RB Draft Profiles....

[hawaiianboy]

*Adrian Peterson

College: Oklahoma Number: 28
Height: 6-2 Weight: 218


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Overview


Blessed with a perfect blend of size, speed, strength and field vision, the most decorated runner in Texas high school football continued to have great success at the collegiate level. Even playing for a school known for its storied history of running the football, Peterson etched his name into the Oklahoma record books numerous times during his short career with the Sooners.

Despite injury problems in his three seasons at Oklahoma (dislocated left shoulder, right high ankle sprain, broken right clavicle), Peterson became the first player in school history to eclipse 3,000 rushing yards in two seasons. He ranks second in school history with 747 rushing attempts (sixth in Big Twelve Conference annals), third with 4,045 rushing yards (fifth in conference history) and fourth with 41 touchdowns rushing. His 4,401 all-purpose yards are third on Oklahoma's all-time record list.

Peterson was a consensus National Player of the Year as a senior at Palestine High School. College Football News and Rivals.com rated him the best player in the prep ranks. Prep Star's National Offensive Player of the Year was also a first-team All-State choice.

He rushed for 2,960 yards on 252 attempts, an average of 11.7 yards per carry, and 32 touchdowns as a senior in 2003. He finished his junior season with 2,051 yards on 246 carries, an average of 8.3 yards per carry, and 22 scores. A talented athlete, he also competed in track-and-field and basketball.

Peterson announced that he would enroll at Oklahoma after rushing for two touchdowns in the 2003 U.S. Army High School All-American Game, leading the West squad with 95 yards on only nine carries. He would make an immediate impact on the collegiate scene for the Sooners in 2004. He finished second in the Heisman balloting, the highest ever by a freshman, and finished third in the voting for the Maxwell Award (player of the year).

That year, Peterson was a consensus All-American -- the first OU freshman to earn that honor. He was also the first freshman since Dre Bly in 1996 to be named to the Associated Press All-American squad, and the first freshman to be a Doak Walker Award finalist. He led the nation and set an NCAA freshman record with 339 rushing attempts (third highest in OU history) and ranked third nationally with 1,925 rushing yards (5.7 avg). He had 1,365 yards after contact, 71 percent of his net.

Peterson broke the OU single-season rushing record set in 1978 by Billy Sims (1,896) and the NCAA freshman record set in 1996 by Wisconsin's Ron Dayne (1,863). He also set the NCAA freshman marks for consecutive 100-yard rushing games (nine) and total 100-yard rushing games (11). His 11 total 100-yard games ranked second at OU (Quentin Griffin had 12 in 2002) and he also tied the NCAA freshman record for reaching 1,000 yards in the fewest games (seven) with Emmitt Smith (Florida, 1987) and Marshall Faulk (San Diego State, 1991). All that production came despite playing most of that season with a dislocated left shoulder suffered in fall practice that would require surgery after the season.

A right high ankle sprain limited Peterson's playing time in 2005. He missed the Baylor game and was sat out more than two quarters in each of four other games. Peterson still rushed for 1,108 yards and 14 touchdowns on 220 carries (5.1 avg) and averaged 104.91 all-purpose yards per game, but it was clear he was not the same back as his freshman season.

A right collarbone fracture would sideline Peterson for the team's final seven regular season games in 2006, but he still earned All-Big Twelve Conference first-team honors. He managed his third consecutive 1,000-yard season, picking up 1,012 yards with 12 touchdowns on 188 attempts (5.4 avg). He also showed solid receiving and return skills, making 10 catches for 136 yards and a score while returning seven kickoffs for 162 yards (23.1 avg). He raked in an average of 187.14 all-purpose yards per game.

In 31 games at Oklahoma, Peterson started 32 times. He ranks second in school annals with 747 carries and finished third in OU history with 4,045 yards on the ground (5.4 avg). He scored 41 times rushing and added 24 receptions for 198 yards (8.3 avg) and a score.

He gained 162 yards on seven kickoff returns (23.1 avg) and finished third on the school career record list with 4,401 all-purpose yards (141.96 ypg). His 252 points scored rank fifth among non-kickers and ninth overall in Oklahoma history. He finished second in OU annals with 22 100-yard and six 200-yard rushing performances, but also turned the ball over six times on 17 fumbles.





Analysis


Positives: Has a thick, defined chest, shoulders and arms, a tight waist, good bubble, thick thighs and calves with room on his frame to add more bulk...Possesses impressive strength, outstanding balance and quickness with that uncanny vision and awareness to quickly find the holes...Has the hip snap to easily change direction and shift gears, generating a sudden burst out of his cuts...His feet and body control enable him to pick his way through trash, and he keeps his feet after contact...Has the loose hips to make the initial tackler miss and is very good at anticipating the opponent's moves (gained 71 percent of his yardage after initial contact)...Excellent block reader who immediately sees the hole develop, and it is rare to see him makes his cuts too early...Tough runner who is very hard to bring down once he builds to top speed...Likes to lower his head and drive through with his legs after contact, but also has the agility to bounce off tackles and redirect rather than trying to overpower the opponent constantly (used to try to run over guys earlier in his career, but used cutback lanes more often in 2006)....His quick cutting skills mean he doesn't have to gear down to change direction...Can drop his pads and shift gears quickly, maintaining that burst through his cuts...Quick to attack the inside holes and has the acceleration to separate once he clears the trash...Has that natural feel for the holes, quickly anticipating the opening...Has also shown the patience to set up and use his blockers...Started running with pitter-patter steps in 2006, as it allowed him to maintain body control to slide through the holes...Shifts gears naturally and can make crisp cuts to turn and head up field...When he keeps his pads low, he punishes the defender and can move the pile...Has the balance to stay up on his feet after contact and will lower his head or bounce off tackles to compete for extra yardage...His strength is evident when he sticks his hat into the defender, and he has also developed into a decent cut blocker, showing effectiveness to face up and stone when working in space...His deceptive leg thrusts lets him bounce off the opponent while maintaining top speed...Has good lateral quickness and fluid pick-and-slide agility.

Negatives: Looks natural running with the ball in his hands, but needs to be more conscious of protecting it, as most of his 17 fumbles came after he hit the ground...Has a lot of Eddie George in him, as he seems to be too erect in his stride taking the ball up the middle, but he has the lower leg strength to break tackles and is effective at lowering his shoulder to move the pile...Will sometimes revert to trying to run over the opponent, but considering his two bad shoulders and chronic ankle problems, he is better served trying to escape rather than overpower...Even when running at full speed, he knows how to use his blockers, but ball security rears its ugly head when he fails to square up on contact...Shows the make-you-miss burst in the open, but will sometimes take a side...Has very good balance and runs with powerful strides, but loses his power base at times when he gets too upright in his stance...Needs route refinement, as he has the quickness to separate underneath, but it was rare to see him run intermediate or long patterns...Needs to do a better job of eyeing the ball on pitch-outs...Seems to let the ball get into his body too much and will double catch it (just an adequate safety valve working underneath).

 

[hawaiianboy]

*Marshawn Lynch



College: California Number: 10
Height: 5-11 Weight: 220

Overview

When J.J. Arrington graduated after the 2004 season, the Golden Bears coaching staff were concerned about their running back unit. Enter Marshawn Lynch, who would then spend the next two seasons becoming only the second player in school history to gain over 1,000 yards on the ground in consecutive years. The talented tailback decided to forgo his final year of eligibility to enter the 2007 NFL Draft. However, there will be no questions about the Cal running unit next season, as Lynch turns the job over to the capable hands of the younger player he mentored - Justin Forsett.

Lynch was a Prep Star and Super Prep All-American and the San Francisco Chronicle's East Bay Player of the Year after he rushed for 1,722 yards and caught 17 passes in eight regular season games in 2003 at Oakland Tech. He added an additional 375 yards rushing and 115 yards receiving (on seven catches) in two postseason games, including in Tech's 55-47 upset over Skyline High in the Silver Bowl, in which he rushed for 233 yards and scored six times.

Marshawn was ranked the third-best overall player in Northern California by NorCal Preps.com his senior year and Rivals.com ranked him the tenth-best running back in the nation and the ninth-best overall player on its Super West 60 list. He was rated the best running back on the West Coast by Student Sports magazine and Super Prep tabbed him sixteenth among running backs nationally and the eighth-best overall player in California. He was also a member of the Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West first-team.

Lynch tallied 53 touchdowns over his last two seasons, amassing 33 total scores in final season, including ten in the playoffs. He rushed for 1,320 yards, caught 23 passes and totaled twenty touchdowns as a junior. Marshawn closed out his career as the school's first three-time All-League first-team selection.

Marshawn enrolled at California in 2004 and immediately showed why he was rated one of the nation's premier prep players. He appeared in twelve games behind J.J. Arrington at tailback, gaining 628 yards with eight touchdowns (8.8 avg) on 71 carries, earning Fresh-man All-American honors. He ranked third in the Pac-10 Conference with a 24.8-yard average on fifteen kickoff returns, good for 372 yards. He caught nineteen passes for 147 yards (7.7 avg) and two scores, adding 34 yards and a touchdown as he completed both of his pass attempts. He recorded two solo tackles, scored 60 points and generated 1,147 all-purpose yards, averaging 95.58 yards per game.

Despite ranking ninth in the nation with an average of 164.2 all-purpose yards per game, Lynch was accorded only All-Pac 10 Conference honorable mention. He started nine of ten games, missing two contests with a broken finger, but still managed to lead the team and rank third in the Pac-10 with an average of 124.6 yards per game on the ground. He rushed 196 times for 1,246 yards (6.4 avg) and ten touchdowns. Marshawn also grabbed fifteen passes for 125 yards (8.3 avg) and completed 1-of-2 passes for a 21-yard score. He had one solo tackle, thirteen kickoff returns for 271 yards (20.8 avg) and ranked second on the team in scoring with 60 points.

Lynch was named All-American and All-Pac 10 Conference first-team, adding Pac 10 Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2006. Despite playing with two ankle sprains and a sore back most of the year, he led the conference in both rushing (104.31 ypg) and all-purpose yardage (137.31 ypg). He started eleven of thirteen games, leading the team with 1,356 yards and eleven touchdowns on 223 attempts (6.1 avg). He snared 34 passes for 328 yards (9.6 avg) and four scores and recorded a pair of tackles. He scored 90 points, returned five kickoffs for 101 yards (20.2 avg) and totaled 1,785 all-purpose yards.

Marshawn played in 35 games at California, starting twenty times. He became the fourth player in school history to rush for over 3,000 yards in a career, carrying 490 times for 3,230 yards (6.6 avg) and 29 touchdowns. He caught 68 passes for 600 yards (8.8 avg) and six scores. He completed 3-of-4 passes for 55 yards and two touchdowns, adding 744 yards on 33 kickoff returns (22.5 avg). Lynch recorded five tackles (4 solos) and gained 4,574 all-purpose yards, an average of 130.69 yards per game.



Analysis

Positives: Has a solid build with good upper body muscle definition, big bubble, thick thighs, high calves, broad shoulders, good chest thickness…Can generate a second gear to separate in the open and has the nimble feet needed to make precise lateral cuts…His loose hips and change of direction agility makes him very elusive avoiding traffic…Keeps his feet after contact and has the pick-&-slide agility to elude when running in-line…Runs with a normal stride, but is very crisp redirecting on the move…Has a good understanding of the offense and blocking schemes…Shows the vision to locate the soft areas in the zone and shows no hesitation redirecting when the rush lanes are clogged…Effective blocker and a tough inside runner who loves to challenge the defender in one-on-one situations…Will aggressively take on a tackler and will sacrifice his body to compete for the pass over the middle…Mentally tough character who doesn't let some mistakes take him out of his game…Highly respected by his teammates and staff, bringing a good attitude into the locker room with his work ethic and ability to keep the players "loose."

Shows good in-stride quickness when adjusting his direction and can clear the line of scrimmage in an instant when he keeps his pad level down…Has a quick burst out of his stance and shows steady acceleration on his long runs…Has that competitive quickness and balance, along with loose hips to redirect and separate in the open…Excels at finding the cutback lanes…Has the ability to bounce off the tackle and make the initial defender miss…Patient runner who gets most of his success because of his feel for the rush lanes, as it is rare to see him run into traffic…Downhill runner with the slippery moves and change of direction agility to get through trash…Very good stop-&-go runner, whose precise cutting agility will generally see the initial tackler over-pursue…Compensates for a lack of sudden sustained speed with very good lateral slide and veer moves to avoid…His balance lets him keep his feet, redirect and race through the cutback lanes to gain additional yardage after contact…Has soft, natural hands, doing a good job of catching the ball outside his frame…Possesses the vision to look the ball in over his outside shoulder and the cutting agility to separate after the catch…Willing blocker with a good eye for picking up the blitz…Shows good intent and aggression chipping on edge rushers and gives the quarterback enough room to operate when protecting the pocket.

Negatives: Not an explosive runner around the corner, but shows very good patience waiting for blocks to develop…Has good body lean, but sometimes gets too high in his stance when attempting to race into the second level, failing to sidestep low blocks in the process…Can be tripped up when he gets too tall in his stance, as he does not always protect his feet from shoestring tackles…Knows how to get skinny through tight creases, but needs to improve his leg drive, as he is not the type to move the piles…Will sometimes get too fancy and execute multiple moves (see 2006 Washington State, Washington and UCLA games), allowing the defender to recover…Needs to distribute the ball better to keep it away from the defenders (see 2006 Minnesota and Stanford games and 2005 Sacramento State and Oregon State contests) to prevent costly fumbles…Protects the ball better running through traffic than when bouncing outside, but also struggled some when handling pitch-outs.

Compares To: JOSEPH ADDAI-Indianapolis…Lynch is a slippery inside runner, who like Addai, is a patient ball carrier who has that second gear needed to break away from the pile. He has the acceleration to separate from defenders in the open, excellent arm strength for the option pass and natural hands as a receiver coming out of the backfield.

 

[hawaiianboy]

Michael Bush

College: Louisville Number: 19
Height: 6-2 Weight: 248



Overview

After his record-breaking performance in 2005, many experts were anointing Bush as the strong favorite to win 2006 Heisman Trophy honors. After the first half of the season opener that year, most football people agreed that Michael was well on his way to another fantastic season. But, only three minutes into the second half of the Kentucky clash, Bush suffered a right leg fracture that would bring his season and possible Louisville career to a close. Bush could apply for a medical hardship and return to the Cardinals in 2007, but early indications are that he will be fully healthy for the next season and plans to test his wares in the National Football League instead of returning to the collegiate ranks.

Called the best prep running back produced in the state of Kentucky and the city of Louisville since the Paul Hornung era, Michael spent his senior campaign at Male High School playing quarterback after seeing action at running back, wide receiver, defensive back, linebacker and defensive end over his career. He was regarded as the nation's top-rated safety and sixth-overall prospect by ESPN's Tom Lemming and the nation's 12th-ranked prospect by CollegeFootballNews.com. Bush was the nation's 26th-ranked prospect by The Sporting News, a four-star prospect by both TheInsiders.com and Rivals.com and rated the nation's 14th overall prospect by TheInsiders.com.

Bush was chosen Kentucky's Mr. Football as a senior after leading Male High to a 14-1 record and an appearance in the state title game. He was selected co-first-team Associated Press All-State quarterback, co-Paul Hornung Award winner, won the Frank Camp Award, won the Roy Kidd Award, was named Student Sports National Athlete of the Week and was named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution All-Southern team. He was also named to Fox Sports Net South's CTSD All-South first-team and was the top vote getter for the 2001 Football All-State team at five different positions as a junior, when he hauled in 64 passes for 1,090 yards and 22 scores.

As a senior, Michael completed 190 of 304 passes (62.5%) for 2,891 yards and 35 touch-downs, rushed 131 times for 911 yards and seven scores and caught 17 passes for 152 yards and three touchdowns. He completed 33 of 47 passes for 468 yards and six touch-downs, rushed 24 times for 116 yards and a score and caught two passes for 24 yards in Male's 59-56 loss in the state finals.

Bush wrapped up his prep career ranked fourth in the state record books in career receiving yards with 180 catches for 3,031 yards (16.8 avg) and 37 touchdowns. He also rushed 256 times for 1,581 yards (6.2 avg) and 25 scores and completed 221 of 385 passes (57.4%) for 3,379 yards and 40 touchdowns.

Michael enrolled at Louisville in 2003, starting four of thirteen games. He was a member of the Conference USA All-Freshman team, as he finished third on the squad with 503 yards and six touchdowns on 81 carries (6.2 avg). He snared seventeen passes for 240 yards (14.1 avg) and a score while adding 48 yards on three kickoff returns (16.0 avg). Michael also completed 4-of-11 passes for 67 yards and a pair of touchdowns while recording two solo tackles.

Despite starting only four of twelve games in 2004, he ranked second on the team with 132 carries for 734 yards (5.6 avg) and seven touchdowns. Bush made eleven catches for 155 yards, gained 40 yards on two kickoff returns and hit on 1-of-2 throws for a 48-yard score to fellow tailback Kolby Smith. He also registered three tackles (2 solos).

In 2005, Bush set school season-records for rushing touchdowns (23) and points scored (144). He led the nation in scoring with an average of 14.4 points per game, picking up All-Big East Conference first-team accolades. He ranked second in the conference with an average of 114.3 yards rushing and 139.6 all-purpose yards per game. He started eight of ten games he played in, sitting out the Rutgers and Syracuse contests with a left foot bruise. Still, he paced the squad with 1,143 yards and 23 touchdowns on 205 attempts (5.6 avg). He was fifth on the team with 21 receptions for 253 yards (12.0 avg) and a score and also attempted one pass.

In a little over one half game of action in 2006, Bush piled up 128 yards on seventeen carries with three touchdowns, ranking fifth on the squad in rushing. He also had a 3-yard catch. In 36 games at Louisville, Michael started seventeen times. He finished with 2,508 yards and 39 touchdowns on 435 carries (5.8 avg). He caught 50 passes for 651 yards (13.0 avg) and two scores while completing 5-of-14 passes (35.7%) for 115 yards and three touchdowns. He also recorded five tackles (4 solos) and returned five kickoffs for 88 yards (17.6 avg).



Analysis

Positives: For a player of his size, he shows very good foot agility and balance…Takes short, pitter-patter steps and demonstrates the loose hips to change direction and come out of his breaks with an explosive up field burst…Very crisp planting and driving in his route cuts and has the feel for the crease and vision to locate the cutback lane…Intense competitor who will do whatever the coaches ask if it will help the team…It is very rare to see him run out of bounds with the ball, as he feels he can be more productive sinking his pads and driving with his legs to drag the opponent for extra yardage rather than taking the easy way out…Has that deceptive burst that allows him to surprise a lethargic defender…Does a nice job of changing angles, but can also build up to top speed quickly when operating deep in the backfield…Is not going to run away from defenders in the open just on pure speed, but can change gears, lower his pads and redirect smoothly to get past the second level (39 runs for 10 or more yards in 2005)…Shows patience waiting for holes to develop, but it is his ability to see the cutback lanes that is the result for his long run success.

Most big backs tend to get erect in their stance, but Bush is capable of sinking his hips and keeping his pad level low…Because of his patience waiting for blocks to develop, Bush has had good success through the cutback lanes or bouncing outside to get big yardage…Has the loose hips to redirect and is quite nimble in the open for a player of his size…Even though he is a good downhill runner, his lateral bounce is more effectively used running outside…Does a nice job of staying low in his pads and has the smooth stride moving laterally to make the initial tackler miss…Can either juke the defender or slide step to elude…Sets up his cuts nicely when sliding and has the feet to take the ball long distances…Not only is Bush a capable third-down receiver, he has the natural hands and arm extension to catch away from his frame (13 of his 21 catches in 2005 produced first downs)…Catches the ball cleanly and does a good job extending for the off-target throws…Has that deceptive quickness to get open underneath and does a nice job adjusting and settling in the soft areas.

Negatives: Has a thick frame that can carry additional bulk, but needs to add overall muscle definition…Has a soft midsection, big bubble, good lower frame thickness, but only adequate strength…Adequate student with a mediocre Wonderlic score (12) that might set off some red flags, but has a natural feel for the crease and the ability to recognize coverages…Will need to improve his overall strength for the next level, as he is not a power back who will obliterate tacklers that get in his way, but does use his size and leg drive efficiently to break tackles…Adequate performer who needs structure in the training and dining room tables, as his weight has been a problem in the past and his lack of overall muscle tone is the result of his dislike for lifting weights, though he seems to be conforming more to the program in the last year…Still has that mentality that he would much rather avoid and elude defenders rather than run over them…With more lower body strength and a better compact build, it will allow him to gain better success in attempts to run through arm tackles down field…Despite his mass, he is not a pile mover (stopped 13 times for losses and 19 times for no gain in ten 2005 games) working inside and needs to get stronger in order to attack the second level…In the 2005 Cincinnati game, he failed to distribute the ball away from the defender, resulting in three lost fumbles…Willing in-line blocker who uses his body well to occupy the smaller defenders at the line of scrimmage, but his lack of ideal power is evident when facing up to the down linemen…Tries to square up, but lacks the strong hand punch to lock on and sustain.

Compares To: GREG JONES-Jacksonville…Bush is not as well-built or strong as Jones, but when both are healthy, they are capable of moving the chains with their deceptive speed, stutter-step running style and natural hands as a catcher out of the backfield. Both have had injury issues that have affected their play in recent years, though.

 

[hawaiianboy]

*Antonio Pittman


College: Ohio State Number: 25
Height: 5-11 Weight: 195


Overview


Pittman is a strong inside runner with the valid foot speed and change of direction agility to make the initial tackler miss. A two-year starter at Ohio State, he is known for his ball security, having turned the ball over only two times during his career on 557 rushing attempts. He has also proven to be an adequate safety valve as a receiver coming out of the backfield.

Pittman was a standout performer at Buchtel High School. He earned All-Ohio honors as a senior, despite being bothered all year by a turf toe injury that would sideline him for three games. He still managed to lead the team with 1,300 yards rushing, averaging more than 12.0 yards per carry while rushing for 17 touchdowns.

Pittman enrolled at Ohio State in time to compete during 2004 spring drills, giving him a jump-start to be able to play in 10 games as a reserve tailback. A thigh bruise in his collegiate debut vs. Cincinnati would force Pittman to miss the Marshall game, but he still finished second on the team with 381 yards and a touchdown on 72 carries (5.3 avg). He added 26 yards on six catches and also made a stop behind the line of scrimmage with a solo tackle.

Pittman took over feature tailback duties in 2005, starting all 12 games. He ranked fifth in the Big Ten Conference in rushing, averaging 110.92 yards per game. He picked up a career-high 1,331 yards with seven touchdowns on 243 attempts (5.5 avg) and ranked fourth on the team with 17 receptions for 161 yards (9.5 avg). He also ranked ninth in the conference with an average of 124.3 all-purpose yards per game.

The talented tailback was named first-team All-Big Ten by the league's coaches in 2006. He was limited in spring and fall camps with a hamstring injury, but started all 13 games, leading the team for the second consecutive year with 242 rushes for 1,233 yards (5.1 avg) and 14 touchdowns. He caught 14 passes for 127 yards (9.1 avg) and scored 84 points while amassing 1,360 all-purpose yards.

In 35 games at Ohio State, Pittman started 25 times. He totaled 2,945 yards with 22 touchdowns on 557 carries (5.3 avg). He gained 314 yards on 37 receptions (8.5 avg) and scored 132 points. He also made two solo tackles and piled up 3,259 all-purpose yards, an average of 93.11 yards per game.





Analysis


Positives: Has a well-developed upper body frame with good thigh and calf thickness...
Normal strider with good initial quickness and a short burst...Runs with good balance and agility and has decent run strength and power for his size...Runs with good forward body lean, showing the jump cut agility to redirect...Has the hip swivel to generate a lateral slide...Plays with solid adjustment-and-move ability...Has good snap in his body to generate a burst coming out of his stance...Has adequate vision and awareness to pick and slide, showing little hesitation choosing a rush lane...Good inside runner whose low pad level enables him to gain leverage...Does a decent job of stepping through and avoiding inside trash...Not used much to bounce outside, but when he picks a seam, he hits it with good urgency...Reads his blocks effectively working in space and would be even more effective in the open field if he can keep his pads down (tends to get a bit erect running in space)...Appears to have good ball security, losing only two of four fumbles on 557 chances...Will take what his blockers give him, but has a good feel for squeezing through tight areas running through traffic...If given a clear lane, he has the functional timed speed to take the ball the distance, and you see some dart ability in attempts to elude...Adequate pass blocker with quick feet to mirror, but is more the type who will occupy a defender rather than blow him up.

Negatives: Understands the game, but is not the type who puts in extra hours watching film...Good inside runner, but needs to improve his leg strength, as he lacks power to push the pile...Runs at a good pad level through the hole to gain leverage, but tends to get too upright in his stance going long distances (looks as if he throttles down)...Can be elusive and make the initial tackler miss, but tries to overpower defenders too much and he does not have the leg drive to break tackles...Nothing special as a receiver, being used mostly on screens and dump-offs...Has marginal route running ability, as he turns too late to look the ball in...Has a small window to catch the ball and it is rare to see him extend and snatch away from his frame...Plays soft and shies away from defensive linemen after getting run over on the bull rush (needs to be more assertive, as he tries to finesse)...Has had only one game in which he carried more than 30 times (Illinois in 2006) during his collegiate career.

Compares To: ADRIAN PETERSON-Chicago...There aren't too many 200-pound tailbacks carrying the brunt of the rushing load in the NFL, as the league tends to feature bigger runners. Like Peterson, Pittman has good inside running ability, but needs to keep his pad level down on runs to the perimeter. He is nothing special as a receiver, but knows how to get skinny to slip through tight areas running between the tackles.

 

[hawaiianboy]

Kenny Irons

College: Auburn Number: 23
Height: 5-11 Weight: 202




Overview

Ever since Jimmy Hitchcock garnered All-American honors for Auburn in 1932, the Tigers have had a long history of standout tailbacks perform at the school. The South Carolina transfer stepped in and filled the void created by the departure of NFL first-round draft picks Carnell Williams (Tampa Bay) and Ronnie Brown (Miami) in 2005, as Kenny proved to be a capable replacement for that tandem as Auburn's featured back.

The consensus All-American and All-Southeastern preseason selection was hoping to improve upon his junior season performance in 2006 and make a serious run at the Heisman Trophy. However, a series of injuries would sidetrack that quest, forcing him to miss two games and be at less than 100% in most of the other contests he played in. Still, most personnel experts regard Irons as one of the premier prospects at his position for the 2007 NFL Draft.

The Dacula High School product earned Prep Star All-American honors as a senior and was rated the 14th-best running back in the country by that recruiting service. He ran for 1,985 yards that year and was a member of The Sporting News' Top 25 squad. Kenny was named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super 11 team, selected the Gwinnett County Back of the Year and Atlanta Touchdown Club Back of the Week his final campaign. He also played in the 2001 Georgia/Florida High School All-Star Football Game.

After being heavily recruited, Irons chose South Carolina over Michigan, Auburn, Clemson and Georgia. He appeared in seven games as a true freshman in 2002, picking up 201 yards on 47 carries (4.3 avg). He added 63 yards and a touchdown on four receptions (15.8 avg) and gained 13 yards on one kickoff return. In 2003, Irons was listed far down on head coach Lou Holtz's depth chart at tailback. He appeared in only five games, as he was limited to nineteen runs for 51 yards (2.7 avg) and a touchdown. He also had two catches for 8 yards.

After his sophomore season, Irons decided it was time to transfer. Hoping for more playing time and wishing to be reunited with his older brother, David, both siblings enrolled at Auburn in 2004. Kenny was forced to sit out the season under NCAA transfer rules. David, who came over from Butler County Community College, was granted a medical hardship after the cornerback suffered a knee injury in preseason camp.

With Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown having entered the National Football League, Kenny emerged as the Tigers' starting tailback in 2005. He was an All-Southeastern Conference first-team selection, as he led the SEC and ranked 21st nationally with an average of 107.75 yards per game rushing. Irons ran 256 times for 1,293 yards and thirteen touchdowns. He made fourteen catches for 164 yards (11.7 avg) and gained 2 yards on one punt return.

In 2006, Kenny appeared in ten games, missing two contests and playing most of the year at less than 100% due to turf toe, a groin pull, a high ankle sprain and a bruised fibula. He still managed to pick up All-SEC first-team honors from the league's coaches, as he ranked third in the conference in rushing, averaging 82.1 yards per game. He led the team with 821 yards and four touchdowns on 174 attempts (4.7 avg). He snared nine passes for 76 yards (8.4 avg) and amassed 897 all-purpose yards.

In twelve games at South Carolina, Kenny started once. He rushed 66 times for 252 yards (3.8 avg) and one touchdown for the Gamecocks. He also had six receptions for 71 yards (11.89 avg), including one score and returned a kickoff 13 yards. In 22 games at Auburn, Irons started eighteen times. He totaled 2,114 yards on 430 chances (4.9 avg) with seventeen touchdowns. He caught 23 passes for 240 yards (10.4 avg) and had one punt return for a 2-yard gain.

For his entire collegiate career, Irons collected 2,366 yards with eighteen touchdowns on 496 rushes (4.8 avg). He hauled in 29 passes for 311 yards (10.7 avg) and one score. Kenny also gained 13 yards on one kickoff return and 2 yards on a punt return. He amassed 2,624 all-purpose yards, an average of 77.18 yards per game.



Analysis

Positives: Much more quicker than he is fast, but shows very good explosion and burst coming out of his stance…Attacks the holes with good pad level and forward body lean… Has that ease-of-movement agility to change direction and locate the cutback lanes without having to throttle down…Shows crisp plant and drive agility to get to his top speed in an instant and shows good up field cutting ability…Intense competitor who will not hesitate to "bang it up" the middle of the line, despite concerns about his overall strength…Builds acceleration instantly and is a very sudden player with the loose hips, wiggle and head fakes to simply fool a lethargic defender…Quick through the holes, staying low in his pads while generating the forward body lean to generate valid positive yardage, even in tight areas…Can also rock the defenders back on their heels with his stop-&-go action…Shows an explosive burst through the holes and the speed to escape second level defenders to break away for a long run (see 2006 Washington State and 2005 Ball State and LSU games)…Alert to cutback lanes and works hard to set the plays up… When he finds the rush lane, he has the balance and agility to pick and slide through that hole…It is rare to see him go down on first contact because of the way he keeps his body lean moving forward.

Won't ever be confused for Craig "Ironhead" Heyward taking the ball up the gut and can't be considered a power runner, but, he has that sudden burst to squeeze through tight areas and the leg drive to side-step or run over smaller defenders to get past the second level…Because he plays at that low pad level, he consistently gets leverage and is fluid in his pick and slide…Won't be easily tripped up because of his above average balance…Too slippery to be neutralized by arm tackles or from defenders trying to take out his legs…While his pick and slide ability is effective, he is just better using cutback lanes than trying to out-run his blocking to get past tacklers…Has that body control and balance to redirect without having to vary his speed…Knows his second gear is much more effective at eluding tacklers rather than trying to juke or wiggle away from them…Darting runner who doesn't have the leg drive to power through tacklers, but is tough to bring down in isolated coverage…The thing you notice on film is his ability to out-run angles and squeeze through holes without having to throttle down…Fast-twitched in his route progression and has the quick pitter-patter steps to ride up on a defender and gobble the cushion.

Negatives: Developing better overall muscle tone, but is not as strong as the Auburn runners in the past (Carnell Williams/Ronnie Brown)…Has room on his frame to carry additional bulk, but could probably fill out only to 215 pounds before seeing the additional weight start to affect his quickness…Needs more than a few reps to retain and while he plays with good field vision, he might struggle a bit with a complicated playbook, as he needs help in digesting his assignments…Has to do a better job with his vision in reading blocks in space, but has improved the last year…When he fails to run behind his pads, he will get stymied in attempts to take the defender on straight-up…Needs to work on his ball security mechanics, as he gets a bit careless distributing the ball to keep it away from the defender…Seems to prefer to catch in a small window rather than pluck for the ball…Is adequate on screens due to his body control, but has not seen much more than controlled routes (struggles some when asked to operate on crossers or attack the deep seam, as he looks awkward tracking the ball in flight)…Explodes into his routes to gobble up the cushion, but lacks recognition skills to know when to work back to the ball when the quarterback is pressured…Gets run over too much trying to pick up the blitz or bull rush, as he lacks the base strength to hold his ground firmly…When he tries to face up vs. the bigger defenders, his marginal hand placement technique sees that opponent easily slip off his blocking attempt.

Compares To: JERIOUS NORWOOD-Atlanta…Like Norwood, Irons' explosive initial quickness lets him gain instant leverage on any defender. Both are not considered power runners, but because of their burst and low pad level, they have been able to gain valid yardage between tackles. When either of these runners turn the corner, that second gear takes over and their foot race is easily won.

 

[hawaiianboy]

Tony Hunt


College: Penn State Number: 26
Height: 6-0 Weight: 225


Overview

Tony Hunt is a big, physical power runner who quietly goes about his business, but has made a lasting impression in Penn State football folklore. He is only the fifth player in the school's storied history to rush for over 3,000 yards in a career and the sixth to rush for over 1,000 yards in more than one season.

The former standout at T.C. Williams High School, made famous in the Denzel Washington movie "Remember the Titans," Hunt excelled in football, basketball and track. He was a Washington Post second-team All-Metro selection and was named to George Michael's Golden Eleven team. He was selected the Alexandria Sportsman Club Player-of-the-Year for 2002-03.

The team captain and MVP ran for 1,243 yards and scored fourteen touchdowns, as well as making seventeen catches for 343 yards and three scores in his senior season. He totaled 2,794 yards rushing and 30 touchdowns, in addition to intercepting three passes as a defensive back during his career. Hunt also finished eighth in the state in the discus as a junior.

Hunt was listed third on the depth chart at halfback as a true freshman at Penn State in 2003. He rushed for 110 yards and a touchdown on 34 carries (3.2 avg). He started nine of eleven contests as a sophomore, leading the team with 169 carries for 777 yards (4.6 avg) and seven scores. He also paced the Nittany Lions with 39 receptions for 334 yards (8.6 avg), attempted two passes, recorded two solo tackles and returned eight kickoffs for 112 yards (14.0 avg). For the season, Tony amassed 1,223 all-purpose yards, close to double the amount of the next Penn State player.

Tony was awarded All-Big Ten Conference second-team honors in 2005. He started eleven times, leading the Lions with 1,047 yards and six touchdowns on 174 rushing attempts (6.0 avg). He was fourth on the squad with twenty catches for 206 yards (10.3 avg) and posted one solo tackle. He finished the year with 1,253 all-purpose yards, but the season ended on a sour note, when an ankle injury in the Orange Bowl would sideline him for most of that game.

Despite ranking fourteenth in the nation in rushing with a career-high 1,228 yards and eleven touchdowns on 246 chances (5.0 avg), Hunt was just a second-team All-Big Ten Conference pick in 2006. He ranked fourth on the team with 252 yards and three scores on 26 catches (9.7 avg) and made one solo tackle. He scored 84 points, ranking seventh in the league with an average of 7.0 points per game. Hunt ranked third in the Big Ten with an average of 123.33 all-purpose yards per game.

In 44 games at Penn State, Tony started 32 times. He ranks fifth in school history with 3,162 yards on 623 carries (5.1 avg) and 25 touchdowns. He hauled in 87 passes for 792 yards (9.1 avg) and three scores. He posted four solo tackles and returned eight kickoffs for 112 yards (14.0 avg). He also scored 168 points and totaled 4,066 all-purpose yards, the fourth-best total in Penn State annals.



Analysis

Positives: Has a solid build with a muscular lower body frame, good thickness in his thighs and calves, good bubble, broad shoulders, tight waist and room on his frame to add at least another ten pounds of bulk…Doesn't have the breakaway speed to pull away from the pile, but his balance and strength let him run over and through the initial tackle when he keeps his pads down…Shows good field vision and awareness running with the ball and is quick to locate the cutback lanes…Is the type that will lower his head to get extra yardage after contact than to look to run out of bounds…Comes out of his stance with decent initial quickness, but it is his balance and body control, rather than explosion, that helps him build to top speed through the holes…When he keeps his pad level low, he shows a good forward body lean through the rush lanes…Effective at varying his speed and setting up defenders with his moves rather than generating suddenness off the snap…Shows the vision to quickly recognize coverages and has a good feel for the defender and the power to run through his opponent.

Won't generate any special moves to create much space on his own, but has the leg drive to gain valid yardage on the move…Does a nice job of lowering his shoulders, leaning forward and driving with his legs to break the initial tackle…Capable of anticipating the defender's moves and runs with good forward lean and strength to gain valid yardage after initial contact…Won't win long distance races, but has enough of a functional initial burst to at least move the chains consistently (43 runs for ten yards or longer in 2006)…Has good reach and extension to catch away from his frame…Has good vision awareness and arm flexibility to get to the off-target throws and it is rare to see him use his body as a crutch to field the ball…Will not hesitate to face up when blocking in-line and generates a strong hand punch and solid placement to sustain…Coming out of his stance, he keeps his pads down, getting the tough yardage through trash…Has a natural feel for cutback lanes and the instincts to know when to redirect and bounce outside.

Negatives: When he tends to get erect and high in his stance, he can be pushed back through the rush lanes (tackled for a loss 32 times and stopped for no gain 16 times in 2006)…Has a good short area burst, but not the sustained speed to threaten in the deep secondary…Shows a strong stiff-arm to defeat the initial tackle, but lacks the wiggle and shake to elude…Gives good effort to keep his feet and adjust when navigating through tight areas, but his problems arise when he gets too high in his stance, as defenders can then attack his legs and bring him down…Can accelerate some on his cuts, but is just adequate taking the ball long distances…Has functional lateral quickness, but it is rare to see him juke and disappear from the pile turning the corner…The only time he gets turned back is when he runs too tall through the creases or tries to get fancy by juking a defender along the perimeter…Has the large hands and strong upper body frame to protect the ball, but most of his fumbles (six in 2006) came when he failed to distribute the ball away from the defender when trying to bounce wide or when he got too erect punching the ball up the middle (ball was exposed)…Needs to run sharper routes to be considered more than a safety valve receiver and must generate better hip snap to get in and out of his breaks cleanly than he has displayed.

Compares To: KEVAN BARLOW-New York Jets…Hunt is much more productive in 2006 than Barlow, but both rely on power and balance to gain the tough yardage between the tackles. Hunt is a decent short area receiver with the strength to consistently break tackles, but his timed speed is not going to see him win many foot races in the open. If you are looking for a breakaway threat, look elsewhere. If you are looking for a physical chain mover, Hunt is that type.

 

[hawaiianboy]

*Darius Walker


College: Notre Dame Number: 3
Height: 5-10 Weight: 212


Coming soon....

 

[hawaiianboy]

DeShawn Wynn


College: Florida Number: 21
Height: 5-11 Weight: 232



Overview

After starting just six of his first 32 games at Florida, Wynn was ready to take over as the team's featured back in 2006. Even though he started ten games during his final campaign, a rash of injury problems limited his playing time and effectiveness most of the season. Built more in the lines of a fullback, DeShawn has the outstanding field vision and cutback agility that some teams are comparing to that of former Carolina Panthers All-Pro and present St. Louis Rams tailback Stephen Davis.

At Reading High School, Wynn was regarded as one of the nation's elite running backs in the nation in 2001. He was a consensus All-American selection, including being named to the prestigious Parade All-American Team. National Bluechips ranked him first in the nation in its speed running back category. He was also chosen to Prep Star's Dream Team and that publication ranked him among the nation's top twelve rushers.

Wynn was a member of Super Prep's All-American Team and that publication ranked him among the country's top fifteen running backs. He also ranked among the nation's top-four running backs by Rivals.com. DeShawn rushed for 2,000 yards and registered at least thirty touchdowns in three of four seasons at the school. As a senior, he totaled 2,283 yards (9.3 avg) and thirty scores.

DeShawn enrolled at Florida in 2002, spending the season performing on the scout team. He added over ten pounds of bulk to his frame that year and became part of the Gators' running back rotation in 2003. Despite performing as a reserve in thirteen contests, he ranked third on the team with 115 carries for 540 yards (4.7 avg) and seven touchdowns that season. He also made twelve catches for 82 yards (6.8 avg) and a score, finishing with 622 all-purpose yards.

Wynn played in eight games as a reserve in 2004, missing the final four contests after injuring his groin vs. Georgia. He still ranked third on the squad with 217 yards and five touchdowns on 58 attempts (3.7 avg). He caught five passes for 75 yards (15.0 avg) and registered 292 all-purpose yards.

In 2005, Wynn stopped talking to the media. He ran afoul of the new coaching staff in preseason drills. On one practice, the coaches were looking for him to run a play, but he was on the sidelines talking on his cell phone. To drive a point across to his talented, but enigmatic player, head coach Urban Meyer suspended DeShawn for the season opener vs. Wyoming. He returned to play in the next eleven games, starting six contests. He led the team with 612 yards and seven touchdowns on 130 attempts (4.8 avg). He also totaled 161 yards with two scores on twelve receptions (13.4 avg) and recorded one solo tackle. His 782 all-purpose yards were a career-high.

Entering his final campaign, Wynn started ten of thirteen contests. But, a right knee sprain in the team's fifth game, followed by a left shoulder injury in the twelfth contest saw his amount of touches greatly reduced the second half of the year. He still managed to lead the team with 124 carries for 630 yards (5.1 avg) and five touchdowns, but only had more than 20 rushing attempts once all year. He gained 58 yards on six receptions (9.7 avg) and generated 688 all-purpose yards.

In 44 games at Florida, Wynn started sixteen times. He rushed 427 times for 2,008 yards (4.7 avg) and 24 touchdowns. He also had 35 catches for 376 yards (10.7 avg) and three scores. He totaled 162 points, recorded one solo tackle and averaged 54.18 yards while amassing 2,384 all-purpose yards.



Analysis

Positives: Has a compact frame with good muscle thickness, good bubble and tapered thighs and calves…Demonstrates very good balance and excellent cutting ability and is a darting runner with the body control to maintain his stride when redirecting to the cutback lanes…Has a decent initial short area burst, but it is his cutting agility that allows him to get skinny through tight areas…Plants and drives with good pad level and is quick to get through the inside holes…His foot speed is much more evident in his lateral movement, as he seems to accelerate better when bouncing wide rather than when running north-south…Does not have the sustained speed to go long distances, but has the loose hips and ability to shift gears and redirect in an instant…Shows that vision and instinctive feel for the cutback lanes…Creative on the move and has a good feel for the crease.

Showed much better patience as a runner, waiting for blocks to develop rather than trying to outrun his protection like he did in the past…Runs with decent forward body lean…Since his freshman year, Wynn has made a much more conscious effort to protect the ball… Keeps the pigskin securely close to his chest when running between tackles and it is rare to see the ball bounce out when he hits the ground…Is just used on dump-offs, but has the quick feet, loose hips and cutting ability to get in and out of his breaks with good precision…Alert to the soft areas in the zone and does a nice job settling underneath…Has great anticipation for the seams and while he can be caught from behind in the open field, he shows no hesitation picking and running through the holes…If he rides up on a defender and then changes direction, that opponent struggles to recover

Negatives: Has had several run-ins with the past and present coaching staff and is not considered a team-oriented athlete…Not a self-starter and does not like hard coaching or a structured environment…Works hard in the weight room, but for a player of his size and power, you would expect him to play with more aggressiveness and attack defenders… Has the leg drive to break tackles, but his feet go dead upon contact…Is too inconsistent trying to break arm tackles and this causes him to struggle in attempts to run through wrap-ups…For some reason, he prefers to be a bounder or finesse back rather than a straight-ahead power runner…Uses his body too much to absorb the ball in rather than reach and pluck away from his frame…His short arms cause him to struggle when trying to get to the pass at its high point and he looks unnatural with his hands…Needs to look the ball in sooner on deep routes, but is better served on swing routes…Doesn't seem to have a taste for blocking (with his weight room strength, he should be blowing up blitzers on a regular basis)…Has the vision to recognize the bull rush, but makes only passive attempts to get in the way rather than try to face up…Creative working in space, but it is almost to a fault, as he seems to prefer cutting and juking when he should be using his size and strength to power through tackles rather than avoiding them.

Compares To: STEPHEN DAVIS-St. Louis…Wynn has excellent vision and cutback ability that let him compensate for a lack of sustained speed. He needs to play up to his power more, as he tries to get too fancy at times, but like Davis, it is his cutting ability that lets him get the bulk of his yardage.

 

[hawaiianboy]

Selvin Young


College: Texas Number: 22
Height: 5-11 Weight: 215


Overview

When Young first enrolled at the University of Texas, he was not only the "new kid on the block" but also one who immediately caught the attention of the coaching staff. As a true freshman, he forced his way into the lineup, sharing playing time with All-American Cedric Benson. Selvin was about to snatch the starting job the following year, but a groin injury hampered him all year and Benson went on to record-breaking performances in 2003.

The following season, Young was granted a medical hardship after a gruesome accident on the playing field early in the 2004 season, undergoing surgery to have eleven screws placed in his fractured ankle. Young let his academics slip while he was injured and he was dismissed from the school in January 2005. He improved his grades and returned to the team in 2005, starting fifteen of his final twenty-two games.

After struggling with academics, Young has made a complete turnaround. He graduated in December, 2006 and was a member of UT's Athletics Director's Honor Roll (Fall 2005). He is active in the school's community service program, serves as a mentor at local elementary and middle schools and has helped clean parks, assist with food drives and helped people recover from the floods that struck the city of Austin.

A three-year starter at tailback for Jersey Village High School, Selvin also returned kicks and saw limited action at cornerback. He was a third-team Class 5A All-State and first-team All-Greater Houston selection, adding All-District accolades as a senior. He was named the team's Most Valuable Player after rushing for 1,417 yards and seventeen scores during his final campaign.

Young also earned first-team All-Greater Houston and second-team All-District honors as a junior. He rushed for 960 yards (on 203 carries) and twelve touchdowns in only seven games, missing three contests games due to an ankle injury. Selvin was chosen first-team All-Greater Houston and All-District as a sophomore, as he ran for 2,204 yards (on 308 carries) and 24 touchdowns in his first season as a starter. His 2,204 yards ranked second in the Houston area among prep players in 1999. He rushed for 270 yards and scored three times in his first varsity game. He also played basketball and ran track for two years.

Young was a co-recipient of the team's Outstanding Newcomer Award in 2002 at Texas. Despite not starting any games, he ranked second on the team with 408 yards and five touchdowns on 85 carries (4.8 avg). He gained 87 yards with a score on five punt returns (17.4 avg) and 285 yards on twelve kickoff returns (23.8 avg), totaling 780 all-purpose yards and 36 points scored for the season.

A nagging groin injury limited his performance in 2003. He was limited to 35 carries for 151 yards (4.3 avg) and three touchdowns while also catching six passes for 29 yards (4.8 avg). He had a 39-yard punt return and eighteen kickoff returns for 439 yards (24.4 avg), including one score. Young gained 102 yards with two touchdowns on twelve runs in 2004, but in the second game of the season vs. Arkansas, he suffered a right ankle fracture. He underwent surgery and was lost for the rest of the year, earning a medical hardship.

After failing during the winter semester, Young was given a scholastic dismissal in early 2005. He attended a community college and not only improved his grades, but went on to earn UT Academic Honor Roll recognition. His turnaround off the field coincided with his development on the field. Selvin started five of eleven games, as he again hurt his ankle vs. Ohio State and re-injured it five games later. He still managed to gain 461 yards on 96 carries (4.8 avg), including eight touchdowns.

Young's injury problems at midseason prevented him from establishing himself among the nation's elite tailbacks in 2006. He started ten of eleven games, despite playing with a rib injury. He ranked second on the team with 125 carries for 580 yards (4.6 avg) and also caught a career-high 21 passes for 129 yards (6.12 avg) and one score. He added 233 yards on eleven kickoff returns (21.2 avg), recording 942 all-purpose yards during the regular season.

In 48 games at Texas, Young started fifteen times. He had 353 rushing attempts for 1,702 yards (4.8 avg) and 24 touchdowns. Selvin caught 35 passes for 211 yards (6.0 avg) and a score. He returned 43 kickoffs for 994 yards (23.1 avg) and a touchdown, adding 139 yards and two scores on eight punt returns (17.4 avg). He scored 168 points and totaled 3,046 all-purpose yards, an average of 63.5 yards per game.



Analysis

Positives: Has above average balance with decent change of direction agility…Plays with good aggression and evident by his rash of injuries, he will play through pain…Developed a "never quit" attitude and runs hard going downhill, giving solid effort to gain positive yardage after initial contact…More apt to hit the hole with power than quickness…When he stays low in his pads and sticks his feet into the ground, Young can generate better acceleration to the line, but he must correct that hitch step coming out of his stance…Has functional lateral agility to slide in-line…Shows some body weave through the holes to make a lethargic defender miss, but it his balance and leg drive that helps him move through trash and out of the holes…Demonstrated better patience and improved his feel for anticipating openings in 2006, but still needs to learn how to use his blocks better…Does a nice job of leaning forward and keeping his feet constantly churning to gain valid yardage.

More of a downhill runner because of his ability to attack it hard up the crease, compensating some for the hitch in his initial step…Won't make the quicker defenders miss in the open field, but has the balance and leg drive to break tackles and slip past the in-line trash…His wiggle is minimal, but he is effective when he uses his lower strength to power through or slip off blocks…Has enough strength in his legs to punish the smaller defenders and with his good balance after contact, he is a load to bring down in man coverage…Has the adequate lateral range to slide in-line, but only when he runs behind his pads and keeps his body lean through the line of scrimmage.

Negatives: Shows a good bubble and thick thighs and calves, but is a bit bow-legged, preventing him from demonstrating effective flexibility and plant-&-drive agility…Little rigid in his running stride, lacking the ability to stop-&-go in an instant…Needs only normal reps to retain, but must to show better field awareness and vision, as he is not always consistent in picking up the blitzes…Needs to correct a hitch in his initial step, as it slows him down considerably, negating whatever burst he can generate…While he is more of a power runner, especially for the first five yards of his run, he is more of a one-cut type that will struggle to get past the second level…Must have room to build to top speed and doesn't have the second gear to go long distances…Has decent lateral agility, but his stiff hips cause him to look a bit sluggish when trying to bounce outside…Must do a better job of distributing the ball away from the defender…Most of his fumbles are caused when he gets into the second level and fails to shield the ball…Has the upper body strength to protect the pigskin in traffic, yet will lose the ball when it is stripped from behind on him…Can keep his balance and turn up field after the catch, but his lack of burst makes him a safety valve, at best…Will use his body to occupy a defender, but needs to show better hand punch and placement to sustain…Looks a bit awkward moving his feet in attempts to mirror (stiff hips) and plays too high in his stance to generate a strong base…Will head-duck at times, letting the edge rushers slip off his blocks. He has adequate cutting ability, but needs angle technique work…Durability is a question and he has had a series of right ankle problems that might need further medical evaluation.

Compares To: PATRICK PASS-New England…Young has been a complimentary back in Texas' rotation ever since he arrived on campus, so, do not expect him to suddenly become a feature back at the next level. He is an adequate north-south runner who is better served carrying between tackles than when bouncing outside. Like Pass, he will fill a roster spot and bring additional value on the return units, but outside of occupying a roster spot, his contributions will be limited to situational roles.

 

[hawaiianboy]

Jason Snelling


College: Virginia Number: 38
Height: 5-11 Weight: 235



Overview

Jason Snelling is a vastly underrated talent who is making the most out of his opportunity to show professional teams that he is not only an excellent receiver coming out of the backfield and a punishing lead blocker as a fullback, but is developing into a physical north-south runner after shifting to tailback as a senior. Not since the days of Charles Way (1991-94) have the Cavaliers had such a complete back operating in their offense.

Jason toiled as a special teams standout as a freshman before taking over fullback duties as a sophomore. He immediately drew comparisons to former Denver Broncos and University of Illinois standout, Howard Griffith, for his excellent receiving skills coming out of the backfield. His bone-crunching lead blocks for the Cavaliers' successful ground attack in 2004-05 had pro scouts comparing him with NFL great, Lorenzo Neal. With the departure of Wali Lundy to graduation, Jason is now demonstrating the smash-mouth running style Jerome Bettis during that All-Pro's days with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Snelling was a four-time All-District tailback at L.C. Bird High School. He was named to the All-Region team three times and gained over 3,300 yards rushing during his career, including 1,444 yards and 14 touchdowns during his senior season, earning him Group AAA All-State honors. He was also selected Player of the Year in his district and region and was the only senior to repeat as an All-Richmond Metro pick from the year before.

As a junior, Snelling was chosen team, District and Region Most Valuable Player, as he rushed for 1,689 yards and 18 touchdowns that year. He was rated the nation's 17th-best fullback by Rivals.com, earning a three-star rating from that scouting service. He added Prep Star All-Atlantic Region accolades, was listed as the 24th-best player in Virginia by Super Prep, the 25th-best player by the Roanoke Times and the 26th-best player on the Charlottesville Daily Progress "Gold List." Jason also lettered in baseball, starting four years as a centerfielder.

Snelling played in twelve games as a true freshman at Virginia in 2002, missing the North Carolina State and West Virginia contests with an ankle sprain. He was not used much as a runner, producing only 38 yards on nine carries (4.2 avg), but he led the special teams coverage units with twelve tackles (3 solos) and a fumble recovery. He also ranked fourth on the squad with a career-high 31 receptions for 314 yards (10.1 avg) and four touch-downs. Sixteen of his catches resulted in first downs, as he had key grabs that set up seven touchdown drives and three others that ended in field goals.

A shoulder injury and a mysterious illness that caused dizziness would see Jason be granted a medical hardship for the 2003 season. He returned to action in 2004, starting six of seven games at fullback, as he sat out five contests and missed most of the Clemson clash with an ankle fracture. He carried 26 times for 189 yards (7.3 avg) and a touchdown while delivering seven touchdown-resulting blocks. He also recovered a fumble and made five catches for 39 yards (7.8 avg).

While he was the team's primary fullback in 2005, Snelling starting only three of twelve games, as the Cavaliers utilized a one-back/multiple receiver formation. He still finished second on the team with 325 yards and two touchdowns on 58 carries (5.6 avg). Jason snared nineteen passes for 140 yards (7.4 avg) and recovered one fumble while posting four solo tackles on special teams.

With Wali Lundy having graduated, Snelling took over tailback chores for Virginia in 2006. An ankle sprain vs. Pittsburgh in the season opener would force him to sit out the Wyoming contest. He later re-injured the ankle, missing the third quarter of the Western Michigan clash. Despite the injury, he leads the team with 404 yards and four touchdowns on 90 carries (4.5 avg) in six games. He also caught eight passes for 87 yards (10.9 avg).

In 37 games at Virginia, Jason started fifteen times. He rushed 183 times for 956 yards (5.2 avg) and seven touchdowns. He also hauled in 63 passes for 580 yards (9.2 avg) and four scores. On 246 touches, he amassed 1,1,536 all-purpose yards. He also recorded sixteen tackles (7 solos) and recovered four fumbles.



Analysis

Positives: Shows good definition in his arms and chest, having dropped close to fifteen pounds since 2005…Has a tight abdomen and hips, good bubble and thickness in his thighs and calves…Displays good forward body lean and the proper pad level to drag defenders for extra yardage…Shows good quickness building to top speed with the agility to redirect through the inside holes…Feels that he should get the ball in crunch time and has had good success producing in that area, converting more than 60% of his third-down plays during his career (15-of-27 running, 5-of-10 receiving), as he had big plays that set up 26 TD drives and 15 more that ended in field goals among his 246 touches…Also a superb coverage defender, known for getting down field to break up the wedge on kickoff returns and down punts near the goal-line with the punt coverage unit…Has a quick first step into the holes, keeping his pad level down and body leaning forward to gain positive yardage…His low center of gravity has seen him stopped only 13 times behind the line of scrimmage among his 183 carries.

Demonstrates the body mechanics, solid first step and enough acceleration to run over the middle linebacker as a lead blocker and shows good stride to get to his point of mesh…Has the natural knee bend to sink and uncoil as a blocker, doing a very good job in maintaining body control…Strong downhill runner with the balance and leg drive to break tackles…Doesn't show much hip wiggle, but does have a good feel for the cutback lanes, as he runs hard, giving a solid effort to move through the trash…Has a good feel for reading his blockers and will get the hard yards up the middle when he keeps his shoulders squared…With his power, he is better off taking the ball up the gut rather than try to generate a second gear needed to elude and take the ball to the house on the outside.

If Snelling gets his pads down and legs churning before hitting the line, he is a load to bring down in one-on-one situations…Runs the swing and stop routes with effectiveness and has excellent RAC ability after the catch…Has the kick slide to neutralize bull rushers and the upper body strength to punch and sustain on his blocks…Bruising lead blocker who does a fine job adjusting to targets when blocking in space….Explosive contact seeker who plays with good aggression…Quick to get down, break up the wedge, wrap and secure as a tackler on the kickoff coverage unit. He also has the vision and feel to get down the field to down punts near the goal line (see 2005 Western Michigan and Florida State and 2002 North Carolina and Georgia Tech games).

Negatives: Has some hip stiffness bouncing out wide, but has the leg drive to break tackles….Doesn't have the breakaway speed to take the ball long distances, but can power his way into the open when breaking the initial tackle…Has a functional initial burst, but doesn't have the second gear to break free from the pile in the open…Better served running between tackles, as he doesn't show the wiggle or second gear to take the ball to the house on the outside…Had some ball security issues in 2005 (see Western Michigan and Duke games), leaving it a bit exposed in one hand when running into the second level, but has made mechanical adjustments (now holds the ball on a better angle, much like Tike Barber with the Giants)…Needs to do a better job of going low to scoop up the low throws and will sometimes let the ball absorb into his body when working underneath, but uses his frame well to shield defenders from the ball…Better served when he can catch the ball in stride rather than looking it in over his outside shoulder.

 

[hawaiianboy]

Kenneth Darby


College: Alabama Number: 34
Height: 5-11 Weight: 212

Overview

Kenneth Darby has been a model of consistency for the Crimson Tide. The starter at tailback for the team's last twenty-three games, Kenneth was one of the few bright spots for the Alabama offense in 2006, despite recovering early in the year from an August camp left knee bruise and being forced to leave the squad briefly to deal with his father's illness. He went on to become only the third player in school history to rush for over 3,000 yards in a career, joining All-Americans Shaun Alexander (1996-99) and Bobby Humphrey (1985-88) atop the school's all-time rushing list.

Kenneth was regarded as the state of Alabama's top running back during his senior year at S.R. Butler High School. He earned Super Prep All-American honors, in addition to being named to The Tuscaloosa News Sweet Sixteen, The Birmingham News Dandy Dozen, The Montgomery Advertiser Elite Eleven, The Mobile Press Register Elite Eighteen and The Birmingham Post-Herald Ten Most Wanted teams. He was rated the ninth-best running back in the Southeast by Prep Star.

Darby rushed for 4,674 yards during his prep career. He amassed 1,591 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior, when he also had 2,367 all-purpose yards and scored 24 times. As an outside linebacker, he recorded 77 tackles his final campaign, giving him 281 tackles in his career.

Darby enrolled at Alabama in 2002, spending the season on the scout team. He appeared in ten games as a reserve tailback in 2003, producing 185 yards on 34 carries (5.4 avg) and caught three passes for 4 yards. The following season, Kenneth started five times for an injured Ray Hudson. He led the team with 1,062 yards on 219 attempts (4.8 avg) with eight touchdowns. He snared fifteen passes for 74 yards (4.9 avg), including one score and made one solo tackle, earning second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors.

Darby took over the tailback chores full-time in 2005. He was named to the coaches' All-Southeastern Conference team, as he ranked second in the SEC with an average of 103.5 yards per game on the ground. He led the Tide with 1,242 yards and three touchdowns on 239 attempts (5.2 avg). He was third on the team with 29 catches for 132 yards (4.6 avg) and recorded one solo tackle.

His August camp knee bruise and father's illness cost Darby considerable practice time prior to the 2006 season, but he went on to start every game. He led the team in rushing for the third-straight year with 820 yards on 200 carries (4.1 avg), but did not have any touchdown runs. He added 100 yards and one score on nineteen catches (5.3 avg) and recovered two fumbles.

In 46 games at Alabama, Darby started 30 contests. He ranks third in school history with 3,309 yards on 692 carries (4.8 avg) and eleven touchdowns. He also made 66 catches for 310 yards (4.7 avg) and a pair of scores, adding four solo tackles with two fumble recoveries.



Analysis

Positives: Has a short, compact frame with good upper body thickness, muscular arms and legs, broad shoulders, big bubble and thick thighs and legs…Creative open field runner with that sudden burst of speed that allows him to immediately gain advantage through the rush lanes…Elusive cutback runner with precise plant-&-drive agility. He has the body control and lower body flexibility to stop and go with no wasted motion and is effective at utilizing head fakes and his hip wiggle to set up the opponent…Alert athlete, especially when it comes to recognizing and locating the blitz and bull rush…Needs only minimal reps to retain and takes the plays from the chalkboard to the playing field…Most featured backs shy away from blocking assignments. Darby relishes playing in that role, as he is a tough, fiery type who will not hesitate to mix it up in the trenches…Explodes out of his stance through the rush lanes and is very decisive attacking the holes…Has the loose hips and wiggle to make the initial tackler miss and stays low in his pads to burst through the pile.

Runs with short pitter-patter steps and is very fluid redirecting…Very deceptive varying his speeds to break free along the perimeter…Has the burst to outrun defenders when working in space and most of his long runs have been the result of his explosive second gear…Shows a very good feel for the rushing lanes and the vision to quickly locate the cutback routes…Excels at anticipating even the slightest of creases and based on the poor performance of the Tide's 2006 offensive line, most of his yardage was the result of his own hard work, as solid blocks rarely developed for him…Has that explosive second gear, hip snap and balance to be much more effective turning the corner than running between tackles…His hip shake and wiggle lets him change direction in an instant to run through the cutback lanes…Slippery runner who is very difficult to bring down in isolated coverage…Possesses an array of moves to elude, especially when changing direction…Protects the ball well by keeping it close to his body, usually carrying it away from the defender (is ambidextrous)…Quick to uncover and has the anticipation skills to work back to the ball…Effective cut blocker with enough hand strength to lock on and sustain…Quick in the open, using angles properly to locate second level defenders… He shows good alertness picking up the blitz and has a quick kick slide in pass protection.

Negatives: His frame could carry some additional bulk, but he is too close to maximum growth potential without it affecting his quickness…Was forced to create on his own, as he could not be patient waiting for those blocks to develop and that resulted in 23 negative yardage runs by Darby in 2006, uncharacteristic for this player…Will not hesitate to take the ball up the gut, but because of some size limitations, he had to rely on his line to create space for him and they failed to do so in 2006….Type of player that needs room to run and can get bottled up inside, where his leg drive is only adequate...His 2006 early season knee woes saw him get tackled behind the line of scrimmage thirteen times in the team's first four games and he was also stopped five times for no gain during that span… Executes excellent jump-cut moves, but just seemed a bit frustrated that he had little or no room to execute these moves in 2006…Will run the ball hard up the gut, but unless he redirects or bounces wide, he is not the type that can break many tackles taking the ball up the middle…Has good weight room strength, but needs room to operate and seems to get too narrow with his base when having to power through arm tackles…Doesn't have the long arm reach to compete for the ball at its high point (29 5/8-inch reach) in passing situations.

Compares To: DeANGELO WILLIAMS-Carolina…Darby is bigger than Williams, but both rely on their exceptional burst, outstanding field vision and instincts with the ball to be a slippery outside runner. Darby has a great feel for the crease and cutback lanes, but relies more on his elusiveness, as he doesn't have the ideal strength to be a power runner.

 

[hawaiianboy]

Lorenzo Booker

College: Florida State Number: 28
Height: 5-11 Weight: 195


Overview

Booker was regarded as one of the elite tailbacks in college football entering the 2006 season, despite sharing playing time and starting only five of 35 games during his first three years with the team. While the media hailed him as the next great Seminoles featured back, Booker soon found himself again sharing playing time (Antone Smith), as he failed to live up to those lofty expectations during his final year at Florida State.

The offensive captain was the Atlantic Coast Conference's leading active rusher entering the 2006 campaign, but continued to see his production be reduced since his sophomore campaign, when he rushed for 887 yards. He managed only 552 yards on the ground in 2005 while starting three times and despite starting eleven times in 2006, he amassed only 525 yards during the regular season.

Booker was regarded as the nation's top running back (Parade and Rivals.com) as a senior at Saint Bonaventure High School. He earned Parade All-American and Prep Star Dream Team honors. He added USA Today All-USA first-team accolades and Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report listed Lorenzo as the third-best overall prospect in the country.

During his three-year career, Booker compiled state records of 8,502 rushing yards and 137 touchdowns, leading his team to a 42-0 record. He ran for 2,878 yards and 50 touch-downs, adding sixteen receptions for 300 yards and three scores as a senior. He was named California State Player of the Year after rushing for 3,103 yards and 49 touchdowns as a junior.

The product of a heated recruiting war, Booker selected Florida State over Notre Dame, Southern California and Washington. He redshirted as a true freshman in 2002 and saw action in ten games as a reserve tailback in 2003, sitting out the Georgia Tech, Duke and Colorado games with knee and ankle sprains. He finished third on the team with 334 yards and three touchdowns on 62 carries (5.3 avg). He added 86 yards on nineteen catches (4.5 avg) and recorded one solo tackle.

Booker started two of twelve games in 2004. He carried 173 times for a career-high 887 yards (5.1 avg) and four touchdowns, leading the team in rushing in five of those contests. He made 24 catches for 160 yards (6.7 avg) and generated 1,047 all-purpose yards for his sophomore campaign.

The cat-quick tailback earned three starting assignments during the thirteen games he played in during 2005. He led the team with 552 yards and four touchdowns on 119 attempts (4.6 avg). Booker also finished third on the squad with a career-high 38 catches for 329 yards (8.7 avg) and two scores. He also returned one punt 3 yards and posted 884 all-purpose yards.

With Leon Washington having graduated, Booker was named offensive captain, starting eleven of twelve games in 2006. He shared those duties with Antone Smith, but still led the team with 121 carries for 525 yards (4.3 avg) and two touchdowns. He totaled 303 yards on 28 receptions (10.8 avg) and returned four kickoffs for 66 yards (16.5 avg), amassing 894 all-purpose yards during the regular season.

In 47 games at Florida State, Booker started sixteen times. He became the eleventh player in school history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a career, rushing 475 times for 2,298 yards (4.8 avg) and thirteen touchdowns. He hauled in 109 passes for 878 yards (8.1 avg) and two scores. Lorenzo returned four kickoffs for 66 yards (16.5 avg), had one punt return for 3 yards and recorded one solo tackle. He touched the ball 589 times during his four seasons, gaining 3,245 all-purpose yards, an average of 69.04 yards per game.



Analysis

Positives: Undersized, but shows adequate overall muscle tone and has room on his frame to carry at least another ten pounds of bulk…Has valid speed and explosion coming out of his stance to get on the edge and pick up good yardage past the second level… Shows precise cutting agility and loose hips to attack the cutback lanes…Has the plant-&-drive agility to get in and out of his breaks without needing to throttle down…Shows the natural hands and extension to pluck the ball away from his frame…Displays good field instincts and is patient waiting for blocks to develop…Can simply surprise a lethargic defender with his sudden burst through the rush lanes…His lateral agility and change of direction skills make him a dangerous threat along the perimeter and his solid receiving skills could see him utilized in the slot or lined wide in passing situations…Has a good feel for the crease and knows how to keep his pads down to redirect…Does a decent job of lowering his pads and executing cuts to slip off tackles…Elusive open field runner with the valid speed to take the ball to the house…His second gear allows him to beat angles and slip off tackles racing through the second level…Gets good separation after the catch and it is rare to see him gather in his patterns.

Negatives: Frame appears too lean and while he can add some additional bulk, it could effect his quickness and suddenness…Has very good speed, but sometimes runs into spots on the field, lacking the leg drive and power to break the initial tackle…Needs to take several plays off after taking on a physical hit and may lack the overall strength and durability to carry the brunt of the rushing load at the next level (has shared playing time throughout his career rather than being the featured back)…Lacks the bulk to push the pile and unless he slips off tackles, he can be taken down vs. the initial hit (legs are too skinny to add needed lower body strength)…Can be pushed back through the rush lane, especially when he fails to lower his shoulders…Has natural hands as a pass catcher, but has been used mostly on controlled routes, as he struggles tracking the ball over his outside shoulder on long throws…Willing blocker, but a lack of lower body strength sees him get pushed back into the pocket or leave his feet when taking on the blitz or bull rush…Takes poor angles in the open and is more of an ankle biter when trying to cut block in the second level…Ducks his head on contact and takes only passive arm swipes in attempts to sustain.

Compares To: DERRICK BLAYLOCK-New York Jets…Like Blaylock, Booker's quickness and cutting agility make him a fine change-of-pace back and he has the natural hands to be an effective short area receiver. However, he lacks the consistency of a Warrick Dunn and the strength to move the pile. In the open field, his explosive running style is an asset, but between the tackles, he will struggle to break free.

 

[hawaiianboy]

Gary Russell



(Out, Academics)
College: Minnesota Number: 24
Height: 5-11 Weight: 195


Overview

When Laurence Maroney decided to bypass his senior season to enter the 2006 NFL Draft, Minnesota fans were disappointed to see their star tailback depart. Their feelings were somewhat tempered by the thought that Maroney's outstanding backup, Gary Russell, would now get his opportunity to show that he was one of college's elite runners. No sooner did that thought soothe Gophers faithful that word came down - Russell would not be in a Minnesota uniform in 2006.

Due to academic ineligibility, the player with blazing quickness and great moves departed campus and did not play in what would have been his "coming out" party. After his academic failure forced Russell to drop out of the university in the spring, he attended Inver Hills Community College to try to better his grades but was unsuccessful in getting his eligibility back.

Maroney and Russell each surpassed 1,000 yards rushing in 2005, making Minnesota the first school in NCAA history to have two 1,000-yard rushers in three consecutive seasons. With the 2006 fast approaching, both were no longer a part of the program. "I'm mostly frustrated and disappointed with myself because I could have avoided this problem," Russell told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "I messed up."

Russell was a standout tailback at Walnut Ridge High School, where he was named to the Super Prep All-Midwest team. He added All-State honors and was a three-time All-City and All-Conference performer. He twice earned All-County and All-Area accolades.

Gary rushed for 2,136 yards and 29 touchdowns his senior season after gaining 1,800 yards and 29 scores his junior campaign. He played in the North-South All-Star Game after his final season. Russell also lettered in wrestling and basketball.

Russell enrolled at Minnesota in 2004, seeing action in eight games, but only carried the ball in two contests. He finished with 144 yards on 24 carries (6.0 avg) and returned seven kickoffs for 120 yards (17.1 avg). He also recorded three tackles (one solo).

Despite starting only one of twelve games in 2005, Gary amassed 1,274 yards on 210 attempts (6.1 avg) and ran for eighteen touchdowns. He hauled in sixteen passes for 168 yards (10.5 avg) and one score, adding 59 yards on four kickoff returns (14.8 avg). He attempted one pass and scored 114 points while picking up 1,357 all-purpose yards.

In twenty games at Minnesota, Russell started one contest. He finished his career with 210 carries for 1,274 yards (6.1 avg) and eighteen touchdowns. He gained 168 yards with a score on sixteen receptions (10.5 avg) and scored 114 points. Gary added 179 yards on eleven kickoff returns (16.3 avg) and recorded three tackles while also attempting one pass.



Analysis

Positives: Possesses a well-defined, muscular frame with outstanding quickness and suddenness coming out of his stance…Has the upper body strength to move the pile and a frame that can carry at least another ten pounds of bulk with no loss in quickness…Has precise stop-&-start action with sharp change of direction agility, very good vision and coverage anticipation ability…Gets to top speed in a hurry and his explosive acceleration makes him a valid threat to stretch the field…Shows the ability to make the initial tackler miss, thanks to his loose hips and lateral movement…Stays low in his pads and is quick to locate soft areas and clear rushing lanes…Not only explosive coming out of his stance, but it seems like he can get to top speed in just a step or two…His explosion off the snap lets him surprise a lethargic defender and he makes very quick cuts at the holes…Can burst through the hole with good urgency, doing a nice job of keeping his pads down… When he gets into the open, he has that second gear needed to separate…His loose hips allow him to generate the short burst to cut back or bounce outside, where he excels at running away from people…Has good peripheral vision to scan the field and the patience to wait for blocks to develop, doing a nice job of setting up and using those blocks.

Slides and hits the seams with great acceleration and good forward body lean…Has the above average balance to make the jump cuts, but also has the power to get through the smaller creases…Much like Emmitt Smith, his low center of gravity and pad level makes it very rare to see him get high in his stride…Shows good patience to let the toss develop before bursting up the seam or changing direction to turn it up around the corner…Carries people on contact and makes the opponent need to gang-tackle him…Can carry the ball in either arm, and works hard to protect it from the defender…Conscious of securing it tightly to his chest running through traffic…With his speed, some team could reap benefits lining him up in the slot, as he can cut sharply and find ways to get open…Does a decent job squaring to his targets and strikes and cuts effectively…Steps up aggressively to face up in pass protection…Shows outstanding agility and balance to pick and slide…His breakaway speed makes him an ideal change-of-pace back, but he also has the strength to power through tackles…As soon as he locates the hole, he attacks it with good explosion and urgency…Very effective at maintaining his acceleration and stride in and out of his cuts.

Negatives: Quick study on the football field, but admits that he screwed up in the classroom, leading to his ineligibility in 2006…Tends to gather on some high-speed cuts, but with his speed, he is quick to recover…When he gets his pads too high, he will struggle to finish…Appears to be a good hands catcher, but in the Minnesota system, he was generally used on screens…Can get into the deep secondary with ease, but appears to struggle a bit tracking the ball from behind…His hands appear to have a receiver's quality, but few of his catches were the result of extending and plucking away from the frame (more of a body absorber)…Needs to prove that he has matured off the field and demonstrate better work ethic.

Compares To: MARION BARBER-Dallas…Perhaps because they played in the same system at Minnesota, both are scoring machines with the power to move the pile. Russell actually looks a bit like a former Cowboy, Emmitt Smith, as he has excellent explosion and cutback ability, along with that low center of gravity that makes it tough for defenders to attack his legs.