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We were struck by something a college scouting director said to us, off hand, a few weeks ago.
“I like some of those [running backs in the 2016 draft],” he said, “but I might be inclined to wait. The next year could be really special.”
The 2016 crop of running backs could include potential bell-cow backs such as Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott and Alabama’s Derrick Henry, if he chooses to come out. There are other potential impact runners such as Utah’s Devontae Booker, Notre Dame’s C.J. Prosise, Arkansas’ Alex Collins and UCLA’s Paul Perkins.
But the 2017 class could be an all-timer.
One reason Henry might declare after this season is because the following draft might include a who’s who of talented college backs: LSU’s Leonard Fournette, Florida State’s Dalvin Cook, Oregon’s Royce Freeman, Georgia’s Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, Pitt’s James Conner (assuming he doesn’t come out after tearing his ACL this season), Wisconsin’s Corey Clement and others. Elliott, Henry, Prosise, Collins and Perkins are all juniors and theoretically could return to school, too.
“I’ll be very curious to see the underclassman list this year,” the director said. “Every spot, but definitely running back. [There are] some interesting decisions there.”
His struggles against Bama notwithstanding, Fournette still has star written all over him. The next group of backs — especially Cook, Freeman and Chubb — has similar potential.
So if you’re a team in need of a young runner, say the Dallas Cowboys … do you wait a year?
Using the 2015 class as a barometer, we’ve seen one first-round pick (the St. Louis Rams’ Todd Gurley) become an almost immediate star — with next season appearing even more exciting given that he’ll be more than a full year removed from ACL surgery. Fellow first-rounder Melvin Gordon, who was taken five picks later, has struggled behind a banged-up San Diego Chargers offensive line and has yet to flash his big-play ability from college, also fumbling four times.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-s...t-until-2017-for-running-backs-161008908.html
“I like some of those [running backs in the 2016 draft],” he said, “but I might be inclined to wait. The next year could be really special.”
The 2016 crop of running backs could include potential bell-cow backs such as Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott and Alabama’s Derrick Henry, if he chooses to come out. There are other potential impact runners such as Utah’s Devontae Booker, Notre Dame’s C.J. Prosise, Arkansas’ Alex Collins and UCLA’s Paul Perkins.
But the 2017 class could be an all-timer.
One reason Henry might declare after this season is because the following draft might include a who’s who of talented college backs: LSU’s Leonard Fournette, Florida State’s Dalvin Cook, Oregon’s Royce Freeman, Georgia’s Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, Pitt’s James Conner (assuming he doesn’t come out after tearing his ACL this season), Wisconsin’s Corey Clement and others. Elliott, Henry, Prosise, Collins and Perkins are all juniors and theoretically could return to school, too.
“I’ll be very curious to see the underclassman list this year,” the director said. “Every spot, but definitely running back. [There are] some interesting decisions there.”
His struggles against Bama notwithstanding, Fournette still has star written all over him. The next group of backs — especially Cook, Freeman and Chubb — has similar potential.
So if you’re a team in need of a young runner, say the Dallas Cowboys … do you wait a year?
Using the 2015 class as a barometer, we’ve seen one first-round pick (the St. Louis Rams’ Todd Gurley) become an almost immediate star — with next season appearing even more exciting given that he’ll be more than a full year removed from ACL surgery. Fellow first-rounder Melvin Gordon, who was taken five picks later, has struggled behind a banged-up San Diego Chargers offensive line and has yet to flash his big-play ability from college, also fumbling four times.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-s...t-until-2017-for-running-backs-161008908.html
