dbair1967
Arch Defender
- Messages
- 30,782
- Reaction score
- 1
2008 Draft Prospects: Running backs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prospect rankings · Risers/Fallers · Mock drafts · History · Draft Tracker TSX · Offense · Defense · Special Teams Quarterbacks · Running backs · Wide Receivers · Tight Ends · Guards/Centers · Tackles
April 16, 2008
By Pete Prisco
CBSSports.com Senior Writer
Tell Pete your opinion!
Pete Prisco ranks the top five offensive prospects at each position.
Top Prospects: Running backs
1. Darren McFadden, Arkansas
Agility Tests:
40-yard dash: 4.41 Bench press: 330 lbs Vertical jump: 33"
The skinny: He's an explosive back who will be the first one taken. The only real concerns about him are off the field. He has answered a lot of those questions, but that could push him down some.
2. Felix Jones, Arkansas
Agility Tests:
40-yard dash: 4.37 Bench press: 305 Vertical jump: 39"
The skinny: He has great speed as evidenced by his 7.7-yard career average. The one worry for scouts is whether he will be tough enough to run inside, which he didn't do a lot of at Arkansas.
3. Jonathan Stewart, Oregon
Agility Tests:
40-yard dash: 4.48 Bench press: 410 lbs Vertical jump: 36"
The skinny: He had toe surgery in March, which will drop his stock. It shouldn't. He is expected to make a full recovery, but we know how teams get skittish. When healthy, he's a powerful runner.
4. Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois
Agility Tests:
40-yard dash: 4.54 Bench press: 355 lbs Vertical jump: 33"
The skinny: Mendenhall came on strong last year and had a big Rose Bowl game against USC. He's a power runner, but he struggles in pass protection.
5. Chris Johnson, East Carolina
Agility Tests:
40-yard dash: 4.25 Bench press: 375 lbs Vertical jump: 43.5"
The skinny: He's the fastest of all the backs, which is enticing to everybody. He ran wild in East Carolina's bowl win, which could be a peek at what he can do on the next level.
Player on the rise:
Jamaal Charles of Texas has blazing speed, which is why he is moving up some boards. The big question about him is if he's tough enough to run inside.
Player on the decline:
Stewart. That injury is a concern.
Sleeper
Ryan Torain, Arizona State. He suffered a toe injury last season, forcing him to the sidelines, but when he plays, he has game speed and the ability to make people miss. He's healthy now, so he could be a steal in the third or fourth round.
Overrated
Mendenhall. I just don't see the explosive runs. That concerns me a bit.
Position analysis:
This is a deep, deep class of running backs. That could actually work against the top guys as teams will think they can wait until later in the draft to get one. McFadden is the class of the group, but there are 15 backs who will be taken who should be contributors on their teams in the next couple of years. It's that's good a class.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prospect rankings · Risers/Fallers · Mock drafts · History · Draft Tracker TSX · Offense · Defense · Special Teams Quarterbacks · Running backs · Wide Receivers · Tight Ends · Guards/Centers · Tackles
April 16, 2008
By Pete Prisco
CBSSports.com Senior Writer
Tell Pete your opinion!
Pete Prisco ranks the top five offensive prospects at each position.
Top Prospects: Running backs
1. Darren McFadden, Arkansas
Agility Tests:
40-yard dash: 4.41 Bench press: 330 lbs Vertical jump: 33"
The skinny: He's an explosive back who will be the first one taken. The only real concerns about him are off the field. He has answered a lot of those questions, but that could push him down some.
2. Felix Jones, Arkansas
Agility Tests:
40-yard dash: 4.37 Bench press: 305 Vertical jump: 39"
The skinny: He has great speed as evidenced by his 7.7-yard career average. The one worry for scouts is whether he will be tough enough to run inside, which he didn't do a lot of at Arkansas.
3. Jonathan Stewart, Oregon
Agility Tests:
40-yard dash: 4.48 Bench press: 410 lbs Vertical jump: 36"
The skinny: He had toe surgery in March, which will drop his stock. It shouldn't. He is expected to make a full recovery, but we know how teams get skittish. When healthy, he's a powerful runner.
4. Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois
Agility Tests:
40-yard dash: 4.54 Bench press: 355 lbs Vertical jump: 33"
The skinny: Mendenhall came on strong last year and had a big Rose Bowl game against USC. He's a power runner, but he struggles in pass protection.
5. Chris Johnson, East Carolina
Agility Tests:
40-yard dash: 4.25 Bench press: 375 lbs Vertical jump: 43.5"
The skinny: He's the fastest of all the backs, which is enticing to everybody. He ran wild in East Carolina's bowl win, which could be a peek at what he can do on the next level.
Player on the rise:
Jamaal Charles of Texas has blazing speed, which is why he is moving up some boards. The big question about him is if he's tough enough to run inside.
Player on the decline:
Stewart. That injury is a concern.
Sleeper
Ryan Torain, Arizona State. He suffered a toe injury last season, forcing him to the sidelines, but when he plays, he has game speed and the ability to make people miss. He's healthy now, so he could be a steal in the third or fourth round.
Overrated
Mendenhall. I just don't see the explosive runs. That concerns me a bit.
Position analysis:
This is a deep, deep class of running backs. That could actually work against the top guys as teams will think they can wait until later in the draft to get one. McFadden is the class of the group, but there are 15 backs who will be taken who should be contributors on their teams in the next couple of years. It's that's good a class.
