1. Ezekiel Elliott – 6’0” 225 Lbs. 4.47 40-time Ohio State Junior Age 20 – 7.0
Overview: A few years ago I thought that Running Backs being valued as top draft picks were over. Then came along Todd Gurley and now Ezekiel Elliott. Elliott is a two-year starter, this past season he boasted over 1,800 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns. There is a chance that Zeke is the best running back to come out of college in the last 5 to 10 years. Simply put, he can beat you in so many ways it will make your head spin. Zeke is an instant upgrade on 99% of teams, and for most teams will become the number one offensive choice.
Strengths: Elliott has all the physical tools you can ask for. He is big, strong, fast and knows how to use these traits to their fullest potential. His physical attributes are not what makes him great. It is his mental game that puts him on top of the rest, his vision, decision making, and setting up his cut backs that lead him to become the best running back in college football over the past two seasons. His physicality often times leaves the defender tackling having second thoughts the next time Elliott comes with a full head of steam. His pass blocking is better than most. Zeke can also catch the ball fairly well, he has a decent route tree for this point of his career.
Weakness: You do not put up the number that Elliott has without putting up quite a workload. With all of the carries in college, one must wonder how much has left his tank in the past two seasons. His physical style of running, especially at the end of his runs has set him up to take more than his fair share of big hits. However, this is football if the only knock I have on a guy is that he does not shy away from contact, well that is a good thing.
2. Derrick Henry – 6’3” 247 Lbs. 4.54 40-time Alabama Junior Age 21 – 6.9
Overview: I understand why everyone has Elliott rated above Derrick Harvey. What I cannot understand is why there is such a huge gap in their ratings. It seems as if everyone has Elliott rated an A+ and Harvey rated a B. Well I am not so sure that Elliott is even better to begin with, but I will digress to the consensus. After all one of these two studs did win the Heisman trophy this year. Isn’t that an award for the best player in college football? I know everyone says that it was because of the offensive line that he was playing behind, but Ohio State is going to have the at least the first offensive lineman selected between these two teams. The wide gap in ratings is unjustified and I would not be shocked at all if Derrick turns out to be the better back once it is all said and done.
Strengths: He is bigger than most linebackers he will go up against. The physicality he plays with makes it difficult to limit him to short gains. His speed is impressive for someone his size and he has shown the ability time and time again to take a big run to the house. His stamina is second to none and Alabama used him to his fullest potential this past season. It is safe to say that without Henry, the Tide would not have returned home with a national championship. He is a willing pass blocker. There are few aspects of football that Henry does not do well in.
Weakness: Again the main knock on Henry is that he has a lot of miles on him already. With him being a bigger back there is obviously more concern of big hits, especially to his lower body. Derrick is a one of a kind player though and he will last longer than most bigger backs. This is mainly due to his off field perpetration. Henry does not have the receiving skills as one would like him to have as an every down back.
3. Kenneth Dixon – 5’10” 215 Lbs. 4.58 40-time Louisiana Tech Senior Age 22 – 6.0
Overview: Kenneth was a traditional do it all running back for Louisiana Tech. He was a three-year starter who nearly had three straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons (a little over 900 yards as a sophomore in 2012). In his senior campaign Dixon had over 1,500 total yards and 26 total touchdowns. He does not quit on any play, often times in film you see him turn a play that could have been a couple yard gain into much more.
Strengths: His biggest strength is variety. Dixon excels between the tackles, outside of the tackles, and thrives on passing downs. He regularly made defenders miss in the open field using a plethora of juke moves. His competitive nature allowed him to take standard runs and turn them into special highlight reel plays. His quickness and decision making are big good. He causes mismatches on passing downs, most linebackers in the NFL will have trouble covering this savvy route runner.
Weakness: He is top heavy, and that is never good for a running back. He needs to add size to his lower body to be able to play with the same strength at the next level. Dixon has not been the most durable runner in the nation and unless he adds some bulk to his lower body, the style of running that he does will catch up to him sooner than later. Lacks top end speed and depends more on making defenders miss than outrunning them. Ball protection is a concern as well. Not the best pass blocker.
4. Jordan Howard – 6’0” 230 Lbs. 4.40 40-time Indiana Junior Age 21 – 6.05
Overview: Howard transferred to Indiana just last season and he exploded onto the scene. Last season he had 1,213 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Jordan had ruff two years at the college level before finding his home in Indiana, after being named first-team all-conference he decided to enter the draft a year early.
Strengths: Based off of his measurable, Jordan should be as coveted as any other running back in the draft. He is big from the ground up and shocked everyone with his sub 4.45 40-time, oh and his playing strength is pretty darn good also. His best non-physical attribute is his vision. Jordan knows when to choose a different route and does so with ease. Once he has made up his mind on where to go there is little tippy toeing, and he loves to blast into the second level. He loves to finish off runs delivering a big hit to a defender.
Weakness: Does not have too many ways to make a defender miss. Once he chooses where he is going he mainly puts his pad level low and blasts that one spot predictably. He is certainly a bruiser type of runner, which as with all bruisers, makes him vulnerable to big hits. Not much in terms of a receiver and has shown durability issues in the past.
5. Paul Perkins – 5’10” 208 Lbs. 4.54 40-time UCLA RS Junior Age 21 – 5.9
Overview: Paul has NFL bloodlines, his brother currently plays for Arizona State as well. He was a two and half year starter. Paul rushed for over 1,300 yards in each of the past two seasons while scoring 26 total touchdowns during that time.
Strengths: There are few people that can do better turn an average run into a huge gain. These huge gains can mainly be attributed to his elite vision and stupid juke moves. He does not favor a single move, instead he seems to always be in the defenders head. Seems to be at home on stretch plays where he needs to find where to make his cut back. Paul is a good pass catcher and is a more than willing blocker against the pass rush.
Weakness: Not as big as other workhorses. His smallish frame make him susceptible to arm tackles. Seems to shy away from tacklers when a big hit is a definite. Has trouble moving the pile. Although he is an able pass catcher, his route tree needs work.
6. Alex Collins – 5’10” 217 Lbs. 4.59 40-time Arkansas Junior Age 21 – 5.8
Overview: One of the biggest names coming out of high school. Alex ran for three straight seasons for over 1,000 yards. This past year was his only season as the workhorse back, he finished with 1,577 yards and 20 touchdowns. Although he received second-team conference honors, he was behind Derrick Henry and Leonard Fournette in the conference.
Strengths: Collins has an ideal build for a running back. Although he does not have the fastest 40-time, he is quick with his feet especially around the line of scrimmage. He plays with amazing leverage and he has the agility to bounce in and out of traffic. He uses great vision when dissecting which hole to plow through. Alex shows the ability to make the first tackler miss and pick up the tuff extra yards. He was often used as the goal line back.
Weakness: His speed is below average and you will not see him take too many runs to the house when there is a lot of real estate to cover. When he is making cuts, he has to take more than one step to get there. Does not do well on runs outside of the tackle box. Even with his size, it seems he has trouble shedding tackles. Has not shown much as a pass catcher. Needs to work on his pass blocking.
7. Devontae Booker – 5’11” 219 Lbs. 4.55 40-time Utah RS Senior Age 23 – 5.25
Overview: Booker played his first two seasons in junior college mainly due to his academic struggles. In fact, he had to redshirt a year before he could transfer to Utah because he had to get his grades up. He largely contributed both years he was at Utah rushing for over 1,200 yards each year. He wound up with 21 touchdowns during that time. His senior campaign was cut short due to a torn meniscus.
Strengths: Devontae shows the ability to find the hole, once he knows where the hole is going to be he hits it hard. He seems to be able to avoid the first defender often. The end of his runs usually seem to be with him delivering the hit and not the other way around. Booker keeps his feet underneath him and is ready to cut right or left when needed. He has some highlight worthy runs each game. He is a valuable blocker in pass protection?
Weakness: Lacks speed to break plays for long yardage. His frame is maxed out, there is not much more room for him to grow. Ball security is an issue. Tore his meniscus last season which may linger into OTAs.
8. C.J. Prosise – 6’1” 220 Lbs. 4.48 40-time Notre Dame RS Junior Age 21 – 5.2
Overview: Prosise started one year for Notre Dame although he contributed on special teams and as a second option at running back for his sophomore year. Last season he tallied over 1,300 total yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. Moved to running back in his sophomore season
Strengths: He has a great blend of height weight and speed. Seems to shift from side to side with ease and does not panic when determining his running lane. His favorite juke move is to spin out of a tackle. He has good leverage mainly due to his ability to get his pads to a good level. He has the playing speed to break runs to the outside for big gains. One of the better running backs in the draft class in terms of running routes. This can be attributed to his freshman year playing wide receiver. He should give defenses headaches as a pass catcher at the next level.
Weakness: Experience as a running back is limited to this past season. Due to the lack of experience he sometimes chooses the wrong hole or is caught dancing in the backfield. Ball protection must be worked on if he is going to see the field for any significant time in the NFL. He is definitely a work in progress, however his athleticism and versatility will no doubt intrigue teams.
9. Kenyan Drake – 6’1” 210 Lbs. 4.45 40-time Alabama Senior Age 23 – 5.1
Overview: Drake was living in the shadows of Alabama Heisman Derrick Henry most of his collegiate career. He has had two significant injuries over the past few seasons. He showed glimpses of greatness at times, but not nearly enough to be considered a worthy pick in the first three rounds.
Strengths: When he is on the field he is one of the more athletically gifted players. Great speed for the position. Good ability to make multiple defenders miss in the open field. Knows how to gain tuff yards after contact. Kenyan is good at bouncing plays to the outside. Effective pass catcher. Has experience returning kicks and playing other special teams positions.
Weakness: Plays out of control at times. Has trouble slowing the game down. Sometimes he will run into holes that are already in the process of being closed up. Although he has experience catching the ball, his hands can fail him at times. I would attribute this to a lack of concentration. Favors jumping to the outside too often. Injuries are a concern.
10. Kelvin Taylor – 5’10” 207 Lbs. 4.60 40-time Florida Junior Age 22 – 4.9
Overview: Fred Taylor’s son. Kelvin was a beast in high school and came into Florida with high expectations. In his first season as the workhorse Taylor racked up 1,035 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.
Strengths: Kelvin’s knowledge of the game is his best attribute. I wonder where he gets that from? He has great vision and leverage when running the ball. Able to move left to right with ease to jump into a new running lane. Shows the ability to make multiple defenders miss in the open field. Amazing ball protection.
Weakness: It seems sometimes that he feels he can make any play work. Other times he waits too long to make his move and is caught in the backfield. Does not possess game changing power nor speed. Needs to bulk up before he can be a decent pass blocker. At the end of the day he is a legends son that will get an opportunity to play. I am simply not sure if his intangibles will be able to outweigh his physical limitations.
