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Top RB prospects
Scouting reports on the five highest-ranked running backs
By Nolan Nawrocki
April 4, 2008
This is the second in a series of eight articles for this Web site, in which we're presenting excerpts from “the bible of the draft,” our 2008 Draft Preview book, which is on now sale at the PFW store. Each of the remaining articles in the series will be posted daily, through April 10. Please note that the top five players at each position are listed in the order in which they were ranked in the pre-draft issue of our print edition, published March 31.
1. RB-KR Jonathan Stewart (junior)
(5-10 1/4, 235, 4.47) Oregon
Notes: Named Parade All-American, Gatorade Player of the Year and USA Today All-USA after amassing 204 carries for 2,301 yards (11.3-yard average) and 32 touchdowns as a high school senior. Finished prep career as Washington’s all-time leading rusher with 7,755 yards. Added 95 TDs despite breaking his ankle as a sophomore. Also lettered in track, anchoring the state champion 4x100-meter relay team, and finished second in the 100 meters (11.17 seconds). Started 1-of-10 games in which he played as a true freshman in 2005, rushing 53-188-6 (3.5), catching seven passes for 45 yards (6.4) and one touchdown and returning 12 kicks for 404 yards (33.7) and two touchdowns, leading the nation in kick-return average. Returned kicks 83 yards and 97 yards for scores against Montana and Oregon State, respectively. Started 10-of-13 games in ’06 but was hampered all season by a sprained ankle suffered in the season opener against Stanford and bruised ribs sustained against Portland State. Carried 183-981-10 (5.4), grabbed 20-144-1 (7.2) and returned kicks 23-646-0 (28.1), ranking sixth nationally in kick-return average. Started 12-of-13 games in which he played in ’07, amassing 280-1,722-11 (6.2) on the ground, highlighted by 251 yards vs. Washington and a Sun Bowl-record 253 yards vs. South Florida. Also gained 22-145-2 (6.6) receiving and returned kicks 23-614-0 (26.7). Ranked first in the Pacific-10 and fifth nationally in rushing yards. Also set school single-season records for rushing yards, all-purpose yards (2,481) and 100-yard games (14).
Positives: Is sculpted like a Greek god with a very thick musculature and looks like he was made to be a bell-cow back. Very, very strong with good power and snap in his hips. Has unbelievably strong hips and incredibly strong balance on contact. Carries his pads well and can power through tackles. Shows good vision to see cut-back lanes and fight through traffic and can accelerate when he finds daylight and finish runs. Is surprisingly agile for as compact as he is. Can move the pile and pick up tough yards inside. Drives through contact. Very tough and will play through pain. Faces up defenders in pass protection and has the stoutness to stick to his blocks and anchor. Catches the ball easily. Very solid character.
Negatives: Ran out of a spread-option offense in which he often received the ball moving laterally instead of downhill like he will be asked to do in the pros. Short-stepper who does not open up his stride and does not appear sudden, quick or capable of running away from defenders. Does not string a lot of moves together. Shows some tightness in his movement. Has had a number of foot and ankle injuries, and sheer girth could continue to put stress on his lower extremities.
Summary: The most complete back in the draft, Stewart could be misevaluated because of the spread offense in which he played and his deceptive, short-stepping style. But he is a load to tackle, possessing a unique blend of speed, power and strength and should be able to make an immediate impact in the pros the way he did in college. A very safe pick with Pro Bowl-caliber talent. Could easily fit into the top 10 and be the first back drafted.
2. RB Darren McFadden (junior)
(6-1 1/4, 211, 4.36) Arkansas
Notes: Parade All-American as a prep. The Associated Press Freshman of the Year, honorable mention All-American and first-team All-Southeastern Conference as a true freshman in 2005. Started 9-of-11 games. Broke the Arkansas freshman rushing record after carrying 176 times for 1,113 yards (6.3-yard average) and 11 touchdowns and catching 14 passes for 52 yards (3.7). Also returned 12 kicks for 348 yards (29.0) with a long of 81. Best game came against Georgia, when he ran 31-190-2 (6.1) against one of the nation’s top run defenses at the time. Only one of two freshmen to surpass 1,000 yards in a season in the SEC, with the other being Herschel Walker. Started 13-of-14 games in ’06, rushing 284-1,714-14 (5.8) and catching 11-149 (13.5) and one touchdown. Also completed 7-of-9 passes for 69 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in Arkansas’ “Wildcat” formation. Returned kickoffs 10-262 (26.2) and one touchdown with a long of 92 yards. Missed the season opener after having surgery on a dislocated left big toe suffered in August when McFadden was involved in a fight outside a Little Rock club. McFadden confronted men trying to steal either his or a relative’s car. Became the first sophomore to receive the Doak Walker Award and finished second in Heisman Trophy voting to Troy Smith of Ohio State. Earned first-team (AP) All-America honors. Broke the Arkansas record for most rushing yards in a season, surpassing Madre Hill. Started all 13 games in ’07 at running back (12) and flanker (one). Rushed 325-1,830-16 (5.6), tying an SEC single-game record with 325 rushing yards vs. South Carolina, caught 21-164-1 (7.8), returned kicks 16-316-0 (19.8) and threw 6-11-123-4-0. Set the school single-season rushing record and the conference single-season mark for all-purpose yards (2,433). Finished as the school’s all-time leader in rushing and all-purpose yards and ranks second in SEC history in career rushing yards (4,590) behind only Herschel Walker. Earned All-America (AP) first-team honors, placed second in Heisman Trophy voting for a second consecutive season, and won the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, as well as the Doak Walker Award (nation’s top running back) for a second consecutive season. Was handcuffed but released without charges on Jan. 10, 2008, for an altercation at a Little Rock piano bar. According to a police report, he was handcuffed “because he was agitated and was provoking aggressive behavior inciting the incident,” but was released by police once he calmed down. This was the second altercation in which McFadden has been involved in the past year and a half. Was also investigated in late 2007 for the illegal possession of a vehicle, a violation of NCAA rules, but eventually was cleared of all wrongdoing. Has fumbled 23 times the past three years, more than any other runner in the country.
Positives: Has big-play capability and is a threat to score every time he finds a crease. Has a strong upper body and powerful stiff-arm and will deliver a blow. Shows the explosion and acceleration to take the corner and outrun a defense. Can stick his foot in the ground and accelerate with the type of speed you can feel as he goes by. Can run inside or outside and wear down defenses. Will dip his shoulder and drive through contact. Catches the ball well and is accurate throwing halfback-option passes (seven career TD tosses). Good versatility. Solid football character — has an aura on the field, a passion for the game and does everything he is asked. Has shown he can take over games — see second half vs. Alabama.
Negatives: Needs to take better care of the football. Is top-heavy. Runs upright with a thin lower body and some tightness in his hips. Does not sink his hips easily to change direction and goes down too easily with arm tackles. Was frequently used out of a spread shotgun formation where he took direct snaps from the quarterback and did not run downhill the way he will be asked to do in many pro-style offenses. Was little-used as a receiver. Will miss some holes and does not have great vision. Did not leave it all on the field as a junior and seemed to be protecting himself. Almost always carries the ball in his left hand. Personal character is a very, very pressing concern — will never be able to escape distractions off the field.
Summary: A boom-or-bust prospect with elite physical talent and high-risk (personal) character. Any team who considers drafting him early better make sure it has done its due diligence. Off-field distractions and hangers-on could keep him from ever realizing his immense potential. Fumbling problems are a major concern that are characteristic of his lack of discipline off the field and could keep him from staying on it. Appears destined to break a team’s heart and could ultimately cost a decision-maker his job if too much is invested in him.
3. RB Rashard Mendenhall (junior)
(5-10 1/8, 225, 4.46) Illinois
Notes: Also lettered in track as a prep. Played in 10-of-11 games as a true freshman in 2005 as one of two reserves behind the New Orleans Saints’ Pierre Thomas. Carried 48 times for 218 yards (4.5-yard average) and caught 13 passes for 82 yards (6.3) and two touchdowns. Started 1-of-12 games in which he played behind Thomas in ’06, carrying 78-640 (8.2) and five touchdowns, and led the Big Ten in yards per carry but was plagued by fumbling problems. Also caught 12-164-1 (13.7). Started all 13 games in ’07, amassing 262-1,681-17 (6.4) rushing and 34-318-2 (9.4) receiving. Led the Big Ten in rushing and ranked first in the conference in yards per carry and second in rushing touchdowns. Ranked sixth nationally in rushing. Also set school single-season records for rushing, rushing touchdowns and all-purpose yards (1,999).
Positives: Very thickly built and looks every bit the part. Is layered with muscle on top of muscle. Attacks the perimeter and can break through arm tackles. Has good leg drive after contact. Shows good vision and sees the cut-back lane. Can pick and slide and weave through traffic. Shows the speed to kick it into another gear and pull away. Has soft hands and adjusts well to the ball. Has big-play capability. Very productive.
Negatives: Played in a spread-option offense where linemen took very wide splits, he had lanes to run through and he rarely was coming out of the I-formation downhill. Does not run with good pad level or pick up much yardage after contact. Not an overly creative runner who makes many tacklers miss. Gears down to cut. Runs top-heavy, takes too many direct hits and could wear down. Does not have great balance and falls forward and gets tripped up too easily. Not a great competitor. Was immature and did not make an immediate impact upon his arrival. Suspect ball security early in career.
Summary: Scouts have compared him to Herschel Walker because of his straight-linish running style and very impressive physical condition. Has sheer strength and speed and looks like an absolute phenom but must prove that he wants to be great. Really stood out in the Rose Bowl against a very talented USC defense and showed he could be a workhorse.
4. RB Felix Jones (junior)
(5-10 1/8, 207, 4.51) Arkansas
Notes: Suffered a broken ankle as a high school junior but recovered to compile 2,282 rushing yards and 48 touchdowns as a senior. Started 2-of-11 games in which he played as a true freshman in 2005, carrying 99 times for 626 yards (6.3-yard average) and three touchdowns, grabbing eight passes for 100 yards (12.5) and returning 17 kicks for 543 yards (31.9) and one touchdown. Tied with teammate Darren McFadden for tops in the Southeastern Conference in yards per carry and ranked second in the country in yards per return. Started 6-of-14 games in which he played in ’06 at flanker (four) and running back (two). Rushed 154-1,168-6 (7.6), caught 15-107-3 (7.1) and returned kicks 23-554-1 (24.1). Led the nation (among backs with at least 100 carries) in yards per carry and ranked second in the SEC in rushing. Started 3-of-13 games in which he played in ’07 at flanker. Carried 133-1,162-11 (8.7), caught 16-176-0 (11.0) and returned kicks 22-652-2 (29.6). Led the nation in yards per carry (among backs with at least 100 carries) and ranked fourth in kick-return average. Also became the school’s all-time leader in kickoff-return yardage (1,749) and tied former Tennessee WR Willie Gault for the conference record for kick-return touchdowns (four).
Positives: Very natural athlete. Runs decisively and has excellent feet. Shows the run instincts, vision and balance to string moves together. Is not easy to hit squarely. Has a knack for finding creases. Shows top burst and acceleration. Is patient finding lanes in the kickoff-return game and accelerates in a blink when he sees daylight. Exceptional lateral quickness. Very competitive.
Negatives: Thinly built and not built to withstand heavy contact or carry the workload. Durability could be a concern. Averaged only 10.2 carries and is not a bell cow. Lacks the strength to consistently run between the tackles. Needs to improve as a blocker. Was not featured in the passing game and did not return punts.
Summary: A dynamic space player with quick-cutting ability and elusiveness to contribute immediately in a complementary role. Did not play in an offense that featured backs in the passing game but has caught the ball well when he had opportunities and shows terrific instincts and traffic burst as a kickoff returner. Could make an immediate impact in the pros and be a game-breaking complement to a power back.
5. RB Ray Rice (junior)
(5-8, 199, 4.47) Rutgers
Notes: Also lettered in basketball as a prep. Started all 12 games as a true freshman in 2005, rushing 195 times for 1,120 yards (5.7-yard average) and five touchdowns and catching eight passes for 65 yards (8.1), highlighted by a 27-217-0 (8.0) outing against Connecticut. In ’06, he placed third in Maxwell Award voting as college football’s player of the year after starting all 13 games and rushing 335-1,894-20 (5.4) and receiving 4-30-0 (7.5), including a 39-225-1 (5.8) rushing performance against Pittsburgh. Finished second nationally and set a Big East Conference record in rushing yards. Ranked second in the nation in rushing touchdowns and became just the third player in school history with back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Started all 13 games in ’07, amassing 380-2,012-24 (5.3) on the ground, highlighted by 243 yards vs. Army and 280 vs. Ball State, and had 25-239-1 (9.6) receiving. Ranked second in the country in rushing touchdowns and third in rushing yards en route to All-America (AP) second-team honors. Set school career records for rush yards (4,926) and rushing touchdowns (49) and ranks second in points scored (300) and all-purpose yards (5,260). Ranks second in Big East history in career rushing yards. Also became the first player to lead the conference in rushing in consecutive seasons and to rush for at least 1,500 yards in consecutive seasons.
Positives: Very compactly built. Runs low to the ground with a strong base and shakes off arm tackles. Has strong hips, keeps his legs churning and can plow through tacklers and keep his feet. Does not go down easily. Very good balance through traffic. Very tough. Great body strength. Possesses great vision in the hole and the second-level quickness to sidestep defenders. Very decisive. Picks up yardage in chunks. Is alert in pass protection and willing to face up. Excellent production.
Negatives: Has had a lot of carries in his short career, and durability needs to be considered (shoulders). Is not a blazer or very quick initially and can be caught from behind. Not fluid changing direction or making multiple lateral cuts. Does not show a top gear. Very limited production as a receiver. Limited return experience.
Summary: A strong, bowling-ball type of runner, Rice runs very hard, is aggressive attacking the line and attacks defenses. He’s tough, instinctive and productive and, although not as fast as teams would like, he should be able to contribute readily in the pros in a complementary power-type role.
LINK
Scouting reports on the five highest-ranked running backs
By Nolan Nawrocki
April 4, 2008
This is the second in a series of eight articles for this Web site, in which we're presenting excerpts from “the bible of the draft,” our 2008 Draft Preview book, which is on now sale at the PFW store. Each of the remaining articles in the series will be posted daily, through April 10. Please note that the top five players at each position are listed in the order in which they were ranked in the pre-draft issue of our print edition, published March 31.
1. RB-KR Jonathan Stewart (junior)
(5-10 1/4, 235, 4.47) Oregon
Oregon RB Jonathan Stewart
Notes: Named Parade All-American, Gatorade Player of the Year and USA Today All-USA after amassing 204 carries for 2,301 yards (11.3-yard average) and 32 touchdowns as a high school senior. Finished prep career as Washington’s all-time leading rusher with 7,755 yards. Added 95 TDs despite breaking his ankle as a sophomore. Also lettered in track, anchoring the state champion 4x100-meter relay team, and finished second in the 100 meters (11.17 seconds). Started 1-of-10 games in which he played as a true freshman in 2005, rushing 53-188-6 (3.5), catching seven passes for 45 yards (6.4) and one touchdown and returning 12 kicks for 404 yards (33.7) and two touchdowns, leading the nation in kick-return average. Returned kicks 83 yards and 97 yards for scores against Montana and Oregon State, respectively. Started 10-of-13 games in ’06 but was hampered all season by a sprained ankle suffered in the season opener against Stanford and bruised ribs sustained against Portland State. Carried 183-981-10 (5.4), grabbed 20-144-1 (7.2) and returned kicks 23-646-0 (28.1), ranking sixth nationally in kick-return average. Started 12-of-13 games in which he played in ’07, amassing 280-1,722-11 (6.2) on the ground, highlighted by 251 yards vs. Washington and a Sun Bowl-record 253 yards vs. South Florida. Also gained 22-145-2 (6.6) receiving and returned kicks 23-614-0 (26.7). Ranked first in the Pacific-10 and fifth nationally in rushing yards. Also set school single-season records for rushing yards, all-purpose yards (2,481) and 100-yard games (14).
Positives: Is sculpted like a Greek god with a very thick musculature and looks like he was made to be a bell-cow back. Very, very strong with good power and snap in his hips. Has unbelievably strong hips and incredibly strong balance on contact. Carries his pads well and can power through tackles. Shows good vision to see cut-back lanes and fight through traffic and can accelerate when he finds daylight and finish runs. Is surprisingly agile for as compact as he is. Can move the pile and pick up tough yards inside. Drives through contact. Very tough and will play through pain. Faces up defenders in pass protection and has the stoutness to stick to his blocks and anchor. Catches the ball easily. Very solid character.
Negatives: Ran out of a spread-option offense in which he often received the ball moving laterally instead of downhill like he will be asked to do in the pros. Short-stepper who does not open up his stride and does not appear sudden, quick or capable of running away from defenders. Does not string a lot of moves together. Shows some tightness in his movement. Has had a number of foot and ankle injuries, and sheer girth could continue to put stress on his lower extremities.
Summary: The most complete back in the draft, Stewart could be misevaluated because of the spread offense in which he played and his deceptive, short-stepping style. But he is a load to tackle, possessing a unique blend of speed, power and strength and should be able to make an immediate impact in the pros the way he did in college. A very safe pick with Pro Bowl-caliber talent. Could easily fit into the top 10 and be the first back drafted.
2. RB Darren McFadden (junior)
(6-1 1/4, 211, 4.36) Arkansas
Notes: Parade All-American as a prep. The Associated Press Freshman of the Year, honorable mention All-American and first-team All-Southeastern Conference as a true freshman in 2005. Started 9-of-11 games. Broke the Arkansas freshman rushing record after carrying 176 times for 1,113 yards (6.3-yard average) and 11 touchdowns and catching 14 passes for 52 yards (3.7). Also returned 12 kicks for 348 yards (29.0) with a long of 81. Best game came against Georgia, when he ran 31-190-2 (6.1) against one of the nation’s top run defenses at the time. Only one of two freshmen to surpass 1,000 yards in a season in the SEC, with the other being Herschel Walker. Started 13-of-14 games in ’06, rushing 284-1,714-14 (5.8) and catching 11-149 (13.5) and one touchdown. Also completed 7-of-9 passes for 69 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in Arkansas’ “Wildcat” formation. Returned kickoffs 10-262 (26.2) and one touchdown with a long of 92 yards. Missed the season opener after having surgery on a dislocated left big toe suffered in August when McFadden was involved in a fight outside a Little Rock club. McFadden confronted men trying to steal either his or a relative’s car. Became the first sophomore to receive the Doak Walker Award and finished second in Heisman Trophy voting to Troy Smith of Ohio State. Earned first-team (AP) All-America honors. Broke the Arkansas record for most rushing yards in a season, surpassing Madre Hill. Started all 13 games in ’07 at running back (12) and flanker (one). Rushed 325-1,830-16 (5.6), tying an SEC single-game record with 325 rushing yards vs. South Carolina, caught 21-164-1 (7.8), returned kicks 16-316-0 (19.8) and threw 6-11-123-4-0. Set the school single-season rushing record and the conference single-season mark for all-purpose yards (2,433). Finished as the school’s all-time leader in rushing and all-purpose yards and ranks second in SEC history in career rushing yards (4,590) behind only Herschel Walker. Earned All-America (AP) first-team honors, placed second in Heisman Trophy voting for a second consecutive season, and won the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, as well as the Doak Walker Award (nation’s top running back) for a second consecutive season. Was handcuffed but released without charges on Jan. 10, 2008, for an altercation at a Little Rock piano bar. According to a police report, he was handcuffed “because he was agitated and was provoking aggressive behavior inciting the incident,” but was released by police once he calmed down. This was the second altercation in which McFadden has been involved in the past year and a half. Was also investigated in late 2007 for the illegal possession of a vehicle, a violation of NCAA rules, but eventually was cleared of all wrongdoing. Has fumbled 23 times the past three years, more than any other runner in the country.
Positives: Has big-play capability and is a threat to score every time he finds a crease. Has a strong upper body and powerful stiff-arm and will deliver a blow. Shows the explosion and acceleration to take the corner and outrun a defense. Can stick his foot in the ground and accelerate with the type of speed you can feel as he goes by. Can run inside or outside and wear down defenses. Will dip his shoulder and drive through contact. Catches the ball well and is accurate throwing halfback-option passes (seven career TD tosses). Good versatility. Solid football character — has an aura on the field, a passion for the game and does everything he is asked. Has shown he can take over games — see second half vs. Alabama.
Negatives: Needs to take better care of the football. Is top-heavy. Runs upright with a thin lower body and some tightness in his hips. Does not sink his hips easily to change direction and goes down too easily with arm tackles. Was frequently used out of a spread shotgun formation where he took direct snaps from the quarterback and did not run downhill the way he will be asked to do in many pro-style offenses. Was little-used as a receiver. Will miss some holes and does not have great vision. Did not leave it all on the field as a junior and seemed to be protecting himself. Almost always carries the ball in his left hand. Personal character is a very, very pressing concern — will never be able to escape distractions off the field.
Summary: A boom-or-bust prospect with elite physical talent and high-risk (personal) character. Any team who considers drafting him early better make sure it has done its due diligence. Off-field distractions and hangers-on could keep him from ever realizing his immense potential. Fumbling problems are a major concern that are characteristic of his lack of discipline off the field and could keep him from staying on it. Appears destined to break a team’s heart and could ultimately cost a decision-maker his job if too much is invested in him.
3. RB Rashard Mendenhall (junior)
(5-10 1/8, 225, 4.46) Illinois
Notes: Also lettered in track as a prep. Played in 10-of-11 games as a true freshman in 2005 as one of two reserves behind the New Orleans Saints’ Pierre Thomas. Carried 48 times for 218 yards (4.5-yard average) and caught 13 passes for 82 yards (6.3) and two touchdowns. Started 1-of-12 games in which he played behind Thomas in ’06, carrying 78-640 (8.2) and five touchdowns, and led the Big Ten in yards per carry but was plagued by fumbling problems. Also caught 12-164-1 (13.7). Started all 13 games in ’07, amassing 262-1,681-17 (6.4) rushing and 34-318-2 (9.4) receiving. Led the Big Ten in rushing and ranked first in the conference in yards per carry and second in rushing touchdowns. Ranked sixth nationally in rushing. Also set school single-season records for rushing, rushing touchdowns and all-purpose yards (1,999).
Positives: Very thickly built and looks every bit the part. Is layered with muscle on top of muscle. Attacks the perimeter and can break through arm tackles. Has good leg drive after contact. Shows good vision and sees the cut-back lane. Can pick and slide and weave through traffic. Shows the speed to kick it into another gear and pull away. Has soft hands and adjusts well to the ball. Has big-play capability. Very productive.
Negatives: Played in a spread-option offense where linemen took very wide splits, he had lanes to run through and he rarely was coming out of the I-formation downhill. Does not run with good pad level or pick up much yardage after contact. Not an overly creative runner who makes many tacklers miss. Gears down to cut. Runs top-heavy, takes too many direct hits and could wear down. Does not have great balance and falls forward and gets tripped up too easily. Not a great competitor. Was immature and did not make an immediate impact upon his arrival. Suspect ball security early in career.
Summary: Scouts have compared him to Herschel Walker because of his straight-linish running style and very impressive physical condition. Has sheer strength and speed and looks like an absolute phenom but must prove that he wants to be great. Really stood out in the Rose Bowl against a very talented USC defense and showed he could be a workhorse.
4. RB Felix Jones (junior)
(5-10 1/8, 207, 4.51) Arkansas
Notes: Suffered a broken ankle as a high school junior but recovered to compile 2,282 rushing yards and 48 touchdowns as a senior. Started 2-of-11 games in which he played as a true freshman in 2005, carrying 99 times for 626 yards (6.3-yard average) and three touchdowns, grabbing eight passes for 100 yards (12.5) and returning 17 kicks for 543 yards (31.9) and one touchdown. Tied with teammate Darren McFadden for tops in the Southeastern Conference in yards per carry and ranked second in the country in yards per return. Started 6-of-14 games in which he played in ’06 at flanker (four) and running back (two). Rushed 154-1,168-6 (7.6), caught 15-107-3 (7.1) and returned kicks 23-554-1 (24.1). Led the nation (among backs with at least 100 carries) in yards per carry and ranked second in the SEC in rushing. Started 3-of-13 games in which he played in ’07 at flanker. Carried 133-1,162-11 (8.7), caught 16-176-0 (11.0) and returned kicks 22-652-2 (29.6). Led the nation in yards per carry (among backs with at least 100 carries) and ranked fourth in kick-return average. Also became the school’s all-time leader in kickoff-return yardage (1,749) and tied former Tennessee WR Willie Gault for the conference record for kick-return touchdowns (four).
Positives: Very natural athlete. Runs decisively and has excellent feet. Shows the run instincts, vision and balance to string moves together. Is not easy to hit squarely. Has a knack for finding creases. Shows top burst and acceleration. Is patient finding lanes in the kickoff-return game and accelerates in a blink when he sees daylight. Exceptional lateral quickness. Very competitive.
Negatives: Thinly built and not built to withstand heavy contact or carry the workload. Durability could be a concern. Averaged only 10.2 carries and is not a bell cow. Lacks the strength to consistently run between the tackles. Needs to improve as a blocker. Was not featured in the passing game and did not return punts.
Summary: A dynamic space player with quick-cutting ability and elusiveness to contribute immediately in a complementary role. Did not play in an offense that featured backs in the passing game but has caught the ball well when he had opportunities and shows terrific instincts and traffic burst as a kickoff returner. Could make an immediate impact in the pros and be a game-breaking complement to a power back.
5. RB Ray Rice (junior)
(5-8, 199, 4.47) Rutgers
Notes: Also lettered in basketball as a prep. Started all 12 games as a true freshman in 2005, rushing 195 times for 1,120 yards (5.7-yard average) and five touchdowns and catching eight passes for 65 yards (8.1), highlighted by a 27-217-0 (8.0) outing against Connecticut. In ’06, he placed third in Maxwell Award voting as college football’s player of the year after starting all 13 games and rushing 335-1,894-20 (5.4) and receiving 4-30-0 (7.5), including a 39-225-1 (5.8) rushing performance against Pittsburgh. Finished second nationally and set a Big East Conference record in rushing yards. Ranked second in the nation in rushing touchdowns and became just the third player in school history with back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Started all 13 games in ’07, amassing 380-2,012-24 (5.3) on the ground, highlighted by 243 yards vs. Army and 280 vs. Ball State, and had 25-239-1 (9.6) receiving. Ranked second in the country in rushing touchdowns and third in rushing yards en route to All-America (AP) second-team honors. Set school career records for rush yards (4,926) and rushing touchdowns (49) and ranks second in points scored (300) and all-purpose yards (5,260). Ranks second in Big East history in career rushing yards. Also became the first player to lead the conference in rushing in consecutive seasons and to rush for at least 1,500 yards in consecutive seasons.
Positives: Very compactly built. Runs low to the ground with a strong base and shakes off arm tackles. Has strong hips, keeps his legs churning and can plow through tacklers and keep his feet. Does not go down easily. Very good balance through traffic. Very tough. Great body strength. Possesses great vision in the hole and the second-level quickness to sidestep defenders. Very decisive. Picks up yardage in chunks. Is alert in pass protection and willing to face up. Excellent production.
Negatives: Has had a lot of carries in his short career, and durability needs to be considered (shoulders). Is not a blazer or very quick initially and can be caught from behind. Not fluid changing direction or making multiple lateral cuts. Does not show a top gear. Very limited production as a receiver. Limited return experience.
Summary: A strong, bowling-ball type of runner, Rice runs very hard, is aggressive attacking the line and attacks defenses. He’s tough, instinctive and productive and, although not as fast as teams would like, he should be able to contribute readily in the pros in a complementary power-type role.
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