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USA Today Sports Media Group

Sport

Doug Farrar

Scouting breakdown: The 11 best running backs in the 2020 NFL Draft

The “running backs don’t matter” axiom has become gospel to many who analyze and pontificate about the NFL to the point that the thought has become simplistic cliche. While it’s true that the days of the bellcow franchise back getting second and third contracts with his original team are over for the most part (Todd Gurley as the most recent cautionary tale), the more complicated truth is that while running backs may not matter as they used to in an individual sense, the importance of the right running game has not decreased.

Whether it’s the power gap running game the Patriots used in the second half of the 2018 season to pick up their sixth Lombardi Trophy and hide the limitations of their passing game, or the way the 2019 Titans used Derrick Henry as the constant while they changed quarterbacks, or the ways in which Kyle Shanahan has used motion and defensive displacement throughout his career to make the most of the backs he’s had, there are absolutely ways in which the backs — and the system — can still define an offense in these halcyon days of the four-receiver set.

And with that in mind, every draft class of running backs… well, matters more. This is when you get your guys fresh off the conveyor belt, fresh as they’re ever going to be, and nothing but upward potential in front of them — no matter how long it lasts (or doesn’t).

Here are the 11 best backs in the 2020 draft class, based on collegiate production and NFL potential.

1. Zack Moss, Utah

Height: 5’9″ Weight: 223
40-Yard Dash: 4.65
Bench Press: 19
Vertical Jump: 33.0
Broad Jump: N/A
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.37
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A

Bio: A cousin of NFL players Santana and Sinorice Moss, Zack Moss originally planned to follow in their footsteps at the University of Miami, but then decided to make his own way at Utah, where he would have the opportunity to start as a true freshman. He got 84 carries and two rushing touchdowns for 342 yards in 2016, ramping that up to 1,173 yards and 10 touchdowns on 214 carries as a sophomore. Moss had three straight seasons of more than 1,000 rushing yards and at least 10 touchdowns, despite injuries that limited him to just nine games in 2018. Moss is leaving Utah for the NFL following his finest collegiate season — 1,416 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns on 235 attempts, and 388 yards and two more touchdowns on 28 receptions.

“Unfinished business came from what I wanted to do with the team,” Moss recently told me regarding his decision to return for his senior season. “We lost our last two games that year [the Pac-12 Championship against Washington, and the Holiday Bowl], I got injured, and our quarterback [Tyler Huntley] went down, too. We felt that we were a very talented group, and we showed that this last year. We came up short in the Pac-12 Championship game again this last year [losing to Oregon], but that’s pretty much where the whole ‘unfinished business’ thing came from.”

There isn’t much Moss left on the table after his four years with the Utes.

Stat to Know: If you’re going to tackle Moss, you’d better do it with perfect form, and you should probably bring friends. Last season, he forced 89 missed tackles and gained 1,042 yards after contact on just 235 rushing attempts.

Strengths: Moss presents a level of power, attitude, and short-level agility that is unrivaled in this class. Solo tacklers work at a very low success rate. Seems to be empowered by first contact. He combines contact balance and quick cuts in space to be a very dangerous individual in the open field — he had 21 carries of 15 or more yards last season. Has a spin move at the line of scrimmage he’s used to take defensive linemen right out of the play. Diagnoses defensive fronts on the fly and is outstanding at moving multiple gaps for the open hole. Improved as a receiver for the 2019 season, and broke 33 tackles on 66 catches in his career. Anytime you have a 50% broken tackle rate, you’re on the right track. Has the ability to right himself on the fly and bash into more defenders for more yards. Falls forward and into contact. Total red zone weapon.

Weaknesses: Concerns about Moss’ second- and third-level speed are a bit exaggerated, but it’s true that he won’t run right past a safety most of the time. Of course, that safety has to tackle him at some point. His running style could lead to injury issues down the road, but that hasn’t been a major issue so far.

Conclusion: Some might look at Moss as a one-dimensional power back based solely on the ways he’s able to make collegiate defenders look like sixth-grade kids, but there’s more to his game than that. He’s both sudden and patient at the line of scrimmage, has several different strategies to extend his plays, and has the potential to be an every-down back.

NFL Comparison: Marshawn Lynch. It’s a lofty comparison, but Moss meets it with his combination of violence and elusiveness. Plug him into your offense and watch defenders get just a bit more nervous.

2. D’Andre Swift, Georgia

Height: 5’8″ Weight: 212
40-Yard Dash: 4.48
Bench Press: N/A
Vertical Jump: 35.5
Broad Jump: 121.0
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A

Bio: Swift had to wait for Sony Michel and Nick Chubb to get out of town before he could be a starter, but he still made an impact as a freshman with 618 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns on just 81 carries. He saw his workload increase over each of the next two seasons, and Swift capped out with 1,218 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 196 carries. He averaged 6.6 yards per carry in his collegiate career, adding 76 receptions for 666 yards and five touchdowns from 2017-2019.

Stat to Know: Swift never saw the field for more than 500 snaps in a season for the Bulldogs, but he made the most of his opportunities. He averaged 6.6 yards per carry in his collegiate career, 31% of his carries produced first downs, and he dropped just three catchable passes in 76 targets.

Strengths: One-cut runner with sudden, churning feet he uses to respond to open gaps along the line. Excellent vision and acceleration. Responds quickly to what he sees, but also has the patience to wait for things to happen. Good on draws and delays because of that patience. Bounces off tackles well and has an array of moves to make himself more elusive — his spin move against Auburn was a nice surprise. Not afraid of contact at all — he’ll dip his shoulder into a defender. Above-average receiver on everything from quick pitches and screens to intermediate stuff up the seam. Could excel in the slot at the next level. Ran a very diverse scheme at Georgia with equal parts inside and outside zone, as well as gap. Not an obviously great blocker, but has the mentality to become one.

Weaknesses: Swift isn’t a natural plus tackle-breaker — while he runs in rhythm well, you would like to see more plays in which he transcends the efforts of great defenses to pick up more yards. Really needs open gaps to rack up big gains. Doesn’t have a third gear he can use to blast away from everyone — his running style is more smooth and rhythmic than explosive and violent. Ran against a heavy box on 21% of his carries in 2019, which is not the ideal recipe for him.

Conclusion: Swift is one of the most pro-ready running backs in this class because he’s been asked to do everything in a three-down sense at a high level, and he’s responded very well. This isn’t the guy you want if you’re looking for a back to move defenses, but he’ll give you maximum performance in every kind of run, in the passing game, and as a blocker on the rise. A natural fit for any pass-heavy team.

NFL Comparison: Giovani Bernard. One doesn’t want to put a Darren Sproles comparison on Swift just yet, but he has that potential if he works with more power and expands his role in the passing game. Like Bernard, the North Carolina alum selected by the Bengals in the second round of the 2013 draft, he can be a great complementary force, despite obvious size concerns.

3. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin

Height: 5’10” Weight: 226
40-Yard Dash: 4.39 seconds
Bench Press: 17 reps
Vertical Jump: 36.0 inches
Broad Jump: 123.0 inches
3-Cone Drill: 7.01 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.24 seconds
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A

Bio: Taylor is trying to become the fourth Wisconsin running back selected in the first round of the draft in the new millennium, following Ron Dayne (2000), Michael Bennett (2001), and Melvin Gordon (2,015). He’s certainly been as prolific as any of them. The South Jersey Offensive Player of the Year as a high-school senior, Taylor gained 1,977 yards and scored 13 rushing touchdowns on 299 carries as a true freshman in 2017, and followed that up with two straight 2,000-yard seasons in 2018 (2,194 yards) and 2019 (2,003 yards). His 2018 total ranks seventh in NCAA history since 1956, and his two-year total is the third-best in college annals behind Gordon in 2013-2014 and Iowa’s Troy Davis in 1995-1996. Only Taylor and Davis have the distinction of consecutive 2,000-yard seasons. In 2019, Taylor also became more valuable as a receiver, catching 26 passes for 252 yards and five touchdowns.

“Really, I think it’s my consistency,” Taylor said at the scouting combine, when asked what makes him the best back in this class, at least in his mind. “I mean, if you look at the next level, what separates the great backs from the elite backs is really them playing on an elite level day in and day out every Sunday. I think that’s one of the biggest things that separates me is my ability to be consistent year in and year out.”

Stat to Know: Taylor totaled 6,174 rushing yards and 50 touchdowns in
926 collegiate rushing attempts over three seasons, and averaged 4.24 yards after contact per attempt. In 2019 alone, he forced 87 missed tackles in 320 rushing attempts.

Strengths: Blasts through gaps with outstanding speed and leverage; has an innate understanding of how to pick up that extra yard by falling forward after contact. Reads the defense well to ascertain the ideal gap. Has a nice second gear to make the most of every opportunity — Taylor had 30 carries of 15 or more yards last season. When he hits the hole decisively, he’s an absolute tank to deal with — keeps his legs churning through contact and can bust through for second- and third-level gains. Has experience in zone and gap schemes, but is especially attuned to both inside and outside zone. Made his athleticism very clear at the scouting combine with outstanding work in the drills.

Weaknesses: Needs a lot of work as a receiver; had eight drops on 50 catchable passes during his time at Wisconsin. Not yet a natural pass-protector. Will occasionally run right into contact without a plan; he’s not always a one-gap runner and needs to be more decisive at times. 18 career fumbles points to a ball security problem. Heavily reliant on excellent offensive lines.

Conclusion: When Taylor runs with assertiveness and confidence, he’s as good and consistent a back as you’ll see in this class. His two games against Ohio State in 2019 encapsulated the occasional frustration with his overall style — he gained 52 yards on 20 carries in October in the regular season, and 148 yards on 20 carries in the Big Ten Championship Game less than two months later. The difference with Taylor is the ability to use his speed and power to dictate to the defense. As long as he maintains that, he’ll be a plus NFL runner. Without it, he could get lost in the shuffle.

NFL Comparison: Shaun Alexander. Like the 2005 NFL MVP, Taylor is able to make big plays consistently despite a running style that occasionally has him dancing behind the line of scrimmage when he should be attacking the gap. It’s a workable issue, as are Taylor’s issues in the passing game, but it could be too soon to categorize him as an every-down back.

4. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU

Height: 5’7″ Weight: 207
40-Yard Dash: 4.6 seconds
Bench Press: 15 reps
Vertical Jump: 39.5 inches
Broad Jump: 123.0 inches
3-Cone Drill:N/A
20-Yard Shuttle:N/A
60-Yard Shuttle:N/A

Bio: While Joe Burrow was obviously the headliner of Joe Brady’s championship LSU offense with his 60 touchdown passes, it could easily be argued that Edwards-Helaire was the second most important component, and he comes into this draft class with an intriguing argument to the “running backs don’t matter” truthers. In 2019, Edwards-Helaire enjoyed a serious breakout season, gaining 1,414 rushing yards and scoring 16 rushing touchdowns on 215 carries, adding 55 catches for 453 yards. With 1,867 total yards and 17 total touchdowns, Edwards-Helaire is an optimal back for any multi-faceted offense with his well-rounded skill set.

“As a player, I’ll say I’m exclusive,” he said at the scouting combine. “That’s the noun that I’m going with. That’s the adjective that I’m going with. Ultimately, I’m going to stand by that 100%. I feel like everything I do is something that can’t be matched. I feel like I’m kind of, not really, making my own category. But I feel like in this instance, I’m making my own category and doing the things that I need to do to separate me from the bunch.”

Edwards-Helaire has also worked on his pass protection, with help from former Patriots running back and current LSU running backs coach Kevin Faulk.

“When Kevin came on staff two years ago, I asked him about pass pro. It wasn’t about, ‘Hey, what’s up. How you doing?’ mean, he blocked for Tom Brady – one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the football league. And that’s something I pride myself on also. As soon as he came in, we hopped on it. He’s kinda the guy that helped me along the lines with it and then ultimately just the way he ran the ball and everything else from his height standpoint, my height standpoint, we were seeing eye-to-eye on a lot of things.”

Stat to Know: In 2019, per Pro Football Focus’ wins above average (WAA), Edwards-Helaire was the 13th most valuable player regardless of position, and third most valuable non-quarterback. This had a lot to do with the monumental steps forward he took as a receiver.

Strengths: Edwards-Helaire is a “Muscle Hamster” running back who jumps and cuts quickly and decisively to find the open hole, and he’s better at getting through contact than his size indicates. Has a great sense of how to right himself after contact, and he doesn’t panic at the first hit. Can shake defenders out of their shoes in the open field. Presents a favorable target to the quarterback as a receiver, and is particularly good with Texas (angle) routes and motion screens. LSU split him out in 2019, and his NFL team should do the same. Forced 71 missed tackles and had 21 runs of 15 or more yards last season.

Weaknesses: More quick than straight-line fast in the open field. Pass protection is a work in progress. Tough runner, but with his size, he’s not going to beat up any defensive tackles. Had his one great season as his quarterback (Joe Burrow) was throwing touchdown passes at an insane rate and had every defense playing on its heels. Faced a loaded box on just 12% of his carries in 2019.

Conclusion: As he said, Edwards-Helaire is doing a lot to define his own category and separate himself from the bunch. He might not be a bellcow running back at the NFL level, but how many of those backs exist for more than a couple of years anymore? He’ll be an immediate asset to any team that defines its passing game with screens and RPOs, and his underrated power combined with his quickness makes him an intriguing complementary back.

NFL Comparison: Michael Bennett. Not the longtime edge-rusher, but the former Wisconsin running back selected in the first round of the 2001 draft by the Vikings. Like Bennett, Edwards-Helaire can be a big play waiting to happen as both a runner and receiver. His commitment to becoming a complete back augurs well for his NFL future.

5. J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State

Height: 5’9″ Weight: 209
40-Yard Dash: N/A
Bench Press: 23 reps
Vertical Jump: N/A
Broad Jump: N/A
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A

Bio: Dobbins wasn’t happy after a sophomore season in which he gained 1,053 yards and scored 10 rushing touchdowns on 230 carries, adding 26 catches for 263 yards and two touchdowns. So, he got his body fat down to eight percent and broke Eddie George’s school record with 2,003 yards and 21 touchdowns on 301 carries, with 23 catches for 247 yards and two more touchdowns added to the mix. He saved his best for last, amassing 714 rushing yards in his last four games, including 174 yards in the Fiesta Bowl against Clemson.

“I always work for the spotlight moments,” Dobbins said at the combine about how he prepares for big stage. “[But] it’s about what I do outside of the lights. When the lights aren’t on me, there are things that I do to try to be ready for when that time comes. Prime time isn’t always really prime time to me. It’s like a normal day at the office because I work so hard for it. So whenever it comes to those games, I’m very prepared for it.”

Stat to Know: Dobbins’ 2,003 rushing yards in 2019 tied with Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor for 33rd best in NCAA history. In Dobbins’ case, his 31 rushes of 15 or more yards ranked first in the NCAA.

Strengths: Powerful, compact body type with a defined upper body and churning legs. Aggressive runner to and through the hole; Dobbins knows how to take advantage of any open gap. Not a lot of natural wiggle in space, but he does have the ability to change direction in short areas and to the second and third levels to freeze defenders. Dominant north-and-south runner who has enjoyed a high positive play rate in both zone and gap schemes. Impressive get-up speed when he gets through the line — had some great long runs against top-level competition.

Weaknesses: Didn’t face a heavy box a lot of the time, and may be dependent on a great offensive line to get up to speed when he is facing more than the usual number of defenders. More an accessory than a creator after contact if he’s not running in a straight line. Embryonic talent as a receiver and pass-protector. Could stand to be quicker with his cuts — Dobbins will lose yardage when he has to back out of closed gaps.

Conclusion: Dobbins isn’t the most creative back in this class, but he does bring an impressive hammer and attitude to the field, and he’s been consistently productive at the highest levels of FBS football. If you want a power back with upside as a receiver and blocker, you could do a lot worse.

NFL Comparison: Frank Gore. Like Gore, Dobbins has the ability to beat a defensive line into submission over time and then, break a long gain for a game-deciding play. Gore became a team-defining back in his second NFL season, and Dobbins has that potential if he fixes a few things.

6. Cam Akers, Florida State

Height: 5’10” Weight: 217
40-Yard Dash: 4.47 seconds
Bench Press: 20 reps
Vertical Jump: 35.5 seconds
Broad Jump: 122.0 seconds
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.42 seconds
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A

Bio: A dual-threat quarterback in high school, Akers threw for 8,140 yards and 78 touchdowns and ran for 5,103 yards and 71 touchdowns during his time at that level. The U.S. Army National Player of the Year and Mississippi’s Mr. Football in 2016, Akers broke Dalvin Cook’s Florida State freshman record for rushing yards in 2017 with 1,025 and seven touchdowns on 194 carries. 2018 presented a relative disappointment with just 706 rushing yards, but he got back on the good foot in 2019 with 1,144 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns on 231 carries. Akers also had 69 catches for 486 yards and seven touchdowns in his collegiate career.

“Just an all-around running back,” Akers said at the scouting combine, when asked to describe himself as a player. “Somebody’s who’s, of course, able to run the ball but another important aspect of running back is being able to block. I just think I’m a complete back from catching to blocking to running. I’ve always been a willing receiver. I do a lot of studying of other backs in the league and my peers who also do the job well receiving. I take a lot of notes and pick up a lot from that.”

Stat to Know: Rushing behind a sub-par (to put it kindly) offensive line in 2019, Akers still managed 904 yards after contact (ranking 12th among NCAA backs), 76 missed tackles forced (tied for seventh), and 15 carries of 15 or more yards (39th).

Strengths: Obvious alpha mindset as a runner and as a pass-protector; Akers seems to relish first contact and has no issue facing up to blitzers and throwing the first punch. Has decent cut speed, though it was hard to tell when he had four or five defenders on him right after the snap. Keeps his eyes forward for extra juice as defenders converge. Times his shoulder drops well to dig into defenders and scrape for extra contact.

Weaknesses: Most of Akers’ dings have something to do with the “talent” around him. We can talk about his dancing behind the line, but running backs need to trust their blockers at some point. Yes, he had a few focus drops as a receiver, but he also had quarterbacks throwing simple screens over his head.

Conclusion: You tend to handicap Akers differently when you see how broken Florida State’s offense was at time during his tenure, and he was seemingly the only spectacular player on the field. That he was able to transcend that and still be consistently productive is a great sign for his NFL future, especially if he’s able to land with a team that has the talent around him he really didn’t enjoy in college.

NFL Comparison: DeAngelo Williams. Williams didn’t have a lot of help at Memphis, but he managed to parlay that into an excellent NFL career. Akers has a similar unknown upside as long as he lands with a team that has a competent passing game and blockers who can do their jobs.

7. Eno Benjamin, Arizona State

Height: 5’9″ Weight: 207
40-Yard Dash: 4.57 seconds
Bench Press: 12 reps
Vertical Jump: 39.0
Broad Jump: 122.0
3-Cone Drill: 6.97
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.25
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A

Bio: Benjamin burst onto the national scene as a sophomore in 2018, toting the rock 300 times (a school record) for 1,642 yards and 16 touchdowns, with 35 receptions for 263 yards and two touchdowns to boot. His 2019 wasn’t quite as productive as he fell to 1,083 yards and 10 touchdowns on 253 carries, but he did increase his reception total last year to 42 for 347 yards and two touchdowns.

Still, as he said at the scouting combine, Benjamin was able to build other parts of his repertoire over the last season under head coach Herman Edwards.

“I think I really, truly developed a leadership skill. I mean, it was not more so about me. It was about what can I do to help the team win. So it was getting five carries, 11 carries, 20 yards, 50 yards–little things such as if I’m going to run this run, I’m going to run it as fast as I can, knowing I’m not going to get the ball so I can open up someone else. And just little things like that helped me play and really make it more about the team than myself.”

Stat to Know: A home-run hitter, Benjamin forced 84 broken tackles in 2018, behind only David Montgomery (now of the Bears) and Devin Singletary (now of the Bills) among NCAA backs. That figure dropped to 62 in 2019.

Strengths: Electric cut runner to get to the open field; Benjamin can turn on half a dime anywhere on the field. Has outstanding vision to exploit blocks and get free. Excellent receiver who should have been split out more than he was. Can cut to outside the tackles in a flash, and has the ability to outmatch a flood of defenders to one side by reversing course in a hurry. Maximizes the power he does have with a dog mentality after contact and as a blocker.

Weaknesses: Built more like a receiver than a running back. Power is not his game; Benjamin’s NFL team had better have a plan for him beyond “insert generic speed running back here.” Like any home run hitter who thinks that way, Benjamin alternates between big plays and big misses. Will take runs off schedule when he shouldn’t.

Conclusion: Benjamin’s 4.57 40-yard dash at the scouting combine was one of the more mis-representative testing numbers in recent memory. He’s an absolute flash on the field; his NFL coaches will just need to understand what he is and what he isn’t.

NFL Comparison: Reggie Bush. Benjamin is a bit shorter than Bush, but their playing styles are similar in that Bush at the NFL level was sneaky enough as a runner and motion receiver to turn any matchup with a third or fourth linebacker into a mismatch. Also like Bush, Benjamin is not going to be any more than a complementary piece at the next level, but a creative offensive coordinator will turn him into an explosive “joker” all over the field.

8. A.J. Dillon, Boston College

Height: 6’0″ Weight: 247
40-Yard Dash: 4.53 seconds
Bench Press: 23
Vertical Jump: 41.0
Broad Jump: 131.0
3-Cone Drill: 7.19 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A

Bio: The grandson of College Football Hall of Famer Thom Gatewood, who was the first African-American team captain at Notre Dame, Dillon signed on with Boston College after playing for a BC alum in high school (Paul Zukauskas). He won ACC Rookie of the Year in 2017 with 1,589 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns on 300 carries. He let down a little in 2018 with 1,108 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 227 carries, but fought his way back to an excellent junior season in 2019 with 1,685 yards and 14 touchdowns on 318 carries.

“I like to take bits and pieces from people’s game,” Dillon said at the scouting combine. “I look at Le’Veon Bell’s patience, Leonard Fournette, the way he runs a ball with speed… The way he runs, it’s an aggressive running style, Saquon [Barkley’s] explosiveness, Steven Jackson back in the day with the Rams, that’s how he ran to not really be denied yards. So, I mean, I’m constantly trying to develop, so I’m excited now have the opportunity to show teams that.”

Stat to Know: Dillon’s tape shows a guy who’s very hard to bring down, and the numbers prove it. He forced 198 broken tackles in 845 career rushing attempts from 2017 through 2019. Only Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor and Utah’s Zack Moss forced more over the last three seasons.

Strengths: Force multiplier in the run game from a power perspective. Uses his bulk and a nice array of moves to bounce off defenders and create extra yardage. Works well with leverage and quickness to spot and exploit open gaps, though he seems to enjoy creating them on his own. Not featured much in the receiving game, though he shows potential on simple screens and quick, angular routes. Willing blocker with the obvious tools to get that done.

Weaknesses: Dillon doesn’t have notable speed to the edge; he’ll get mopped up pretty quickly by gang tackles against better defenses when he tries to break outside. Doesn’t have the versatility of moves to cut his way out of dead ends — it’s pretty much power and short-area speed or nothing. For his size, you’d like to see him break out of gang tackles more than he does — he extends with push, but doesn’t always break away.

Conclusion: Dobbins is as old-school as running backs come. Were we in an era when bigger backs who could blast through contact and do little else were still a major component of offenses, Dillon might look like a first-round talent. But his limited use in the passing game, combined with his relative lack of creativity against contact, will limit him to a power-based zone or gap scheme. That’s not a bad thing; but he’ll be wasted in the wrong system.

NFL Comparison: T.J. Duckett. Duckett was the hammer for the Falcons’ league-leading run game along with Michael Vick and Warrick Dunn in the mid-2000s, At his peak, Duckett presented one challenging piece of an impossible offensive equation with his raw power, and Dillon could do the same. One wonders how he could light things up with the Lamar Jackson-led Ravens, for example.

9. Darrynton Evans, Appalachian State

Height: 5’10” Weight: 203
40-Yard Dash: 4.41 seconds
Bench Press: 20 reps
Vertical Jump: 37.0 inches
Broad Jump: 125.0 inches
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A

Bio: Evans wound up with the Mountaineers as a two-star recruit, and set upon a path to prove wrong all those who doubted him. That path was set on a curve in 2017 when he missed the whole season with a knee injury, but he bounced back in 2018 with 1,187 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 189 carries, improving further in 2019. The Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year gained 1,480 yards and scored 18 rushing touchdowns on 255 carries. He also improved his stock as a receiver with 198 yards and five touchdowns on 21 catches.

Stat to Know: With smaller-school backs, you want to see what they do against tougher opponents. Evans’ history doesn’t definitively answer those questions. In his collegiate career, Evans averaged 8.2 yards per carry against Conference USA defenses, 7.3 against the MAC, and 5.8 against the Sun Belt. However, he managed just 3.0 against the Big Ten, 4.0 against the ACC, and 3.7 against the SEC.

Strengths: Does a really nice job of sinking into his cuts and using that quick leverage to generate speed to power through gaps. Has the short-area quickness to climb through traffic to linebacker and safety depth. Exciting one-cut runner who knows how to exploit open gaps and can make big plays on pitchouts. Not a monster against contact, but has enough strength on the move to break arm tackles. Eyes work with his feet to juke defenders out of their sets in open space. Willing and able receiver who takes his open-field assets as a running back to this part of his game. Versatile enough to motion from the backfield to the slot and run pre-snap motion concepts. Aggressive blocker for his size.

Weaknesses: Evans gets scattered in the backfield at times; he’ll miss blitz pickups and other blocking responsibilities because he’s so busy running from gap to gap. More elusive than powerful when breaking tackles — has a decent stiff-arm, but this is not an elevated part of his game. Strength of competition is a legitimate concern.

Conclusion: Though Evans does have a relatively reduced rate of efficiency against tougher competition, there are also games like the one he had against South Carolina in 2019, when he gained 85 yards on 23 carries and added two receptions for 32 yards. His tape doesn’t blow you away when projecting his NFL potential, but he absolutely has the toolkit to be a top-level backup or complementary piece in an NFL run game.

NFL Comparison: Tashard Choice. Like the Cowboys’ fourth-rounder in the 2008 draft, Evans combines gliding speed and underrated power to add value in an offense where quickness is needed.

10. La’mical Perine, Florida

Height: 5’11” Weight: 216
40-Yard Dash: 4.62 seconds
Bench Press: 22 reps
Vertical Jump: 35.0 inches
Broad Jump: 118.0 inches
3-Cone Drill: 7.13 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.31 seconds
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A

Bio: Perine never gained 1,000 yards in any season through four years for the Gators, but he also never had more than 136 carries in a season. His big breakout came during the Senior Bowl game, when he ran seven times for 62 yards and caught two passes for 17 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown reception from Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert. Perine’s last game for Florida — a 36-28 win for the Gators over Virginia — showed his ability to save the best for last. In that game, Perine ran the ball 13 times for 138 yards and two touchdowns, adding five catches for 43 yards and another score.

“A guy who can catch the ball out of the backfield, pass protect, anything,” Perine said of himself at the scouting combine. “I am a competitor and I feel like that is one of the biggest things they taught me at Florida, just to be able to compete. A lot of teams pretty much know I can run the ball, so they were also happy to see me catch the ball out of the backfield. You can’t be one-dimensional in this game, I feel like you have to be able to do everything and that is one of my biggest traits. I am not just a one-dimensional guy, I am able to catch the ball out of the backfield and do everything the NFL wants these days. I feel like I can contribute really early.”

Stat to Know: Perine has the ability to make plays as a runner and receiver, but he could use work in making bigger plays. Last season, he tied for 146th among backs in missed tackles forced (24), tied for 183rd in carries of 15 yards or more (7), and ranked 99th in yards after contact. Yes, he had just 132 carries in 2019, but it’s still a concern.

Strengths: Subtly sustaining back and receiver with intriguing production despite the lack of a signature move. Plays with an edge to blow off tackles and make plays in the open field as well as possible. Best on screens and pitchouts when he can use his low-to-the-ground running style and understanding of the passing game to help his offense. A great between-the-tackles back for his size due to vision and acceleration. Uses contact balance to generate yards after contact.

Weaknesses: Perine absolutely runs with an attitude, though that doesn’t always translate to extra yards. More smooth and methodical than violent and explosive in his running style. Pass protection is a work in progress.

Conclusion: While Perine isn’t the most spectacular back in this class, he is a hard-working player who will bring the best of what he’s got for his NFL team. He would be an excellent mid-round option for that alone.

NFL Comparison: Rashaad Penny. The Seahawks took Penny in the first round of the first round of the 2018 draft with the thought that he could be the versatile back they wanted as they transitioned to the post-Marshawn Lynch era. Like Penny, Perine doesn’t attack you with a bunch of overt traits, but he is a good sustainer who can add value to a multi-faceted offensive scheme.

11. Antonio Gibson, Memphis

Height: 6’0″ Weight: 228
40-Yard Dash: 4.39 seconds
Bench Press: 16 reps
Vertical Jump: 35.0 inches
Broad Jump: 118.0 inches
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A

Bio: After starring in football, basketball, and track at Eagle’s Landing High School in Atlanta, Gibson spent two seasons at East Central Community College in Mississippi, earning All-State honors. He was purely a receiver in his first year in Memphis, catching six passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns, giving the world a hint of his explosive potential. In 2019, he upped his game to 38 receptions for 735 yards and eight touchdowns, adding 33 carries for 369 yards and four more scores. He also returned 23 kickoffs for 645 yards and another touchdown in 2019. While Gibson certainly could be cast as a receiver, it’s his running back skills that have teams excited.

Stat to Know: Gibson is one of the NCAA’s most productive athletic freaks, albeit with a very small sample size. In 2019, he broke 16 tackles on 33 rushing attempts, and 17 tackles on 38 catches. To have a near-50% broken tackle rate on your touches for any period of time is… absolutely ridiculous.

Strengths: Built like a rocked-up tight end. Legit 4.4 speed at his size is rare, and it shows up on tape. Gibson’s combination of speed, power, and contact balance is like something out of a science fiction movie. His quickness shows up whether he’s running in a straight line or working his way across the field. As a receiver, he’s able to break away from safeties downfield just as well as he can stiff-arm a linebacker out of the play. As a runner, he works his cuts quickly enough to make defenders wonder what the heck is going on, and he can get right back up to speed after cutting. Arm tacklers will just bounce right off him.

Weaknesses: Limited exposure to the running back position shows up in Gibson’s newness to the nuances of the role. Runs high and straight too often and doesn’t yet understand how to vary his movement in traffic. Everything is a 95-mile-per-hour fastball at this point, though it’s one impressive fastball. Needs to learn the art of hands-catching, and the particulars of a full route tree.

Conclusion: The team that takes a chance on Gibson should be a team that understands his limitations as well as his athletic strengths. He could absolutely be a running back/receiver hybrid, and his kick return prowess adds a dimension that could get him on the field early.

NFL Comparison: Cordarrelle Patterson. The Vikings took the Tennessee alum in the first round of the 2013 draft despite Patterson’s inability to bring a sense of nuance to his positions as a receiver, runner, and returner. Patterson has enjoyed explosive moments in the first two categories and outright dominance in the third. Gibson may have even more raw athletic potential; the only question is, how many of the proverbial little things can he add to his palette?

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