rookie Running Backs


Blake
Corum
Senior
RB
Michigan
Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines Logo
Grades
Score Overall
79.4 72
Position Day
1 2
Score Position Day Overall
79.4 1 2 72
Measurables & Drills
Height: 5' 7 1/2" Weight: 205 lbs
Hands: 9 Arms: 28.88
40 YD Dash: 4.53 10 YD Split: 1.58
Vertical: 35.5 Broad: --
Shuttle: -- Cone: --
Height: 5' 7 1/2" Hands: 9 40 YD Dash: 4.53
Weight: 205 lbs Arms: 28.88 10 YD Split: 1.58
Broad: -- Cone: --
Vertical: 35.5 Shuttle: --
Height: 5' 7 1/2" Hands: 9 40 YD Dash: 4.53 Broad: -- Cone: --
Weight: 205 lbs Arms: 28.88 10 YD Split: 1.58 Vertical: 35.5 Shuttle: --
The Story
  • Unanimous 1st Team All-American (2022)

  • 3rd Team All-American (2023)

  • Comeback Player of the Year (2023)

  • Doak Walker Award Finalist (2022)

  • Academic All-Big Ten (2021, 2022, 2023)

Strengths
  • Eagle-eye vision. Corum enters the NFL with experience playing in basically every run scheme/concept. From gap runs like duo, to zone concepts, and concepts with pullers (power and counter), Corum has vast experience with the whole gambit and thus has really developed vision. He understands how to set up his blockers, presses the LOS with excellent pace, and forces second-level commitments. He displayed all of this while running against congested looks, as Michigan was a traditional pro-style offense that used a lot of 12, 21, and even 22 personnel.

  • Tesla Model-S acceleration. You really see his burst on his 2021 and 2022 tape (was recovering from injury in 2023), and it is exceptional. He has the linear explosiveness to win the corner on outside-zone runs. If he gets daylight at any point, he can put on the burners and absolutely gash defenses. What he may lack in a top gear, he more than makes up for with his ability to get to full speed instantly.

  • Make-you-miss potential with a heavy dose of grit. Corum is a feisty runner with great contact balance, especially for his size. He is not easily moved and carries his weight behind his pads, allowing him to grind out tough yards through contact. He also has some of the most ridiculous short-area quickness and cutting ability in the Draft. He has unlocked hips and ankles and can explode out of sharp cuts while running nearly parallel to the ground. This gives him the ability to slip would-be tacklers around the LOS easily. In the open field, he has a couple of highly successful go-to make-you-miss moves like a nasty jump cut and a dead-leg hesi juke.

  • Untapped potential as a pass-down contributor. Corum has been excellent in pass pro for the past three seasons. He is a willing blocker, and his low center of gravity allows him to de-cleat free rushers at times. He has a natural feel and vision for picking up blitzers. As a receiver, he has shown excellent hands and route running despite the limited opportunities. I wish we could have seen him do the 1-on-1s at Senior Bowl week, but for reasons unknown, Corum wasn’t there. I do think his pass-down resume in the NFL will quickly outpace what he did in college.

  • Workout warrior. Corum is a gym rat. He is absolutely yoked with muscles coming out of places I didn’t know muscles could come out of. Don’t let his lighter, 210-ish-pound frame fool you — he is a monster.

Weaknesses
  • Resume as a pass catcher is lacking. While I did mention some untapped potential in this area, Corum didn’t get the opportunity to do this in college. A lot of this could be due to playing next to Donovan Edwards, who could legitimately be a slot WR. Edwards got most of the pass-catching work out of the Michigan backfield. Corum will have to prove early on he can cut it on pass-downs if he is going to become an every down back.

  • Potentially undersized for his archetype. His weight has hovered between 205 and 210 pounds in the offseason (pro day and Combine), and that is a good weight for maximizing his explosiveness and cutting ability. However, he played around 215 in 2023, which seemed to cost him some of that burst (he was also recovering from an injury). Corum projects initially as an early-down workhorse/lead back, so at a shade over 205 pounds there are legitimate questions on whether he can handle that kind of workload at the NFL level. (Considering his muscular build, I am not concerned about this.)

  • Runs out of gas on long runs. We are getting a little nitpicky here, but it is worth noting that on long runs (over 50 yards) or runs on which Corum has to make multiple explosive movements, he tends to run out of gas late into the run. The amount of long runs he took inside the 10 from distance but couldn’t put in the endzone is actually comical. I think a lot of analysts are mistaking this for a lack of top gear, which I don’t have concerns about. When he hits daylight and gets into the second level untouched, his top gear was not an issue, and you can see him run away from defenders. He verified this with a 4.5 40-yard time. Ultimately, this issue could stem from just how muscular he is, as muscles use more oxygen than fat does.

Final Points

Any time a running back checks all three of my premium trait boxes — vision, burst, and ability to create beyond his blockers — he is inevitably going to score pretty well. Those traits are. When I watch Corum play, I see a lot of JK Dobbins. Despite an incredible college resume, including over 60 touchdowns, he still has some "proving" to do. His weight and lack of a pass-game resume could have teams a little shy on Corum compared to some of the other top guys in the class. For me, I think he is the total package. He scores as my RB1 in the class and has a mid-day-2 grade.

MarShawn
Lloyd
Junior
RB
USC
Trojans
USC Trojans Logo
Grades
Score Overall
79 75
Position Day
2 2
Score Position Day Overall
79 2 2 75
Measurables & Drills
Height: 5' 9" Weight: 220 lbs
Hands: 8.75 Arms: 30.38
40 YD Dash: 4.46 10 YD Split: 1.56
Vertical: 36 Broad: 118
Shuttle: -- Cone: --
Height: 5' 9" Hands: 8.75 40 YD Dash: 4.46
Weight: 220 lbs Arms: 30.38 10 YD Split: 1.56
Broad: 118 Cone: --
Vertical: 36 Shuttle: --
Height: 5' 9" Hands: 8.75 40 YD Dash: 4.46 Broad: 118 Cone: --
Weight: 220 lbs Arms: 30.38 10 YD Split: 1.56 Vertical: 36 Shuttle: --
The Story
  • All-Pac 12 Honorable Mention (2023)

  • Voted top RB on the National team at the Senior Bowl

  • SEC Academic Honor Roll (2021)

  • Pac-12 All-Academic Team (2023)

Strengths
  • Best-in-class creator beyond his blocks. Trying to tackle Lloyd in the open field can leave you grabbing nothing but air. Lloyd does a Houdini act where he can seemingly teleport from one spot on the field to another. He has excellent flexibility and a compact running style that allows him to cut explosively and violently. He can string cut after cut together and has a ton of wiggle right at the point of contact for would-be tacklers. He can stack up broken tackles to force explosive runs and has the speed to erode pursuit angles and put defenders in another dimension. Yards after contact will also come in bunches with his ability to set up groups of defenders to get favorable angles and finish his runs with a pop. His movement skills remind me of D’Andre Swift.

  • NFL size with juice on juice. He is a well-built back with a compact frame. He carries his weight well and looks like the modern NFL starting running back. He has speed for days and can run away from most safeties in pursuit. His initial get-off and start/stop are also exceptional. The total package athletically.

  • Excellent receiver out of the backfield. Lloyd has the potential to be a weapon out of the backfield at the next level. Projecting him for significantly more receiving work than he got in college is one of the easiest calls I could make this cycle. He uses those elite movement skills to run routes that can completely displace linebackers in coverage. Down in Mobile during Senior Bowl week, he put on a route-running clinic during the 1-on-1s. He made every linebacker there look foolish to the point that coaches had to go grab a couple of safeties to take a crack at him. One practice ended with Lloyd taking a safety deep on a wheel route for an easy win on which he had about 5 yards of separation. He also has reliable hands and uses good technique to pluck and secure the football.

Weaknesses
  • Not going to win with power. He is a finesse/speed runner through and through. This is where I really see my Swift-style comp for him. Despite having really excellent size (like Swift), he’s not someone who is going to initiate contact with his weight behind his pads and drive defenders back or even break tackles this way. He wants to run around you. I could see him losing some carries on the goal line if he doesn’t learn to play behind his pads when necessary.

  • Big-time fumble concerns. In the grand scheme of things, mental errors like drops and fumbles probably get overrated by onlookers, so this is not a deal breaker. However, you would like to see Lloyd make some serious adjustments to his carry technique and prioritize getting two hands on the football in congested areas. As of now, Lloyd loves having his off-hand available to help disrupt tackle attempts and sort out blockers. A good RB coach could have this fixed in no time.

  • Inconsistent vision. Evaluating Lloyd’s vision is a roller coaster ride of an experience. At the end of the day, he improved as his career went on, especially in the back half of his season at USC. With that said, there were a frustrating amount of missed opportunities when Lloyd just simply wasn’t patient and missed the hole. Perhaps more concerning is he had it pretty good in 2023 with a great QB and a plethora of good pass-catchers — he rarely had to see unfavorable boxes.

  • Durability might be an obstacle to an expanded role. Lloyd missed 19 total games throughout his career, including a wiped-out freshman season due to a torn ACL. He left a good bit of other games early and was frequently in and out of the game when he was playing banged up.

Final Points

Lloyd is an uber-talented running back who profiles as a potential lead back with big-time receiving upside. I feel very strongly about my style comp of D’Andre Swift for him. Lloyd is a tougher version of Swift but has all the fun, explosive qualities that Swift has. If Lloyd had better vision, he would easily score as my top RB in the class, but unfortunately, he is lagging in that area, which is a premium trait for me. When it's all said and done, Lloyd is my RB2 in the class and is worthy of a mid-day-2 selection.

Trey
Benson
Junior
RB
Florida State
Seminoles
Florida State Seminoles Logo
Grades
Score Overall
78.7 77
Position Day
3 2
Score Position Day Overall
78.7 3 2 77
Measurables & Drills
Height: 6' Weight: 216 lbs
Hands: 9.25 Arms: 31.5
40 YD Dash: 4.39 10 YD Split: 1.52
Vertical: 33.5 Broad: --
Shuttle: -- Cone: --
Height: 6' Hands: 9.25 40 YD Dash: 4.39
Weight: 216 lbs Arms: 31.5 10 YD Split: 1.52
Broad: -- Cone: --
Vertical: 33.5 Shuttle: --
Height: 6' Hands: 9.25 40 YD Dash: 4.39 Broad: -- Cone: --
Weight: 216 lbs Arms: 31.5 10 YD Split: 1.52 Vertical: 33.5 Shuttle: --
The Story
  • 2nd Team All-ACC (2022, 2023)

  • Totaled 906 rushing yards, 227 receiving yards and 15 total touchdowns in 2023

  • Ran a 4.39 40 at the Combine (3rd among RBs)

Strengths
  • Bell cow size and athleticism. At 6’1" and 220 pounds, Benson has the prototype size to be a do-it-all back. He has the frame to take punishment but isn’t so big it's restrictive to his movements or limiting his ability to run routes. He also has an excellent top gear and adequate get-off/burst.

  • Loose hips and ankles provide for good cutting ability. His ability to bend is really impressive for his size. He can weave in and out of cuts and string multiple moves together without losing steam. His quick twitch and flexibility allow him to make micro-adjustments on the fly and explode into new gaps or creases that show late.

  • Effective pass-down player. Benson presents another case of a running back with better skills than what his opportunity amounted to. He is willing and mostly able in pass pro. I especially like him as a blocker on the EDGE, as he does a great job of running defenders around the arc and past the QB;s spot. He has some work to do picking up blitzers and free runners from the middle, but the willingness is there. As a receiver, he demonstrates twitchy route running and soft hands. His receiving opportunities always amounted to good things.

  • Can create beyond his blockers. Benson is not a fun guy to tackle. His size-speed combo alone gives defenders nightmares and he frequently will just bounce right off of a hit. He also has some slipperiness to his game that makes him shockingly elusive for his size.

Weaknesses
  • Vision and pace needs some fine-tuning. Benson can be very indecisive at times. As a result, he won’t always find the correct gap and winds up having to deal with some traffic in the backfield. I believe he searches for the home run a bit too much. His indecisiveness leads to poor footwork behind the LOS, which can cause false-steps and occasionally lose him the corner on outside runs, which doesn’t make a ton of sense considering his burst/speed combo.

  • Upright running style. Most backs who are 6’1"+ struggle with this. It is a concern because he exposes his knees a little more than normal running backs. That strike zone for him is huge. He hasn’t dealt with any major injuries, and projecting injuries isn’t something I do, but his upright style with his physicality at an already oft-injured position is potentially problematic.

  • Lack of resume as a pass-catcher. Like Blake Corum, he just didn’t have the chance to put a lot of good pass-catching reps on tape despite good production on the opportunities he did get and the physical traits to suggest he would be good at it. I can’t explain why this happens, but this is common throughout college football.

Final Points

Benson might be the cleanest running back in the class to project as a bell-cow type at the NFL level. He definitely has some excellent physical traits and a lot of good tape. He also has some clear-cut lagging skills that shouldn’t be too big an obstacle for him to clean up. Officially, he scores as a mid- to late-day-2 pick.

Jonathon
Brooks
Sophomore
RB
Texas
Longhorns
Texas Longhorns Logo
Grades
Score Overall
78.1 82
Position Day
4 2
Score Position Day Overall
78.1 4 2 82
Measurables & Drills
Height: 6' Weight: 216 lbs
Hands: 9.25 Arms: 31.5
40 YD Dash: -- 10 YD Split: --
Vertical: -- Broad: --
Shuttle: -- Cone: --
Height: 6' Hands: 9.25 40 YD Dash: --
Weight: 216 lbs Arms: 31.5 10 YD Split: --
Broad: -- Cone: --
Vertical: -- Shuttle: --
Height: 6' Hands: 9.25 40 YD Dash: -- Broad: -- Cone: --
Weight: 216 lbs Arms: 31.5 10 YD Split: -- Vertical: -- Shuttle: --
The Story
  • Doak Award Semifinalist (2023)

  • 2nd Team All-Big 12 (2023)

  • Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year Honorable Mention (2023)

  • Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Finalist (2023)

Strengths
  • Three-down skill set. Brooks has ideal size for a workhorse archetype and the receiving chops to keep him on the field for all three downs. He is excellent in the open field after the catch. A+ ability to set up blocks and sift through traffic in the flats, making it worth dialing up a few screens a game for him. He can also motion out to the slot to be a feature on bubble or tunnel screens. Has the potential to become a great route runner with his physical traits.

  • Fluid, methodical runner. Sometimes, when you watch Brooks run, it looks a bit weird because of how easy he makes it look. He weaves in and out of lanes without needing to rely on aggressive/violent cuts that slow him down. He is bendy with flexible ankles and turns corners without losing a lot of speed. I don’t think he has S-tier breakaway speed, but it's certainly good enough to stack up big plays. He gets to top speed almost instantly.

  • Top-tier contact balance. Brooks runs low to the ground with a solid wide base. I wouldn’t call him powerful, but his balance is so good — and his running patterns are so smooth — that defenders have a very difficult time knocking him off course and securing a tackle. He has enough wiggle at the collision point to slip tackles as well. His burst is so good that he catches defenders by surprise in the open field and can force poor angles regularly.

  • Excellent vision, especially on gap concepts. Brooks runs with great tempo and has a feel for the timing of runs on gap concepts. He excels running behind pullers and sorts through the traffic at a very high level. On zone concepts, he shows off his fluidity as a runner and can flawlessly cut back against the grain as open lanes reveal themself.

  • Young with low wear and tear. The knee injury is the obvious elephant here, but otherwise, Brooks is just 20 years old, and — having played behind studs Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson — has only 266 career touches. The cliche "lots of tread left on the tire" is very true for him.

Weaknesses
  • Coming off a significant knee injury. Brooks tore his ACL near the end of November, which could wipe out a significant portion of his rookie season, the most valuable season he will provide a team. Even if he finds his way to the field, we have many recent examples of players needing a significant amount of playing time under their belt before returning to form from an ACL injury. Of course, Brooks’ youth is on his side here.

  • Doesn’t run with a ton of power. His running style is definitely of the finesse variety. You won’t ever see Brooks get de-cleated or knocked backward, but he is also not someone who is going to drive and push defenders back after a stalemate. I would like to see him finish runs with a bit more pop to ensure he falls more directly forward rather than sideways. It will be interesting to see him run against an NFL 8-man box and assess how willing he is to get his weight behind his pads and take what the line gives him.

  • Can be too patient behind the LOS at times. I noted how good his vision is, so this may seem contradictory, but there are times — especially on mid and outside zone runs — when Brooks will pitter-patter behind the LOS. That indecisiveness can cost him, especially at the NFL level, where holes close much quicker and penetration happens almost immediately. For Brooks to take the next step, he will have to learn to live more comfortably in the paradoxical nature of playing running back. He needs to be patient to let blocks develop but also has to fervently press the LOS to force gap commitments. These are opposing truths that every NFL RB has to live in to be successful.

Final Points

Talent-wise, Brooks is right in the mix for the RB1 title in the class. His three-down skill set, size, and athleticism make him super attractive. He is also scheme-agnostic. One of my favorite things about RBs coming from the Texas system is that they get a ton of reps in just about every run concept and get involved in the pass game, both as a receiver and in pass pro. Brooks could land anywhere and be valuable. I see shades of Ezekiel Elliott (perhaps a lighter version) when I watch him — just a smooth, well-rounded athlete with a fairly complete skill set. Nothing special stands out, but there also aren't any glaring deficiencies. He checks just about every box. There are obvious questions about how his injury will impact his draft slot, though. With the current sentiment in the NFL as it pertains to RB value, I could reasonably see teams passing on him longer than they should, given his talent level. For me, he scores as a top-5 RB in the class despite the injury and is worthy of a mid to late-day-2 selection.

Will
Shipley
Junior
RB
Clemson
Tigers
Clemson Tigers Logo
Grades
Score Overall
78 84
Position Day
5 2
Score Position Day Overall
78 5 2 84
Measurables & Drills
Height: 5' 11" Weight: 206 lbs
Hands: 9.63 Arms: 30.25
40 YD Dash: -- 10 YD Split: --
Vertical: -- Broad: --
Shuttle: -- Cone: --
Height: 5' 11" Hands: 9.63 40 YD Dash: --
Weight: 206 lbs Arms: 30.25 10 YD Split: --
Broad: -- Cone: --
Vertical: -- Shuttle: --
Height: 5' 11" Hands: 9.63 40 YD Dash: -- Broad: -- Cone: --
Weight: 206 lbs Arms: 30.25 10 YD Split: -- Vertical: -- Shuttle: --
The Story
  • Graduated in 3 years with a 4.0 GPA

  • 1st Team All-ACC as a returner, specialist, and running back (2022)

  • Paul Hornung Award Finalist (2022)

  • All-ACC Academic Team (2021, 2022, 2023)

  • Academic All-American (2022, 2023)

Strengths
  • Excellent burst and home-run hitting top gear. For whatever reason Shipley’s home-run potential seems to have flown under the radar a bit this cycle, but this guy can absolutely fly. He put up a 4.4 40 at his pro day to verify what I have seen on tape. If you give him an ounce of daylight, he can take any carry the distance. To make him a bit more scary, he gets to top gear pretty effortlessly. I would call him an easy accelerator, and in the blink of an eye can hit the turbo button and be gone.

  • Superb vision and feel for setting up blocks. This is especially true on outside runs, but generally speaking, he is really good at seeing a few moves ahead, pressing the line of scrimmage to force second-level movement/commitment, and then tightly cutting off the back of his OL, maximizing the blocking scheme and creating holes when they aren’t there. The Clemson OL was an absolute mess in 2023, to boot.

  • Pass game mismatch weapon potential. There were just a handful of backs in this year's class who were actually used as a WR in the pass game and none of them have the pedigree that Shipley does. Anytime an offense at the college level does this, take note. In the college game, throwing to RBs is rare, let alone getting them involved from WR alignments. Shipley can run legit routes and has really crispy breaks in his routes that leave linebackers lost in the sauce. His hands are adequate to be a mismatch guy in the NFL.

  • Make-you-miss ability, especially in the open field. Shipley has weirdly flexible ankles that allow him to lean heavy to one side then completely explode in the opposite direction. In the open field, he has a great feel for disrupting pursuit angles and breaking tackles with jump cuts. He even has an odd amount of hurdled defenders on his tape. He has angle-eroding open-field speed, too, and does a great job of altering that speed to force over pursuits. His creative ability doesn’t match his advanced analytics profile. However, once you adjust for the number of runs he had that were dead on arrival because of poor OL play and the fact that many of his forced misses are of the over-pursuit variety, I think he fares pretty well. This projects to the NFL as a strength for me.

  • Added bonus as a returner. Shipley has a fair amount of experience as a kick returner and occasionally got in the mix as a punt returner as well. He put on a good display of some of that make-you-miss potential in the open field, and could draw some added value with the new NFL kick return rule.

Weaknesses
  • Leaves some meat on the bone as an inside runner. There is something to be said about decisive runners with good vision. I tend to like guys who marry patience and vision with urgency and just get right to the point. However, Shipley may be too decisive and has a weird tendency on inside runs to instantly drop his pad and head level and sort of blindly chug through the hole. The result was usually decent, but I am a big proponent of process over results, and simply keeping his eyes up and maintaining a ready to move posture would have yielded better results more often than not. I can’t say for sure why he does this, but it could have something to do with his size. Usually, it is better to be the punisher rather than the punished.

  • Maybe undersized to be a high-volume runner in the NFL. I wouldn’t call him light, but to be a true lead back in the NFL, especially on early downs, Shipley is probably on the small side. Most running backs under 210 pounds share their backfield with someone, even if it's just a change-of-pace back.

Final Points

It’s the obvious comparison, and Shipley isn’t the same level of prospect, but I cannot help but see Christian McCaffrey when I watch Shipley. CMC is most certainly a better inside runner than Shipley, but as far as instincts, movement skills, and ability in the pass game, there are some eerily similar qualities here. With that said, I am a big fan of Shipley’s game. He scores within my top-5 RBs in the class and has a mid-day 2 grade.

Jaylen
Wright
Junior
RB
Tennessee
Volunteers
Tennessee Volunteers Logo
Grades
Score Overall
76.4 95
Position Day
6 2
Score Position Day Overall
76.4 6 2 95
Measurables & Drills
Height: 5' 10 1/2" Weight: 210 lbs
Hands: 9.38 Arms: 31.5
40 YD Dash: 4.38 10 YD Split: 1.55
Vertical: 38 Broad: --
Shuttle: -- Cone: --
Height: 5' 10 1/2" Hands: 9.38 40 YD Dash: 4.38
Weight: 210 lbs Arms: 31.5 10 YD Split: 1.55
Broad: -- Cone: --
Vertical: 38 Shuttle: --
Height: 5' 10 1/2" Hands: 9.38 40 YD Dash: 4.38 Broad: -- Cone: --
Weight: 210 lbs Arms: 31.5 10 YD Split: 1.55 Vertical: 38 Shuttle: --
The Story
  • 2nd Team All-SEC (2023)

  • SEC Academic Honor Roll (2023)

  • Held the fastest 55m time in the country in 2019 (6.29s)

  • Ran a 4.38s 40-yard dash at the combine (2nd among RBs)

Strengths
  • Linear explosiveness is off the charts. Wright has great burst and elite home-run-hitting long speed. This is the cornerstone of his game, and the sole reason he is in the position to potentially be the first RB off the board come April. The number of explosive runs he hit in 2023 was insane (25% of carries). He is a big play threat every time he has the ball in his hands. He verified everything I saw on tape at the combine with an awesome workout.

  • Ability to create is there. Wright isn’t a short-area quickness type of guy but does have a really nice jump cut in the open field that allows him to break some tackles. His speed gives him favorable angles, and it’s rare to see an open-field tackler get a square hit on him. This leads to a lot of yards after contact, as he can drag and fall forward when wrapped.

Weaknesses
  • Woefully poor vision. Wright doesn’t see or feel his blockers. He doesn’t appear to have a deep understanding of the design of each run concept. He is inconsistent in the way he approaches the LOS and is very indecisive. If there is one thing that would tank his career, this would be it. To make things a bit more alarming, he did this playing at Tennessee, which operates out of the most extreme version of spread offense we have seen. Wright mostly ran against 5 and 6-man boxes and still struggled to find his way consistently. It is hard to see improvement when he faces 7 and 8-man NFL boxes that will inevitably have better reaction speed and block-beating ability that can truly punish indecisiveness. Most of, if not all of, his long runs came against light boxes.

  • Not a compelling resume on passing downs. Wright didn’t get a lot of opportunity to catch the ball and almost never had the opportunity to get out and run routes. We can’t necessarily hold what he wasn’t asked to do against him, though. When I evaluate his total skill set and physical attributes, I see a player who should be able to develop legit route-running chops and become an issue for LBs to keep up with in coverage. Lastly, he was not good in pass-protection. He struggled to locate free rushers and didn’t play with the ferocity or technique to be effective when he did find them.

Final Points

Wright checks two of the three premium trait boxes (burst, creativity), so he still scored relatively high for me despite some seriously lagging skills. I did list his pass-game work as a negative, but his potential here is also enticing to me and helped boost his overall score in the end. The bottom line is that Wright has some work to do on his severely lacking vision if he is ever going to amount to more than a change-of-pace speed back. Officially, he scores as my RB6 and is worthy of a mid to late-day-2 pick.

Tyrone
Tracy Jr.
Senior
RB
Purdue
Boilermakers
Purdue Boilermakers Logo
Grades
Score Overall
76.1 99
Position Day
7 2
Score Position Day Overall
76.1 7 2 99
Measurables & Drills
Height: 5' 10 6/8" Weight: 209 lbs
Hands: 9.13 Arms: 31.75
40 YD Dash: 4.48 10 YD Split: 1.53
Vertical: 40 Broad: --
Shuttle: -- Cone: --
Height: 5' 10 6/8" Hands: 9.13 40 YD Dash: 4.48
Weight: 209 lbs Arms: 31.75 10 YD Split: 1.53
Broad: -- Cone: --
Vertical: 40 Shuttle: --
Height: 5' 10 6/8" Hands: 9.13 40 YD Dash: 4.48 Broad: -- Cone: --
Weight: 209 lbs Arms: 31.75 10 YD Split: 1.53 Vertical: 40 Shuttle: --
The Story
  • 2nd Team All-Big Ten as a return specialist (2023)

  • All-Big Ten Honorable Mention as a running back (2023)

  • Totaled 1,270 all-purpose yards in 2023 (2nd in Big Ten)

Strengths
  • Perfect modern running back size with rocked-up frame. Tracy is absolutely yoked and has muscles coming out of his ears. He has an excellent frame with thick legs and a juiced upper body capable of taking hits. His play strength pops off the charts as well.

  • Exceptional athlete with linear explosiveness. Tracy has insane burst, long speed, and change of direction skills. His acceleration and long strides allow him to chew up grass in a hurry. He can easily win the edge when he sufficiently presses on wide zone. He has the long speed to take any touch to the house and can win foot races against just about anyone, minus gifted cornerbacks. His start/stop ability is ridiculous, and he can re-accelerate after stopping completely.

  • Best in class tackle-breaking potential. The ability to make guys miss and generate yards after contact is one of my three premium traits for a running back, and Tracy is ridiculous on this front. What if I told you he forced missed tackles at a higher rate than last year's consensus RB1 Bijan Robinson? He also averaged significantly more yards after contact per carry. Granted, the sample size is much smaller, but the most impressive thing is the ability to pick his spots and win with both power and elusiveness. Tracy has the lateral quickness and hip mobility to make guys miss with a variety of moves. He has the strength and determination to run through smaller defenders and always looks to drag tacklers and fall forward.

  • Certified pass-game weapon. As a converted WR (played WR for five years before moving to RB), he is way ahead of the game as a route runner and receiver. Of course, Purdue being Purdue, they rarely threw him the ball this season, but you see all the traits necessary for him to be a big-time asset as a scatback. At worst, he is capable of tormenting linebackers on choice routes and being a checkdown/screen monster. At best, he is a guy worth moving around to the slot and playing from empty to get favorable matchups in space.

  • Added value on special teams. Tracy has excellent tape as a kick returner, which could be extra valuable given the new rules regarding kickoffs. He was also excellent on both punt coverage and kick coverage teams. He was one of the best special teams players in the Big Ten last season.

Weaknesses
  • Vision is a work in progress. Lack of experience at the position is the general theme here. Tracy can be highly indecisive on zone concepts and take false steps behind the LOS. He unnecessarily will come to a stop and doesn’t quite yet understand how to read cutback lanes or when to press. He doesn’t have a great feel for defensive flow and can get himself contacted in the hole unnecessarily by simply failing to threaten multiple gaps. On gap concepts, he will completely abandon the design of the play and look to bounce runs and hit home runs. He actually reminds me a bit of Penn State Saquon Barkley in this regard.

  • Ancient for a running back prospect. As a sixth-year senior, Tracy hits the NFL at 24 years old already. I do not know if this will matter to NFL teams, as they still get four cost-controlled years out of him before making an expensive long-term commitment. I tend not to mind older prospects as long as there's a clear, discernable reason for their age and there is with Tracy. Conversely, Tracy should still have a ton of tread left on the tires, as he has just 268 career touches under his belt despite his age.

Final Points

From a pure raw-talent standpoint, there is an argument to be made that Tracy is the top back in this draft class. I got to Tracy‘s tape late in the process and was pretty blown away. He has all the makings to be a very good running back if he can continue learning the position and become more detail-oriented. However, with his lack of experience, he has some pretty glaring flaws. He is also an older prospect, which could give some teams pause. Right now, he projects as an excellent change of pace back with awesome potential on passing downs. As he develops, his workload should go up, and he could eventually become a lead back. He reminds me a ton of Tony Pollard and Miles Sanders, with maybe a side of Antonio Gibson. He scores as a late day-2 prospect for me, but I suspect he will go later than that in the actual draft.

Ray
Davis
Senior
RB
Kentucky
Wildcats
Kentucky Wildcats Logo
Grades
Score Overall
75.3 107
Position Day
7 2
Score Position Day Overall
75.3 7 2 107
Measurables & Drills
Height: 5' 8" Weight: 211 lbs
Hands: 8.88 Arms: 30.25
40 YD Dash: 4.52 10 YD Split: 1.56
Vertical: 35 Broad: --
Shuttle: -- Cone: --
Height: 5' 8" Hands: 8.88 40 YD Dash: 4.52
Weight: 211 lbs Arms: 30.25 10 YD Split: 1.56
Broad: -- Cone: --
Vertical: 35 Shuttle: --
Height: 5' 8" Hands: 8.88 40 YD Dash: 4.52 Broad: -- Cone: --
Weight: 211 lbs Arms: 30.25 10 YD Split: 1.56 Vertical: 35 Shuttle: --
The Story
  • 1st Team All-SEC (2023)

  • 1st Team Freshman All-American (2019)

  • Totaled 1,129 rushing yards, 323 receiving yards, and 21 total touchdowns in 2023

Strengths
  • Bowling-ball build that pairs well with a physical running style. Davis is a load to bring down and plays with every bit of his 215-220 pounds behind his pads. He is naturally low to the ground and runs with a good wide base, which shortens his hit zone even more. He has excellent contact balance and runs angry, at times pinballing off of defenders. Has the ability to run through smaller defenders or shake loose from bigger linebackers or defensive backs. He is the aggressor and clearly loves punishing defenders with contact. He usually falls forward after a collision.

  • Good linear explosiveness. Davis has good but not great top speed. He can get up to top gear in a hurry and shows the ability to win the corner on outside runs. He can also run away from most linebackers and some safeties in the open field and is a threat to hit home runs. He has impressive start/stop ability, considering his build.

  • Legitimate pass-game weapon. Davis racked up 7 receiving touchdowns this past season. He has supreme route-running chops. Most of his receiving opportunities came out of the backfield exclusively, but in doing so, he put on a clinic on how to run HB choice routes, the Texas route, and a variety of different deep routes off of the wheel stem. He demonstrates excellent ability to sell routes and explode into breaks. Most linebackers have no chance in coverage. He furthered his route running clinic during Senior Bowl practice week. In pass protection, Davis loves to throw hands and has the anchor to become a brick wall for incoming rushers. He has the vision to locate and slide to free rushers. He has pretty iffy footwork, though, and more agile blitzers can give him trouble. I wouldn’t trust him 1-on-1 with an athletic backside EDGE on boot action.

Weaknesses
  • Vision as a runner is a work in progress. There is a fine line between being patient as a runner and being indecisive, and unfortunately, Davis crosses that line a bit too often. This causes his footwork to get all muddied up, which derails the timing of some runs, especially when pushing the boundary on outside zone runs or when setting up pullers on counter. I am more comfortable with his vision and urgency on traditional inside concepts like inside zone and duo. I do think he showed growth running behind Kentucky’s offensive line in 2023 vs. his tape running behind Vanderbilt's offensive line in 2022.

  • More fast than quick. Change-of-direction skills are not his calling card, and you definitely see a little hip stiffness with him. He is not a guy who is going to string together cut after cut. He can even struggle cutting back against the grain on zone concepts if the angle of the cut is much harsher than 90 degrees.

  • Super old prospect with a weird resume. Davis is already 24 years old and will turn 25 halfway through his rookie season. That is almost unheard of for a running back prospect. Even crazier, Davis had over 1100 total yards and 10 touchdowns as a true freshman at the Division I level (Temple) and basically disappeared for the next two years before re-emerging in a lead role at Vanderbilt in 2022. Finally, he finished his career as a fifth-year senior at Kentucky, where he had an excellent final season, putting up 1500 total yards and 21 touchdowns. That’s great production, considering he didn’t win the top role backfield until Week 4.

Final Points

Davis is one of my favorite running backs in the class. Stylistically, his game reminds me a ton of Maurice Jones-Drew, with his ability to pound away on inside runs and then get loose in the pass game. What Davis did to the Florida Gators this year (nearly 300 yards of offense and 4 TDs) should be enough to get him drafted relatively high. The older age of Davis could certainly give some teams pause on draft day, but I honestly could see a world where it's not that big of a factor as teams generally avoid a big second contract for RBs. Davis scores just outside my top-5 RBs in the class, and because of his ability to affect the pass game, I am comfortable acquiring him with late day-2 draft capital.

Audric
Estime
Junior
RB
Notre Dame
Fighting Irish
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Logo
Grades
Score Overall
75.1 111
Position Day
8 2
Score Position Day Overall
75.1 8 2 111
Measurables & Drills
Height: 5' 11" Weight: 221 lbs
Hands: 10.25 Arms: 32.38
40 YD Dash: 4.71 10 YD Split: 1.58
Vertical: 38 Broad: 125
Shuttle: -- Cone: --
Height: 5' 11" Hands: 10.25 40 YD Dash: 4.71
Weight: 221 lbs Arms: 32.38 10 YD Split: 1.58
Broad: 125 Cone: --
Vertical: 38 Shuttle: --
Height: 5' 11" Hands: 10.25 40 YD Dash: 4.71 Broad: 125 Cone: --
Weight: 221 lbs Arms: 32.38 10 YD Split: 1.58 Vertical: 38 Shuttle: --
The Story
  • 2nd Team All-American (2023)

  • Amassed 1,341 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns in 2023

  • Notre Dame Offensive Player of the Year (2023)

Strengths
  • Big, powerful frame capable of serious violence. Estime is not a guy you want to get into a collision with. He is a punishing runner, and as games progressed, you see the toll on defenders as they slowly start making business decisions. He runs with an attitude and bad intentions. Estime profiles as an early-down hammer with game-closing and goal-line prowess. For teams building that smash-mouth culture, Estime would be a slam dunk.

  • Comically bursty for his size. I know he dropped some weight for the Combine but I've been told he played over 230 pounds at Notre Dame. Watching him go 0-to-60 as fast as he does is remarkable. It gives me big-time Jonathan Stewart vibes. Stewart was a better overall athlete, but that initial burst and explosiveness at 230-plus are very similar.

  • Above-average ability to create beyond the blockers. Yards after contact are Estime’s thing. He finishes runs with authority and will drive forward on his way to the ground. He also has the ability to run through tackles and will break a fair amount of them this way, especially if he has momentum behind him. He also has a suddenness to his cutting ability that allows him to shake free of defenders in the open field. There are a good amount of hurdles and reactionary cuts that leave your mouth watering on his tape.

  • Plus player in the pass game. This isn’t a guy who is going to be a weapon and go out and beat defenders with route running, but he has natural, reliable hands and can be an asset as an outlet on checkdowns or occasionally get in the mix as a screen player. Estime caught every ball he was thrown in college. Combine that with his ability in pass protection, and you have yourself an above-average pass-down player. He is arguably the best pass-protecting back in the class, and teams will love having him on the roster for when they play blitz-heavy teams. He has the vision to locate late rushers and sets his blocks well with the willingness to deliver a blow.

Weaknesses
  • Tight-hipped with limited flexibility. He can’t really corner well, and sinking his hips to explode on any type of angle can be troublesome. This rears its head most on outside zone concepts. If he presses the LOS and corner with urgency, he doesn’t have the ability to explode back against the flow to find the open hole. Conversely, if he plays too patiently, he sometimes lacks the foot speed to sift through the traffic. In the end, he is a build-up-speed runner, and taking him off his line is not the ideal way to use him. For that reason, he is going to be a little more landing-spot dependent than some of the other top RBs in the class.

  • Running style doesn’t scream health or longevity. I don’t predict injuries. But it isn’t hard to suggest that maybe getting into 20 car accidents a game isn’t good for one’s short-term health and longevity on the football field. I already invoked Jonathan Stewart’s name but I also see some of the late Marion Barber III when I watch Estime.

  • Physical limitations cloud his ceiling. Between the lack of a great top gear, his limited flexibility, and some sluggish feet, there could be a capped ceiling here. Some teams will be able to maximize his skill set more than others, but I expect Estime to be more of a committee player at the next level.

Final Points

If you need some thunder in your backfield, then Estime is your guy. He projects favorably as a between-the-tackles, short-yardage savant in the short term. He has some change-of-pace potential, too. If he lands on the right team, it would not surprise one bit to see him take a healthy share of early-down runs. He is a force running the football. Even though he is somewhat limited as a player, he scores as my RB8 in the class and is right on my cut-off for day-2/day-3.

Dylan
Laube
Senior
RB
New Hampshire
Wildcats
New Hampshire Wildcats Logo
Grades
Score Overall
74.5 118
Position Day
10 3
Score Position Day Overall
74.5 10 3 118
Measurables & Drills
Height: 5' 9" Weight: 206 lbs
Hands: 9.25 Arms: 29.38
40 YD Dash: 4.54 10 YD Split: 1.52
Vertical: 37 Broad: 118
Shuttle: -- Cone: --
Height: 5' 9" Hands: 9.25 40 YD Dash: 4.54
Weight: 206 lbs Arms: 29.38 10 YD Split: 1.52
Broad: 118 Cone: --
Vertical: 37 Shuttle: --
Height: 5' 9" Hands: 9.25 40 YD Dash: 4.54 Broad: 118 Cone: --
Weight: 206 lbs Arms: 29.38 10 YD Split: 1.52 Vertical: 37 Shuttle: --
The Story
  • CAA Special Teams Player of the Year (2023)

  • FCS All-American as a return specialist (2023)

  • CAA 1st Team Offense as a running back and punt returner (2023)

  • Walter Payton Award Finalist (2023)

  • Phil Steele Special Teams Player of the Year (2023)

  • Led the FCS in all-purpose yards in 2022 and 2023

Strengths
  • Good athlete with excellent quickness. Laube actually tested as an elite athlete at the Combine, with his strongest marks coming in the 3-cone and short shuttle, which you definitely see on tape. He doesn’t have an abundance of linear explosiveness, but his burst is definitely better than his top-end speed.

  • Mismatch weapon in the pass game. Laube is probably the most accomplished pass-catcher at the running back position in the draft. This past season, he had over 30 non-backfield targets. He was moved all over the formation, and some New Hampshire game plans went through Laube as a receiver, not a runner. He runs precise, nuanced routes with good tempo and the ability to sink and explode out of breaks. He can beat man coverage fairly easily. He has Danny Woodhead-level upside as a third-down/change-of-pace back in the NFL.

  • Ready-made return man. Laube was highly productive on both kick and punt return opportunities. In this regard, he adds a ton of value and gets a leg up on making a final 53 as a likely day-3 pick.

  • Good foundation in pass pro. Laube held up in pass pro very well the past two seasons. He definitely doesn’t have the strength and/or pop to go toe-to-toe with bigger blitzing linebackers, but he does have the footspeed and intangibles to locate and run guys past his QB. He is also a willing blocker. He could sharpen up his technique and get better at dropping an anchor, but he isn’t a net liability.

Weaknesses
  • Not a powerful runner. Laube doesn’t have the play strength or leg drive to be consistently effective on inside runs. He does have some slipperiness to his game, but goes down easily to any forceful contact.

  • Likely limited to change-of-pace/third-down role. Laube has decent vision and good cutting ability but doesn’t project as someone who can create much outside of blockers. Breaking tackles and generating yards after contact around the LOS is going to be tough for him. Most of his tackle-breaking ability comes in the open field where he has space to work and set up angles.

Final Points

Laube is a highly productive, multi-purpose player who racked up over 3000 total yards and 33 touchdowns in his final two years of college. New Hampshire relied on Laube to be their game plan week in and week out. The first game I watched of Laube was against Central Michigan, the only Division 1 FBS opponent on their 2023 schedule. Laube caught 12 passes for 295 yards and two scores… as a running back. They were moving him around the formation, getting him in the slot, out wide, in motion, etc. Any advantage they could get with him they took it. The following week, he had 33 carries as a runner, showing off insane versatility. Laube has excellent short-area quickness and change-of-direction skills. I think there’s an outside chance he could play slot receiver at the next level. In the end, his ability to be a mismatch and third-down weapon makes him worth an early day-3 pick for me.

Bucky
Irving
Junior
RB
Oregon
Ducks
Oregon Ducks Logo
Grades
Score Overall
73.2 135
Position Day
10 3
Score Position Day Overall
73.2 10 3 135
Measurables & Drills
Height: 5' 9" Weight: 192 lbs
Hands: 9.5 Arms: 29.5
40 YD Dash: 4.55 10 YD Split: 1.54
Vertical: 29.5 Broad: --
Shuttle: -- Cone: --
Height: 5' 9" Hands: 9.5 40 YD Dash: 4.55
Weight: 192 lbs Arms: 29.5 10 YD Split: 1.54
Broad: -- Cone: --
Vertical: 29.5 Shuttle: --
Height: 5' 9" Hands: 9.5 40 YD Dash: 4.55 Broad: -- Cone: --
Weight: 192 lbs Arms: 29.5 10 YD Split: 1.54 Vertical: 29.5 Shuttle: --
The Story
  • 1st Team All-PAC-12 (2023)

  • Had 56 receptions, which led all FBS running backs in 2023

  • Former 4-star recruit

Strengths
  • Surprisingly effective downhill running style. Irving plays way bigger than size. He runs low to the ground and has no issue burying his pads and head into opposing defenders, and yielded pretty good results doing so. He runs hard and treats every carry like it's his last. At the collision site, he shows excellent willingness to drive his legs and push defenders back. When he has his cleats under him, he is effective at this.

  • Vision to get what is blocked for him. He has plus vision and understands the design of the concept he is running behind, especially on counter, when he has to diligently set up pullers. By my charting, he averaged over 8 yards a carry on counter runs at Oregon on over 100 rush attempts. This speaks volumes to his ability to run patiently and allow the play to develop.

  • Can be slippery in the open field. Irving isn’t the most gifted player athletically, but has a few nice tricks in his bag for evading tacklers. He put a pretty wicked spin move on tape a bunch and also has a variety of jump-cuts to work with. I don’t think he will sustain the rate in which he forces misses or generates as many yards after contact per carry at the NFL level, but he should outperform expectations for a 190-pound running back.

  • Ball security. Irving just won't put the ball on the ground. He had one fumble on 573 career touches, which is absolutely absurd. He has much bigger hands than you would think for a player of his size (9.5") and demonstrates a tight squeeze on the ball. In traffic, he smartly will bring his off hand to the ball to add an extra layer of defense.

Weaknesses
  • Tiny frame with poor athleticism. Irving weighed in at just 192 pounds at the Combine, and some say he played even lighter than that. To make matters worse, he doesn’t have an explosive bone in his body. On tape, you see a back who seriously lacks burst and top gear. He struggles to get to the corner on outside zone runs and doesn’t have home-run potential. He verified this by testing poorly at the Combine in the 40-yard dash and putting up pitiful vert and broad jumps.

  • Awkward running style. Irving runs with an unnecessarily wide base, preventing him from making quick cuts and reactionary movements, as he has to gather his feet before he can do anything. This will affect his ability to be productive in zone concepts, when he needs to quickly stab the ground and get upfield when a crease opens. It also seriously limits the translatability of his tackle-breaking potential and ability to create beyond his blockers.

  • Chops as a receiver are lacking despite decent production. First and foremost, he doesn’t have great hands. Not only are there a lot of unnecessary drops on his tape, but there are also a lot of balls he doesn’t bring in cleanly and either juggles them or misjudges them. I don’t think he sees the ball well in the air. The stiffness in his hips and ankles and his awkward running style limit his effectiveness as a route runner. At best, I see him being an effective screen/checkdown player in the pass game. His developed skill set as a receiver doesn’t match his pretty good college production.

Final Points

Being undersized and a poor athlete is a really hard sell for me. Athleticism matters a lot at the running back position and unfortunately, Irving just isn’t very gifted that way. When I turned on his tape, the first player I thought of was Devin Singletary, albeit Singletary was far more elusive in college. But they have a similar size/athleticism combo and goofy running style. Irving is definitely willing to throw some hands despite his size, but if he doesn’t have his feet perfectly under him, he can get absolutely de-cleated at times. He hangs his hat on good vision and grit. He scores as a mid-day-3 prospect who likely serves as a quality backup due to his football intangibles.

Braelon
Allen
Junior
RB
Wisconsin
Badgers
Wisconsin Badgers Logo
Grades
Score Overall
71.1 153
Position Day
11 3
Score Position Day Overall
71.1 11 3 153
Measurables & Drills
Height: 6' 1" Weight: 235 lbs
Hands: 9.25 Arms: 31.25
40 YD Dash: -- 10 YD Split: --
Vertical: 32 Broad: 117
Shuttle: -- Cone: --
Height: 6' 1" Hands: 9.25 40 YD Dash: --
Weight: 235 lbs Arms: 31.25 10 YD Split: --
Broad: 117 Cone: --
Vertical: 32 Shuttle: --
Height: 6' 1" Hands: 9.25 40 YD Dash: -- Broad: 117 Cone: --
Weight: 235 lbs Arms: 31.25 10 YD Split: -- Vertical: 32 Shuttle: --
The Story
  • All-Big Ten 2nd Team (2021, 2022, 2023)

  • Walter Camp Freshman All-American (2021)

  • Amassed 3,494 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns in his career

  • Went over 1,000 yards every season in college

Strengths
  • Massive frame with bruising, downhill running style. Allen weighs in at over 235 pounds. He is an absolute load to bring down in the open field. He wears defenses down as games progress and has the ability to ping-pong off of second-level defenders. His entire skill set is predicated on linear athleticism. He has a good top gear and is capable of producing some home runs if he finds daylight.

  • Excellent in short-yardage situations. If nothing else, Allen should be able to carve out a role as one of the premier short-yardage backs in the NFL. He does a really nice job sifting through the chaos that is the average short-yardage play. His vision peaks in these scenarios, and he plays with more urgency. His conversation rate at Wisconsin was incredibly high and, at times, felt automatic.

  • Plus vision. A huge caveat here is that Allen is inconsistent in this regard. He gets caught being indecisive and big-play hunting. However, there are also a ton of reps of him executing behind the LOS at a very high level. On those reps, he demonstrates very crisp, expedited footwork and the ability to set up and read his blocks. Even with some physical limitations, he can make some things happen with his vision.

  • Great production in college. For his career (35 games) he averaged over 100 yards rushing and a touchdown per game. He was as consistent as they come and performed at the highest level of college football. He produced despite constantly running against stacked boxes.

Weaknesses
  • Despite size, he didn’t run with a lot of power. One of the most maddening things I have found watching tape on this class is Allen’s unwillingness to finish runs with authority. He is naturally hard to bring down because of his size, but could be so much more demonstrative than he is. I have seen 200-pound backs finish runs with more ferocity than Allen.

  • Virtually no lateral quickness or change of direction ability. On tape he shows a lot of tightness in his hips and ankles, and has a really hard time making any type of cut. Allen also lacks start/stop ability, and when he does have to make a lateral cut, he struggles to get moving again, especially if the cut is of the harsh variety.

  • Accelerates like a semi-truck. Allen needs a full runway to get up to speed. This is massively concerning. It’s possible dropping weight could help him become more explosive. Regardless of that, as it stands now it's hard to see some of those explosive runs from Wisconsin translating to the NFL.

Final Points

If anyone is looking for AJ Dillon reincarnated, look no further. Allen is a big, bruising back with good build-up speed — emphasis on the "build-up." He needs a lot of space to get going. At the next level, Allen projects as a specialist for me. I see him contributing to a team in short-yardage situations. There is also some danger for him, as he did not play special teams at Wisconsin, and I think he will have to contribute there to make a roster. Rookie camp and training camp will be big for him. Officially, he scores as a day-3 player for me.