Stats: 110 - 477 (4.3) - 9 Tds; 10 - 109 (10.9) - 1 Td
Draft Prediction: Rams, No. 47 overall.
Positives: The nation's No. 4 tailback recruit out of high school, Williams exploded onto the college scene as a redshirt freshman, setting the Hokies' single-season rushing record (1,655 yards) and scoring 22 TDs to garner ACC Rookie of the Year honors. He was also consensus first-team all-conference in 2009. An angry, muscle-bound runner, Williams is a broken tackle waiting to happen with his feet moving. He does not waste steps and consistently finishes runs. Williams plays with suddenness and is considered better in the pass game than his college stats indicate. He fights for every yard, draws high marks for work ethic, and rarely fumbled in college.
Negatives: 2010 was a disaster season for Williams. He tore his right hamstring in the third game of the year, missed a month, and lost his starting job to
Darren Evans. Proneness to injury isn't new for Williams. He missed nine games combined as a high school sophomore and senior with various maladies, and also sprained an ankle after tearing the hamstring in 2010. Williams' relentlessly physical run style could be mostly to blame. Williams wasn't asked to pass protect much at Virginia Tech and only caught 26 passes in his college career. Throw out one 84-yard run last year, and he averaged 3.57 yards a carry. Evans' average was 5.66 for the season.
Outlook: Had Williams played a full, healthy 2010 season, we might be talking him up as the top back in the draft. He has dangerous talent. Ultimately, Williams may be another boom-or-bust type of prospect. He needs to overcome his injury history to become a featured NFL back.
4. Roy Helu, NebraskaHeight/Weight: 6'0/219
College Experience: Fourth-year senior
Combine #s: 4.4 forty, 1.51 10-yd split, 11 x 225, 36.5" vertical, 9'11" broad jump, 4.01 ss
Style Comparison: Felix Jones2010 Stats: 188 - 1,245 (6.6) - 11 Tds; 5 - 46 (9.2) - 0 Tds
Draft Prediction: Colts, No. 119 overall.
Positives: Helu possesses ideal size and speed for the position, and his wheels show up in a 6.62 senior-year YPC average that ranks first among the top seven running backs on this list. His Combine forty time isn't a mirage. Helu is a home-run hitter with the ability to plant, make one cut, and go the distance. A second-team All-Big 12 honoree by the conference's coaches, Helu graduated as one of Nebraska's top-five all-time rushers despite sharing carries throughout his career. Helu also posted the top ten-yard split time by a running back at the Combine. He has big hands (10 1/8 inches) and flashes tackle-breaking power. Helu was a team captain in 2010.
Negatives: Helu needs a lot of weight-room work, and not just because he managed only 11 reps of 225 pounds in Indianapolis. He doesn't maximize his size, too often plays without physicality, and is highly inconsistent. Helu carries a pile six yards upfield on one play, and gets tackled one-on-one by a defensive back on the next. He benefited from a dominant front five in a weak Big 12 North; the Cornhuskers may have three offensive linemen picked in April. Draft analysts question Helu's vision, down-to-down competitiveness, ball security, and blocking.
Outlook: We like Helu because he has a sky-high ceiling. 220-pound tailbacks just don't run 4.4 flat with elite acceleration very often. But Helu is still a project after four years in college. His best fit would be with a team that relies heavily on zone blocking, and less on power plays.
5. Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma StateHeight/Weight: 5'7/199
College Experience: Fourth-year senior
Combine #s: 4.53 forty, 1.52 10-yd split, 24 x 225, 35" vertical, 10'2" broad jump, 4.21 ss
Style Comparison: Ahmad Bradshaw2010 Stats: 271 - 1,548 (5.7) - 16 Tds; 20 - 101 (5.1) - 0 Tds
Draft Prediction: Saints, No. 72 overall.
Positives: Twice a first-team All-Big 12 pick, Hunter left college ranked fourth in Cowboys history for rushing yards (4,181) and touchdowns (37), averaging 5.91 yards per career carry. He finished second to teammate Justin Blackmon in 2010 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year voting, and was a first-team All-Academic honoree. Built like
Maurice Jones-Drew, Hunter has a thick base with powerful thighs and calves. He ran 4.43 at his Pro Day. Hunter didn't pass protect much in Oklahoma State's spread offense, but excelled in blitz pickup at the Senior Bowl. He caught 63 passes in college and is ready to play on passing downs. Hunter breaks more tackles than you'd expect from a sub-200 pound back. He also draws high marks for balance and vision.
Negatives: Hunter has a history of ankle problems. He fractured one of his ankles as a high school junior, and a high ankle sprain cost Hunter five games and his starting job to
Keith Toston in 2009. Hunter won't break nearly as many tackles in the pros as he did in the Big 12, playing in Dana Holgorsen's high-flying spread. NFL teams won't view Hunter as a bell-cow back because of his size. Hunter is a slippery runner, but lacks outstanding moves and elusiveness.
Outlook: Tatum Bell has been the most productive Oklahoma State back since Barry Sanders. Assuming health, Hunter is a good bet to overtake Bell. He'll focus on passing downs initially, but could emerge as an effective 15-18 touch-per-game runner when opportunity arises.
6. Daniel Thomas, Kansas StateHeight/Weight: 6'0/230
College Experience: Fifth-year senior
Combine #s: N/A (hamstring)
Style Comparison: Ahman Green2010 Stats: 298 - 1,585 (5.3) - 19 Tds; 27 - 171 (6.3) - 0 Tds
Draft Prediction: Dolphins, No. 79 overall.
Positives/Negatives: One of the oldest backs in this class, Thomas turns 24 in October after bouncing around three JUCOs due to academic issues. He's had little commitment to or interest in education. Though Thomas was durable in college, he showed slow recover ability during the pre-draft process by sitting out the Senior Bowl, Combine, and K-State Pro Day with a hamstring injury. Thomas fumbled 12 times in 597 career touches. He led the Big 12 in rushing in each of his two years in Manhattan, however, and is a physical, between-the-tackles runner with underrated passing-game skills. Thomas caught 52 passes as a junior and senior and has excellent hands for a big back. He lacks breakaway speed but is a top-notch athlete at his size.
Outlook: Thomas is big, versatile, and has a nose for the end zone, scoring 30 rushing TDs in two seasons at D-I despite being the obvious focal point of defenses in an otherwise putrid Wildcats offense. While he probably doesn't project to have an especially long career, Thomas offers immediate workhorse potential for power run teams. He'd be a good value in round three.
7. Bilal Powell, LouisvilleHeight/Weight: 5'11/207
College Experience: Fourth-year senior
Pro Day #s: 4.54 forty, 18 x 225
Style Comparison: Ryan Grant2010 Stats: 229 - 1,405 (6.1) - 11 Tds; 18 - 158 (8.8) - 3 Tds
Draft Prediction: Lions, No. 154 overall.
Positives/Negatives: Nowhere near the NFL radar entering his senior season, Powell transformed himself in 2010. Having averaged 4.51 YPC through three years, Powell exploded for a 6.14 mark to rank second in the Big East in rushing, behind only
Jordan Todman (with 105 fewer carries). He may be dinged as a "one-year wonder" for this, but the light flipped on. Powell runs bigger than his size indicates, bounces off defenders, and was a tackle-breaking machine at Louisville. Though he lacks a true second gear, Powell flashes speed to go the distance and can cut on a dime in the open field. He invites contact. Powell has a long way to go to be a passing-game contributor. He averaged just over 11 catches per college season and rarely had to block.
Outlook: Powell is a solid prospect for a team willing to bring along a two-down back coming from a college spread offense. His initial impact may be as a No. 3 runner who can play special teams. Powell racked up a ton of tackles in kick and punt coverage early in his career.
8. Taiwan Jones, Eastern WashingtonHeight/Weight: 6'0/194
College Experience: Fourth-year junior
Combine #s: N/A (foot surgery)
Style Comparison: Jerious Norwood2010 Stats: 221 - 1,742 (7.9) - 14 Tds; 24 - 342 (14.2) - 3 Tds
Draft Prediction: Buccaneers, No. 84 overall.
Positives/Negatives: Jones has blinding speed. In pre-draft training, he was timed with a 1.4 ten-yard split, nearly a tenth of a second faster than the Combine's top split (Chimdi Chekwa, 1.51). Jones faced poor D-IAA competition, but his career 7.90 YPC average is easily the best in the draft. Jones was the 2010 Big Sky MVP, earning consensus first-team All-America honors despite missing all or parts of five games. A former starting cornerback in college, Jones only played running back for two years and has a high "ceiling." He excels in the pass game and is a special teams playmaker, running back two kicks for scores in his career. Jones' downfall is his lack of durability. He broke his fibula in 2008, injured both shoulders, underwent a sports hernia surgery, and missed the final four games of 2010 with a fractured fifth metatarsal in his left foot.
Outlook: If you're looking for a
Jamaal Charles in this class, Jones is your best bet. Only time will tell whether he's physical enough to break tackles in the NFL -- let alone stay off the shelf -- but Jones is the fastest back in the draft, and perhaps the fastest player regardless of position.
9. Jordan Todman, ConnecticutHeight/Weight: 5'9/203
College Experience: Third-year junior
Combine #s: 4.4 forty, 1.53 10-yd split, 25 x 225, 38" vertical, 10'6" broad jump, 4.18 ss
Style Comparison: Jerome Harrison2010 Stats: 334 - 1,695 (5.1) - 14 Tds; 19 - 94 (4.9) - 0 Tds
Draft Prediction: Falcons, No. 158 overall.
Positives/Negatives: Todman possesses elite speed and is an explosive athlete. A full-time player for just one season at UConn, Todman earned Big East Offensive Player of the Year honors as a third-year junior, finishing second in the nation in rushing. Todman offers kick return value, averaging 25.3 yards per attempt with a 96-yard scoring runback as a sophomore. He is not fluid in the pass game, however, which is a real concern for a back whose size may dictate mostly passing-down work. Todman averaged a meager 6.74 yards per career reception, and won't carry piles or break NFL linebackers' tackles. Todman wore down last season, averaging 3.29 yards per rush on his final 65 carries after posting a 5.50 mark on his first 269. He benefited from one of the top lead blockers (Anthony Sherman) and right guards (Zach Hurd) in the country.
Outlook: Randy Edsall's decidedly run-first system has made backs like
Donald Brown and Andre Dixon look better than they are before. Todman's NFL career will be short if he doesn't dramatically improve his passing-game value. His game will have to change at the next level.
10. DeMarco Murray, OklahomaHeight/Weight: 6'0/213
College Experience: Fifth-year senior
Combine #s: 4.37 forty, 1.52 10-yd split, 21 x 225, 34.5" vertical, 10'10" broad, 4.18 ss
Style Comparison: Steve Slaton2010 Stats: 282 - 1,214 (4.3) - 15 Tds; 71 - 594 (8.4) - 5 Tds
Draft Prediction: Eagles, No. 104 overall.
Positives/Negatives: Murray has a rare combo of size, speed, and acceleration. A natural athlete, Murray was a prized high school basketball player and easily could've played D-I hoops. Murray's calling card is the pass game. His 157 career catches are the most of any back in the draft, and he averaged a robust 10.01 yards per reception with 13 receiving TDs. He has special teams value, having brought back two kickoffs for touchdowns and averaged 27.6 yards on 53 career runbacks. Murray struggles to run inside the tackles, however, and lacks physicality in his overall game. He's exceptionally prone to injury. Murray redshirted in '06 due to turf toe, missed three games in '07 with a dislocated kneecap, and the 2008 BCS title game with a torn hamstring tendon that required surgery. He would average just 4.24 yards per carry in his final two seasons.
Outlook: Murray has a big name and helped himself with a big Combine, but he's likely to be drafted too early based on measurables. He lacks a high ceiling, and wasn't the same player late in his career after 759 carries. A well-run team won't invest in Murray before the fourth round.
11. Delone Carter, Syracuse - 4.56 at 5'9/222 ... 4.80 career YPC ... Just 20 catches ... No help in pass game ... Thick lower half, breaks tackles ... Character concerns: suspended in 2010 spring for punching fellow student ... Injury plagued 2007-08 ... Has reputation as a dancer.
12. Shane Vereen, Cal - 4.49 at 5'10/210 ... 5.10 career YPC ... 74 catches ... Only 19 career starts, playing behind
Jahvid Best and
Justin Forsett ... Lacks special talent ... Doesn't play as fast as he times ... Played in zone-blocking scheme ... Unimpressive history on kick returns.
13. Jacquizz Rodgers, Oregon State - 4.64 at 5'6/196 ... 4.92 career YPC ... 151 catches ...
Darren Sproles type with elite receiving skills ... Three-time first-team All-Pac 10 ... One career fumble in 939 touches ... Second in Beavers history in rushing ... Upside is complementary back.
14. Da'Rel Scott, Maryland - 4.34 at 5'11/211 ... 5.58 career YPC ... 48 catches ... Fastest forty among running backs at Combine, though 10-yard split less impressive ... Carry sharer with Dave Meggett's son at Maryland ... Injury plagued 2007 and 2009 ... Played in pro-style offense.
15. Jamie Harper, Clemson - 4.59 at 5'11/233 ... 4.22 career YPC (worst among RBs likely to be drafted) ... Intriguing size/burst combo ... 52 catches ... Sat behind
C.J. Spiller, Andre Ellington ... 5-star high school recruit ... Well built for pass protection ... Possible third-down back.
Other RBs on the NFL draft radar - Johnny White (North Carolina), Evan Royster (Penn State), Allen Bradford (USC),
Stevan Ridley (LSU), Graig Cooper (Miami),
Dion Lewis (Pitt),
Alex Green (Hawaii),
Mario Fannin (Auburn),
Noel Devine (West Virginia), Donald Buckram (UTEP), Anthony Allen (Georgia Tech), Derrick Locke (Kentucky), Baron Batch (Texas Tech),
John Clay (Wisconsin),
Darren Evans (Virginia Tech), Damien Berry (Miami), Chad Spann (Northern Illinois).