The Ohio State Buckeyes will have a plethora of players in the 2020 NFL Draft, and junior star running back J.K. Dobbins will definitely be one of them taken early.
Having an all-time great year for an Ohio State running back, Dobbins numbers didn’t even scratch the surface in the bulk of games given the team’s absolute dominance.
Undefeated in the regular season, Dobbins totaled 2,250 all-purpose yards. With over 2,000 on the ground, Dobbins was an absolute unit, running over the bulk of Big Ten teams oftentimes snagging three digits worth of yards in the first half.
He’s still not projected to be a Day one pick. Jonathan Taylor from Wisconsin and D’Andre Swift from Georgia are the only running backs projected to potentially go before him, and they too may not go in the first round.
That said, let’s dive into Dobbins’ resume and what could separate him from a competitive class.
Next . . . Dobbins’ strengths
Dobbins’ strengths
According to ESPN’s stats on Dobbins, the three-year back didn’t record a single fumble. That’s over 700 carries and not a single one hit the ground. That’s some serious ball security.
On top of taking care of the ball, Dobbins is a hard downhill runner and showed at the collegiate level that he can break tackles with ease. He’s also got the speed to be a game-breaker once he gets in the second level.
His sturdy 5-foot, 10-inch, 217-pound frame should allow him to continue to bulldoze opponents.
Here’s another point made by CBS Sports’ Heath Cummings.
“Dobbins displays good footwork on tape and was very good at setting up defenders behind his outstanding offensive line. He showed us in 2019 that he can handle a workhorse role as well.”
Dobbins may not go at the top end of the draft, but he might end up being the most productive back in this class when we look back on it.
Next . . . Dobbins weaknesses
Dobbins’ weaknesses
Dobbins had almost ten times more rushing yards than receiving yards his last season at Ohio State. While he could transition into a solid option in the flat, he didn’t get a chance to really showcase that with the Buckeyes.
He put up under 300 receiving yards. Given Justin Fields’ play style of Dobbins’ early-game use, it makes sense for him not to see many targets.
At the same time, in the NFL, you need to be a multi-dimensional back, and if Dobbins doesn’t show great receiving or that next-level quickness like Swift, he could drop.
Not partaking of combine activities, Dobbins’ speed can only be seen on film. Athletically, he looks a bit small, and the unknown regarding those metrics like a 40-yard dash could hurt his stock.
Next . . . Dobbins prediction
Draft Prediction
Dobbins should be an early to mid-second-round pick. Swift and Taylor likely won’t be top-20 picks in the first round, one expected to be dominated by receivers and quarterbacks.
Going in the second round to someone like Tampa Bay could be a quintessential spot for Dobbins, who could use Brady and Gronkowski as diversions to put together a massive rookie season.
Dobbins needs a good fit, and a top-five back in the draft, he’ll be expected to join a RB-needy team. Detroit, Kansas City, and potentially Los Angeles could all make good spots for Dobbins.
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