perrykemp
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1. EDDIE LACY, Alabama (5-11, 229, 4.58, 1) - Fourth-year junior backed up Mark Ingram in 2010 and Trent Richardson in '11 before splitting carries with freshman T.J. Yeldon last season. "There's really not a ton of difference between him and Richardson," one scout said. "He runs more violently, actually. He's a big back. I like that. He hits the hole fast. He's a pro running back." Finished with 1,322 yards in '12 compared to 1,108 for Yeldon. "Can he be the lead guy in a committee? Sure," another scout said. "Can he be the solo back like Adrian Peterson? I wouldn't bank on it. He may have as much ability as Ingram and Richardson. However, he's been nicked up virtually the whole time he was there. He had a toe that required surgery, he had a hand, an elbow and now the hamstring. The last vision people have of Lacy is jump, bend, twist, spin, explode and (Notre Dame MLB Manti) Te'o grabbing air. If you could evaluate him in the vacuum of the Georgia and Notre Dame games, then he's a first-round pick." Three-year stats include 355 rushes for 2,402 yards (6.8 average) and 35 receptions for 338 (9.7). Scored 17 on the 50-question Wonderlic intelligence test. Out of Geismar, La. "He'll be good but he probably won't be great just because he doesn't have that speed," a third scout said. "He's punishing. He just doesn't have that dynamic skill set. A lot of big backs don't. That's what he is: He's a big power guy."
2. MONTEE BALL, Wisconsin (5-10½, 214, 4.58, 2) - Record-setting back started the final 32 games of his 49-game career. "I know one thing - he's productive," one scout said. "I'd rather have a guy that scores touchdowns than one that doesn't and runs 4.5." His pedestrian 40 times prompted another scout to label him as a "pounder, a plodder." Finished with 924 carries for 5,140 yards (5.6) and 77 TDs. Also caught 59 passes for 598 (10.1) and six TDs, giving him an NCAA-record 83 scores. "I like him but he's got a lot of carries in his body," the scout said. "He's had a concussion, and a subsequent concussion. And I'm not totally sure what kind of kid he is." Was cited for trespassing in May 2012 and then was assaulted on a Madison street late at night. "Some people have high grades on him and I'm like, 'What are you thinking about?' " another scout said. "How many big plays do you get out of those guys? He's probably not going to get a lot of big plays because he lacks speed. But he's got some lower-body strength and run vision. Instinctive kid. I can see him in the rotation, not as the starter." Hails from Wentzville, Mo.
3. LE'VEON BELL, Michigan State (6-1½, 229, 4.57, 2-3) - Third-year junior. "I like his size and athletic ability," Tennessee scout Johnny Meads said. "He doesn't run as hard as you want him to for his size but he makes up for it with his agility and smoothness for a big man." Led the nation with 382 carries in '12 when the Spartans' passing game fizzled. "Has a chance to be a pounder," one scout said. "He catches the ball a little better than Lacy. Got a little better speed but not quite as good balance. He's got the makings of a No. 1 back." Hails from Columbus, Ohio. Finished with 671 carries for 3,346 yards (5.0) and 78 receptions for 531 (6.8). "He danced too much sometimes, but the more I watched him I saw he has some natural run skills that I don't know if you can coach or not," another scout said. "He can move people. He can get a linebacker to step the wrong way. For his size, he wasn't a physical runner, but as we know physical runners don't last. He played on a team that wasn't very good so defenses could play to him, and he still made yards."
4. GIOVANI BERNARD, North Carolina (5-8½, 203, 4.52, 2-3) - Third-year sophomore who didn't play in 2010 after blowing out his knee in August. "He's a tricky little dude," one scout said. "He runs hard, too. Breaks tackles for a little guy because he's all knees and pads. Catches it good." Came back from the ACL injury to rush for 2,481 yards (5.9) and catch 92 passes for 852 (9.3). "I think he goes down too easy but, boy, he's got some shake and bake now," another scout said. "He lacks power. He's a 15-carry-a-game guy." Scored the highest (25) of the RBs on the Wonderlic. Not as good as Jacksonville's Maurice Jones-Drew, according to another scout. "He's a little bit like (C.J.) Spiller in that he's a slippery back," a fourth scout said. "He has good contact balance. He is tough and he does run inside. Is he a first-rounder? No." From Davie, Fla.
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/draft21g-rt9i5s2-203946301.html
2. MONTEE BALL, Wisconsin (5-10½, 214, 4.58, 2) - Record-setting back started the final 32 games of his 49-game career. "I know one thing - he's productive," one scout said. "I'd rather have a guy that scores touchdowns than one that doesn't and runs 4.5." His pedestrian 40 times prompted another scout to label him as a "pounder, a plodder." Finished with 924 carries for 5,140 yards (5.6) and 77 TDs. Also caught 59 passes for 598 (10.1) and six TDs, giving him an NCAA-record 83 scores. "I like him but he's got a lot of carries in his body," the scout said. "He's had a concussion, and a subsequent concussion. And I'm not totally sure what kind of kid he is." Was cited for trespassing in May 2012 and then was assaulted on a Madison street late at night. "Some people have high grades on him and I'm like, 'What are you thinking about?' " another scout said. "How many big plays do you get out of those guys? He's probably not going to get a lot of big plays because he lacks speed. But he's got some lower-body strength and run vision. Instinctive kid. I can see him in the rotation, not as the starter." Hails from Wentzville, Mo.
3. LE'VEON BELL, Michigan State (6-1½, 229, 4.57, 2-3) - Third-year junior. "I like his size and athletic ability," Tennessee scout Johnny Meads said. "He doesn't run as hard as you want him to for his size but he makes up for it with his agility and smoothness for a big man." Led the nation with 382 carries in '12 when the Spartans' passing game fizzled. "Has a chance to be a pounder," one scout said. "He catches the ball a little better than Lacy. Got a little better speed but not quite as good balance. He's got the makings of a No. 1 back." Hails from Columbus, Ohio. Finished with 671 carries for 3,346 yards (5.0) and 78 receptions for 531 (6.8). "He danced too much sometimes, but the more I watched him I saw he has some natural run skills that I don't know if you can coach or not," another scout said. "He can move people. He can get a linebacker to step the wrong way. For his size, he wasn't a physical runner, but as we know physical runners don't last. He played on a team that wasn't very good so defenses could play to him, and he still made yards."
4. GIOVANI BERNARD, North Carolina (5-8½, 203, 4.52, 2-3) - Third-year sophomore who didn't play in 2010 after blowing out his knee in August. "He's a tricky little dude," one scout said. "He runs hard, too. Breaks tackles for a little guy because he's all knees and pads. Catches it good." Came back from the ACL injury to rush for 2,481 yards (5.9) and catch 92 passes for 852 (9.3). "I think he goes down too easy but, boy, he's got some shake and bake now," another scout said. "He lacks power. He's a 15-carry-a-game guy." Scored the highest (25) of the RBs on the Wonderlic. Not as good as Jacksonville's Maurice Jones-Drew, according to another scout. "He's a little bit like (C.J.) Spiller in that he's a slippery back," a fourth scout said. "He has good contact balance. He is tough and he does run inside. Is he a first-rounder? No." From Davie, Fla.
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/draft21g-rt9i5s2-203946301.html
