The upcoming NFL Draft is set to take place April 30 through May 2 in Chicago, Illinois.
What follows is a breakdown of the Top Ten college running backs. Teams continue move up or down depending on their ability to make last minute deals.
Over the last few years the running back position has been downgraded somewhat. Running backs are injured so frequently that they are now thought to be interchangeable.
Top pros such as 26-year-old LeSean McCoy, a three-time All-Pro for the Eagles was traded away to Buffalo in the off season. 27-year-old DeMarco Murray led the NFL and set a Dallas Cowboys record with 1,845 rushing yards, yet he was not resigned and ended up in Philly and will play this season for the resident mad scientist of the NFL, coach Chip Kelley.
1. Todd Gurley (6’1”, 222 lbs.) Georgia
Gurley is a powerfully built, explosive running back with a major question mark – he played less than 40 per cent of the Bulldogs offensive plays in the last three years. He has shown flashes of brilliance playing for Georgia but he is coming back from a torn ACL.
Nevertheless, Gurley ran for 911 yards and scored nine touchdowns before he was hurt and he excelled in his rehab work and given the thumbs up from the docs with his medical evaluations. The strangest factoid of the entire draft is that scouts think Gurley light workload in college is a positive.
He can be great as long as he stays healthy. The word is that Gurley is damaged goods but the goods are great.
2. Melvin Gordon (6’1” 215 lbs.) Wisconsin
I love this guy, great attitude, big money back with outstanding acceleration. Gordon has the ability to break off long runs and he hits the gaps with bad intention and an eye for the end zone.
In the 2014 season, Gordon ran for 2,587 yards for the Badgers and scored 29 touchdowns. That’s a lot of mileage and a real talent for scoring.
3. Ameer Abdullah (5’9” 205 lbs.) Nebraska
Abdullah has great speed and because his low center of gravity he creates problems for one-on-one tacklers. Best way to tackle this guy is with a net, or gang tackling. He makes people miss.
He has the nice trait of always falling forward when he is hit and picked up 1,611 yards and scored 19 touchdowns last season for the Cornhuskers.
4. Duke Johnson (5’9” 207 lbs.) Miami
This guy flat out is the most explosive runner coming out of college ball and into the pros. He has Ferrari-type acceleration and a chippy attitude that either makes you miss, or as you are trying to make the tackle will give you the shoulder and deliver a blow.
Johnson ran for 1,652 yards and scored 10 touchdowns last season for the Hurricanes. He is not great coming out of the backfield and catching short passes and does not excel between the tackles but if Duke gets into open space – watch out.
5. Jay Ajayi (6′ 221 lbs.) Boise State
Power, speed and balance were the keys why the Broncos’ running back ran for 1, 823 yards and scored a phenomenal 28 touchdowns. He is a jump cut runner that hits the hole with authority.
However, sometimes looking for more daylight he lingers too long and you can’t get away that in the NFL.
6. Tevin Coleman (5’11” 206 lbs.) Indiana
Heads fakes and stutter steps are the signature moves of Coleman but he is an aggressive and savage runner. Coleman chalked up 2,036 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Hooisers last season.
Coleman struggles between the tackles but if he lands with the right team he can make his mark in the NFL because his is a tireless stud.
7. T.J. Yeldon (6’1” 226 lbs.) Alabama
The knock on Yeldon is that he runs straight up, but there’s no escaping he is a powerfully built exceptionally muscular runner that will make 190-pound cornerbacks wince if they have to tackle him.
What he does best is make one-cut and then explode to the hole. Yeldon racked up 979 yards and scored 11 touchdownss for the Tide this past college season.
8. David Cobb (5’11” 229 lbs.) Minnesota
Lacks great, or even good speed, however, Cobb is a stud that might make his name in short yardage situations. He is best described as a downhill runner that put up 1,626 yards and scored 13 touchdowns for the Golden Gophers last year. He is similar to Yeldon as a one-cut runner that is durable.
9. Buck Allen (6′ 221 lbs.) USC
I like Allen more than most sportswriters simply because I saw him play more for the Trojans the last several seasons. He is a quick, slashing, type of back that was not the first option for a Troy offense that was geared for the pass.
Nevertheless, Allen rumbled for 1,489 yards and 11 touchdowns. You never can tell where a star runner may emerge and Allen has played under the big lights in Los Angeles.
10. Mike Davis (5’9” 217 lbs.) South Carolina
Short, strong, and stout, Davis can move the pile and is best between the tackles. He is a compact runner that may lack vision but he can be a load to bring down.
Davis powered his way to 982 yards and nine touchdowns last season and along the way impressed the scouts with his durability and sledgehammer running style.
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