Just a couple of years ago the Falcons had one of the best running back tandems in the entire league, with a healthy and dominant Devonta Freeman starting and Tevin Coleman offering a challenging change of pace. Heading into the 2019 season, things don’t look quite as promising. Freeman has missed 16 games over the last two years and Coleman rejoined Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers in free agency.
Ito Smith, the team’s fourth-round pick from a year ago, is set to move into Coleman’s role as Freeman’s primary backup, but the No. 3 running back spot appears to be up for grabs.
With rookies reporting to camp today, it’s go time. Let’s take a look at the candidates for our final training camp battle of the year.
Brian Hill
As inexperienced as the third-year back out of Wyoming is, Hill may be the safest bet to earn the spot. He’s not as raw as rookies Quadree Ollison or Tony Brooks-James and at 23, has the upside that Kenjon Barner lacks at this point in his career. Hill has just 31 career rushes, but he’s averaged 6.3 yards per carry. He still has to prove he can contribute as a pass-catcher though – he’s caught just three career passes. This may be Hill’s opportunity to prove he has a place in this league and he’s arguably the favorite for this spot entering camp.
Quadree Ollison
Ollison was selected by the Falcons out of Pittsburgh in the fifth-round of the 2019 NFL Draft. While he’s not exactly a burner, Ollison rushed for 1,213 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. “Ollison is a big, upright runner who lacks adequate short-area quickness and acceleration teams look for in the draft. He will need to become more punishing behind his pads in order to stand out in camp and earn a roster spot,” writes Lance Zierlein in Ollison’s scouting profile. Atlanta probably sees Ollison as more of a potential replacement for Freeman some day than a backup. He will need time to grow into the role, though.
Tony Brooks-James
A former track star, the undrafted Brooks-James was compared to Darren Sproles coming out of college because of his small frame and game-breaking speed. The team released Jeremy Langford to sign Brooks-James, and while he may have a lot to prove to earn a spot on the roster, he’s the type of dual-threat weapon at running back that’s becoming all the rage in the NFL. At Oregon, Brooks-James rushed for 1,863 yards and 18 touchdowns, while adding 40 catches for 392 yards.
Kenjon Barner
Barner is the grizzled veteran of the group. At 30 years old, he has more experience than the rest combined. He’s the safest choice for that No. 3 spot, however, he doesn’t have the upside of the team’s speedier, younger RB options. Barner’s best value in recent seasons has primarily been as a kickoff returner, and he’ll also be in the mix for that competition.
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