Draft Spotlight: Running Back

Who Are the Potential Feature Backs?

“Donald Brown (Connecticut), what can you say about that guy? LeSean McCoy (Pittsburgh), holy cow! You talk about great backs, I mean, they are great backs,” West Virginia head coach Bill Stewart said of the two Big East backs in a College Football Insiders radio interview. Joining the UConn and Pitt products as potential feature backs are Beanie Wells (Ohio St.) and Knowshon Moreno (Georgia), who are pretty much the consensus top two.

Before we get to Beanie the Buckeye, the NFL Draft Bible’s top two backs are a pair of Jersey Boys in Moreno and Brown. Moreno was a star for the Dawgs the past two seasons running the football, and no one in college football played with as much fire or energy. He has excellent vision and knows how to make people miss. Moreno lacks prototypical size and speed, but is such an instinctive runner. In addition, he had the second best 3-Cone time at the NFL Scouting Combine, displaying his ability to change directions and accelerate. Similarly, Brown may not possess eye-popping measurables, but the kid can play, as evidenced by his 2,000 yards in 2008 for the Huskies. Brown is a strong runner, who sees the field well with the necessary patience to allow holes to develop.

Wells is bigger and faster, but has question marks regarding his durability and desire. Does he have a passion the game? Is he willing to play hurt? Very few NFL running backs are 100 percent by the time crunch time rolls around. He has the most upside of any back and comes with great potential value, but is not as safe a pick as Moreno or Brown—Beanie could boom or bust.

Finally, we come to McCoy, who not everyone views as potential feature back. Don’t count former teammate linebacker Scott McKillop among the doubters.

“He helped me become a better linebacker this year,” McKillop said of McCoy. “I thought I was pretty fortunate to go out and practice against one of the top running backs in college football. I think he helped me become a better tackler this year than I was last. He’s a great kid, I’m pulling for him.”

McCoy, a red-shirt sophomore like Moreno, had only two years of college experience; he lacks ideal size and did not get the opportunity to strut his stuff at the Combine due to an injury. Nevertheless, one cannot ignore what he can do on the field. McCoy has good vision, great balance and even better elusiveness—he’ll make ya miss.

Who Are the Next Tier of Runners?

More than any other back at the Combine, Andre Brown (North Carolina St.) displayed his potential with 4.4-speed and an NFL frame at over 220 pounds.

“His potential is unlimited,” his former head coach Tom O’Brien said in a CFI interview. “We’ve only been here two years and actually he missed the last six games of our first year with an injury. He’s certainly made tremendous strides this year. He can play whether it’s first, second or third down—he can be that back. He has size and he has speed to take that pounding at the next level. So I think he would be a great addition to someone’s team.”

What will likely keep Brown from becoming a feature back is his lack of durability. Brown has struggled to stay on the field, which limited his production as a collegian. He possesses good vision, patience and can be a factor in the passing game.

Glenn Coffee also must overcome durability concerns. He doesn’t have standout skills, but is tough, physical runner who always seems to find a way to fall forward and pick up an extra yard or two. He possesses the ability to cut, change direction and not lose speed.

Who is the Best Between the Tackles?

Shonn Greene (Iowa) doesn’t offer much in terms of breakaway speed, elusiveness or explosiveness, but he is a downhill runner who maximizes the available yards in traffic—he pushes the pile. One has to love his consistency as well; no other back ran for 100 yards in each and every game this past season.

Another north-south runner is Gartrell Johnson (Colorado St.), who had a dominant bowl game and was very impressive at the East-West Shrine game. Originally viewed by some as fullback, it appears Johnson has solidified himself as a runner. However, he may very well be the slowest running back in this class and doesn’t have the type of elusiveness to make defenders miss in the open field, but he does possess very quick feet.

The best big back may very well be small school product Rashad Jennings (Liberty) who packs a punch at 231 pounds. In both the All-Star game process and the Combine Jennings proved he belonged among the Bowl Subdivision backs. He has good vision and can change directions very well for a big back. He surprised quite a few observers with his 3-Cone time of 6.86 (fourth at the Combine).

Are There Any Home Run Threats?

With only four backs running sub-4.5s at the Combine, there are not as many breakaway threats as NFL scouts would like. One reason for the poor Combine numbers was that the NFL did not see fit to invite little man Devin Moore (Wyoming) to Indianapolis. Moore shined at his own private workout in his hometown and teams looking for a breakaway threat should not underestimate this Wyoming product. He is elusive, possesses long speed, and is stronger than you might think.

Mike Goodson (Texas A&M) wasn’t as productive as expected when he arrived at College Station, but he could end being the big play back the Aggies expected at the NFL level. He is explosive, has good balance in the open field and the long speed to hit the home run.

Two backs that surprised a few people at the Combine with their straight-line speed were Cedric Peerman (Virginia) and Kory Sheets (Purdue). Peerman ran a 4.5 in Indianapolis and he possesses good vision, but isn’t necessarily at his best in the open field. Sheets ran a 4.47 and excels outside the tackles, with the wiggle to make people miss. The former Boilermaker is also quite willing to get physical with defensive backs and when he wins those confrontations, he is more than able to break free for a big run.

“I think he could help a team in a lot of ways,” says Purdue head coach Danny Hope. “He’s a good kick return man, he has legitimate speed, and good size, not great. But I’m not surprised he ran as fast as he did. I think he ran somewhere in the mid, low 4.4’s. He was an excellent sprinter in high school. He was a track man in high school and had documented track times. He was fortunate this season to get the bulk of the work at the running back spot. We had an injury to one of our top running backs, Jason Taylor. We relied a lot on Kory Sheets and he rose to the occasion and really did a great job. He rushed for over 1,200 yards and was a good receiver out of the backfield, but I think the fact that he played in the spread offense and knows how to catch the football will separate him from some other guys at his position. If he can prove himself to be a physical player, I think he can do very well in National Football League. He is very talented and I think he has the desire to do well.”

Rounding out this group is Marcus Thigpen (Indiana), who may or may not get drafted, but leaves little doubt in terms of his pure speed. The man with sub-4.4 speed also has the potential to be a special return man.

Who Are the Best of the Rest?

There are still some talented backs remaining, led by the 5’9 duo of Jeremiah Johnson (Oregon) and Jevon Ringer (Michigan St.). What hurts this pair is that in addition to lacking ideal size, neither brings top end speed to the table. Ringer is very quick though, with the ability to change direction. He has good vision, is very tough, and better between the tackles than one might assume. Johnson is a little more explosive and more elusive in the open field, a very dangerous runner once he can get outside the tackles. The former Duck also seems to be able to break off long runs, he’s rarely caught from behind.

We also can’t forget Ian Johnson (Boise St.), Bernard Scott (Abilene-Christian), Arian Foster (Tennessee), James Davis (Clemson) and Aaron Brown (TCU). Johnson really proved the doubters wrong with his speed, quickness and strength at the Combine. He improved his draft stock by a round or two. Scott will get drafted beneath his talent level because of character question marks, but the kid can play ball.

The two senior sinkers since the start of the season are Davis and Foster. The former Vol has superb hands, prototypical size, and he is very smooth runner. However, he has serious questions when it comes to his ability to stay on the field. Davis has enough size and speed to play at the next level, but has tight hips, durability issues and he was not much of factor in the Tigers’ passing attack when it came to blocking or receiving.

Brown never put up big numbers as a Horned Frog and also had trouble staying healthy, but he has very good vision and burst, with the hands and ability to run after the catch. He could certainly be a solid third-down back.

Who Are the Potential PFA Gems?

A pair of backs who are not physically imposing or going to make you double check your stop-watch, but possess the quick feet and ability to change direction are Tyrell Sutton (Northwestern) and Kahlil Bell (UCLA). Brad Lester (Auburn) did not receive an invitation to the Combine because he barely contributed as a senior and struggled his entire career at Auburn to stay on the field. If healthy, Lester could be a real find.

Which Fullbacks Could Get Draft?

Tony Fiammetta (Syracuse) is the odds-on favorite to be the first fullback off the board. He has good size and speed, is an above average blocker and can catch the ball out of the backfield. Other fullbacks who could hear their name called are Quinn Johnson (LSU), Brannan Southerland (Georgia), Conredge Collins (Pittsburgh) and Jason Cook (Mississippi St.). Cook has prototypical size, Johnson is an excellent lead blocker, injury issues hurt Southerland, while Collins is athletic, but undersized.

Who Are the Stars of Tomorrow?

The top senior back for 2009 will be C.J. Spiller (Clemson), who possesses breakaway speed and is a true weapon coming out of the backfield. Even though Davis is gone, Spiller figures to share some carries. LeGarrette Blount (Oregon) and Charles Scott (LSU) are bruising backs that tip the scales at over 230 pounds. Stafon Johnson (USC) is an intriguing talent, but has never had the opportunity to get consistent carries as a Trojan.

Junior Jonathan Dwyer (Georgia Tech) is a powerful runner, with Jahvid Best (California) and Noel Devine (West Virginia) true game-breakers for the Class of 2011. The players with the most potential remain DeMarco Murray (Oklahoma) and Joe McKnight (USC), with the red-shirt junior out of Norman the more proven talent. Also out of the Big XII, Kendall Hunter (Oklahoma St.) is a sleeper who has been very productive.

Photo Credit: College Press Box (Michigan St., Pittsburgh, NC State), SEC Sports Media, University of Wyoming Photo Service

Pro Day Rewind: Week Three

By ANDREW GARDA

Two weeks in the books and Pro Day season is proving to be just as exciting and intriguing this year as it is every year. With Ohio State, Boston College and Alabama taking center stage next week, it shows no signs of slacking off anytime soon.

But before we glance at the new week, let’s take a look at the week that was.

As will be the case from here until the first week in April, there were tons of schools trotting out athletes for Pro Days. Below are some of the schools whose players made the biggest impact or impression last week.

Baylor: Scouts and staff from 15 NFL teams came to Baylor’s workout, and it shouldn’t be surprising to most folks that three were offensive line coaches given that offensive tackle Jason Smith was scheduled to work out. Smith, projected by many to be a top ten pick this April, did position drills but let his Combine numbers stand for everything else. He did struggle some in the push and pull, but overall likely did nothing to dissuade any team thinking about taking him in the first round. He and fellow lineman Dan Gay stayed after the event to work out for the three line coaches representing Jacksonville, Cincinnati and Seattle. St. Louis is slated to work out Smith in private on March 12th.

TCU: Every NFL team was represented at TCU this year and got a bit of a shock when linebacker prospect Jason Phillips revealed he had a torn meniscus in his left knee. Phillips believes the injury was suffered at the Scouting Combine. He underwent surgery on Wednesday and understandably did not workout on Friday and could be sidelined for up to 12 weeks.

With that out of the way, the Scouts settled down to business and were met with another, much nicer surprise. Center Blake Schueter had an eye-opening workout which many are saying may have vaulted him into the latter part of April’s Draft.

Measuring a super-sized 6' 2 3/8”, 290 pounds, Schueter ran the 40 in an impressive 4.7 seconds and jumped a 35-inch vertical as well as killing the long jump, short shuttle and three-cone. For a big man, he can move and while he seems over-sized for an NFL center, he definitely made people sit up and take notice.

Wisconsin: Twenty-eight teams came by the Badgers’ Pro Day, including an offensive line coach from Carolina and a tight end coach from Jacksonville. As I mentioned last week, P. J. Hill needed to have a big day and it’s questionable whether he did that or not. Running a 4.65 and a 4.63 in the 40 didn’t catch him up to an already slower class from the Combine, though he had a nice 37-inch vertical and a respectable 4.24 in the short shuttle. Meanwhile, tight end Travis Beckum ran an outstanding 4.61 and 4.63 in the 40 and added a 38.5 inch vertical and a 9 foot 10 inch broad jump. Top guard prospect Kraig Urbik also put on a solid performance, improving upon his times across the board, improving his 40 by at least seven tenths of a second (5.30 and 5.25) and shaving fourteen tenths of a second off his short shuttle (4.75). Fellow guard Andy Kemp also improved, running a 5.35 and a 5.38, besting his Combine 40 time of 5.48. All in all, it was a great day for the Badgers who did a good job improving upon their numbers and showing the scouts what they had.

Texas A&M: Several players had to step up on the Aggies’ Pro Day and while I was looking forward to hearing some more on running back Mike Goodson, it was quarterback Stephen McGee who really impressed the 17 scouts who showed up. Jaguars quarterback coach Mike Shula showed up as well and ran McGee through his paces. All indications are that he did very well in the positional drills. While he may be a longshot right now, this workout certainly put him on some people’s radar. As for Goodson, he ran a crisp 4.43 and 4.47 in the 40, which bettered his already-fast Scouting Combine time. However, the Aggies are one of three teams that lay a rubber surface over the indoor field turf for players to run on and that tends to reduce the 40 times just a bit. Still, Goodson continues to move up some charts and this Pro Day could solidify him as a late second day pick. Defensive end Michael Bennett also had a solid day, improving upon his Combine numbers in the 40 and the vertical jump.

Missouri: As expected, quarterback Chase Daniel, tight end Chase Coffman, and wide receiver Jeremy Maclin did not work out for attending scouts. Maclin is still nursing a knee injury suffered in Indianapolis but should be ready to go on the second Mizzou Pro Day on March 19th.


Instead it was the defense’s time to shine, and safety William Moore led the way with some excellent positional drills, solid 4.51 and 4.49 times in the 40, and a 6.94 in the three-cone. He also posted a 10 foot, six inch broad jump. Moore continues to be one of the top safety prospects in the Draft. Defensive end Evander Hood also did very well and his 4.45 shuttle, 7.32 three-cone and 35 reps in the bench press keep him at the top of many scouts' and analyst’s list of defensive tackles.

Troy: The group at Troy was led by cornerback Sherrod Martin, who built on his solid Scouting Combine with a great group of positional and workout drills. He was watched by 15 teams, including a pair of defensive back coaches.

Western Illinois: Fourteen teams showed up to watch 11 players, but the focus was largely on linebacker Jason Williams who did well overall on the wooden gym floor where the event was held. His 4.49 and 4.52 40 times were solid, but the slippery floor hurt his shuttle times which hopefully won’t cost him too much given the location and situation.

UNLV: The standout at UNLV’s Pro Day was running back Frank Summers, who ran a 4.63 and a 4.64 40 yard dash as well as a 4.35 short shuttle and benched 30 reps on the bench press.

Liberty: Everyone was talking about running back Rashad Jennings post Scouting Combine and six teams sent staff to check him out again. Jennings topped his 4.58 Combine 40-time with a 4.52 and bested his three cone time by .05 seconds with a 6.79 time. A second guy who took the opportunity to impress the visiting scouts was quarterback Brock Smith who had a very nice workout, including a 4.87 and 4.84 40 and a decent showing in position drills.

Even after that long week, there’s no rest for the scouting groups as another voluminous list of Pro Days await them this week. Here are some of the days and players to keep an eye on:

Alabama (March 11): There are several interesting prospects to watch here, but none will be under more scrutiny than offensive tackle Andre Smith. Smith has to prove that the disaster at the NFL Scouting Combine – the admission he hadn’t been working, the disappearance on Saturday – were mere hiccups and not a trend. If he says the wrong thing in a brief interview or does not look prepared, he could be in for a fall in April.

Boston College (March 12): In an interview on NFLDraftbible’s All Access Football, top defensive tackle prospect B. J. Raji said he would only be doing positional drills at BC’s Pro Day, standing on the numbers from his outstanding Combine performance. Why mess with perfection? Instead, scouts can check out strong safety Kevin Akins and defensive tackle Ron Brace, amongst other players.

Oklahoma State (March 12): Brandon Pettigrew is a guy to watch here, considered by many to be the top tight end prospect. He could benefit by bettering his 40 if he can, but this guy shines on tape so positional drills could be the place for him to lock his ranking up.

Ohio State (March 13): A bevy of talented players will show off for scouts on Friday the 13th, led by running back Chris Wells, linebacker James Laurinaitis and Combine hot-shot wide receiver Brian Robiskie. All three have questions about them and all three will have to come prepared to leave scouts satisfied they know the answers.

Oregon (March 12): I am very interested to see what running back Jeremiah Johnson can do to try and gain some ground on the top ten backs. Johnson is not outstanding in any one area, but might be able to impress scouts by showcasing his versatility.

Of course that’s not all this week holds. Check back next week and every week as we cover the surprises, shocks, and disappointments that Pro Days always bring.

Photo Credit: College Press Box (Baylor, TCU, Missouri), SEC Sports Media, Texas A&M Media Relations Office, OSU Athletics

Pro Day Preview: Wisky, A&M & Mizzou

By ANDREW GARDA

Here are some players to keep an eye on this coming week:

Wisconsin (March 4): P. J. Hill needs to allay some fears caused by his decision not to work out at the NFL Scouting Combine. Hurt or not, he needs to nail this audition if he wants to have a shot at being drafted. It’s not an incredible ‘home run’ running back draft class but there are some good project-type backs. If Hill wants to earn a chance, he’s going to have to have a very good day. Hill surprised many when he checked in at a svelte 222 pounds, now let's see if translates to faster 40-time.

Texas A&M (March 4): Keep an eye on Mike Goodson, a running back who could also play wide receiver. He had a solid Combine, finishing in the top ten in multiple categories. Another good workout could bump him up in the running back rankings.

Missouri (March 5): Some players will work out on the 19th, but the group who could show up on the 5th includes Jeremy Maclin and Chase Daniel. Maclin is hot off a Combine effort-some sites have him among the top three wide receiver prospects-while Daniel has seen his stock fall due to his lack of size and the fact that he worked out of the shotgun quite a bit. A good Pro Day could go a long way for both players, though Daniel needs it more. Chase Coffman, who could not participate in the NFL Scouting Combine due to a leg injury, will not be ready for the first of two Missouri Pro Days. The senior tight end tells the NFL Draft Bible he hopes to be ready for Pro Day No. 2 on the 19th.

We’ll talk about all of these players and many more each week as we move closer to the 2009 NFL Draft.

Photo Credit: Mizzou Media Relations

THE CFI TOP 25 COUNTDOWN: #20 TEXAS A & M AGGIES

DANIEL MOGOLLON
CO-FOUNDER
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDERS





2006 RECORD: 9-4; BIG 12: 5-3
Lost Holiday Bowl vs. California 45-10
LOCATION: College Station, Texas
STADIUM: Kyle Field (82,600)
HEAD COACH: Dennis Franchione
OVERALL: 180-96-2 (24 seasons)
AT TEXAS A & M: 25-23 (4 seasons)


At College Station, we have a historically strong football school in the midst of a resurgence. Two years ago, the Aggies finished 5-6 and last season improved to 9-4, including a win over Texas in Austin as they made their second bowl appearance under Coach Fran. However, they did lose four games, including a blow out to Cal in the Holiday Bowl and squeaked by Kansas, Oklahoma St. and Army by a total of eight points in three of their wins. They may need to be better just to reach last season’s win total of nine. However, there is little argument that they are going in the right direction and if some of the youngsters are ready for primetime, the Aggies could even exceed expectations.

WHEN THE AGGIES HAVE THE BALL

OFFENSIVE COORDINAROR: Les Koenning (5th Season)
OFFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 9
KEY LOSSES: L’Tydrick Riley, Chad Schroeder, Jason Jack

Under center for the Aggies is one of, if not the most underrated player in America in Stephen McGee. The junior signal caller may not possess the ideal skill set that pro scouts look for, however he knows how to play (and win) at the college level. McGee led an attack that topped 2000 yards in the air and on the ground, contributing to both. He is accurate and makes great decisions, which leads to very few costly errors. If his receivers step up, he can have an even better season, especially if immensely talented tight end Martellus Bennett has the type of year many are waiting for. On the ground, McGee, a capable runner himself, has all the help he needs in Mike Goodson and Jorvorskie Lane, if anything the coaching staff may struggle with getting each back enough touches. Lane is the quintessential short yardage back, excelling in the red zone and on converting third downs, with more dance in his step than you would think for someone of his size. Goodson is the burner, with the ability to take one to the house anytime he has the ball in his hands. The combination is impossible to stop…you try chasing down Goodson after taking a pounding from Lane or taking Lane head on after Woodson has worn you out with his extra gear. In addition, opponents will have to deal with A & M’s best offensive line in a few years.

PRO PROSPECTS: 1) Martellus Bennett (JR), 2) Mike Goodson (SO), 3) Cody Wallace (SR), 4) Jorvorskie Lane (JR), 5) Yemi Babalola (JR), 6) Corey Clark (SR), 7) Kirk Elder (SR)

WHEN THE OTHER TEAM HAS THE BALL

DEFENSIVE COORDINAROR: Gary Darnell (2nd Season)
DEFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 6
KEY LOSSES: Justin Warren, Melvin Bullitt

The pass defense jumped from 117th in nation two years ago to 44th last season and should be even better this year. A pair of sophomores took their lumps in 2006 and the dividends should pay off this season. Jordan Peterson remains at corner, while Jordan Pugh moves from corner to safety in the Aggies 4-2-5 alignment. Joining Pugh at safety are Devin Gregg and a third sophomore in Alton Dixon, forming a trio that has the staff at College Station very excited. At linebacker, they return a pair of solid seniors in Misi Tupe and Mark Dodge. Of the veterans, defensive end Chris Harrington is the most reliable, while tackle Red Bryant possesses the most potential. If he can have an All-Big 12 type season, disrupting opponents from the interior, who knows how far the Aggies can go.

PRO PROSPECTS: 1) Red Bryant (SR), 2) Chris Harrington (SR), 3) Jordan Pugh (SO), 4) Devin Gregg (SO), 5) Jordan Peterson (SO), 6) Misi Tupe (SR), 7) Henry Smith (SR)

THE SCHEDULE

The Aggies are confident heading into their fifth season under Coach Fran and with good reason. If that confidence is to translate into wins, they must handle four programs that have had their way with them the past few seasons. In addition to Oklahoma and Texas, Texas Tech has had a better run in recent years, while Nebraska of the Big 12 North has also taken care of the Aggies head-to-head. In their last five meetings against all four programs, A & M is 1-4, which is simply not good enough. Last season, in addition to their win at Texas, they lost to Tech by four, to Nebraska by one and to Oklahoma by one so they are getting closer. They play three of the four on the road, with UT coming to College Station with revenge on the mind. They also play at Miami for their first test of the season.

PIVOTAL POINT

The development of their defense: In addition to the youth in the secondary, A & M could use the likes of ends Michael Bennett and Cyril Obiozor, as well tackle Kellen Heard to progress. Obiozor recorded 37 stops as a sophomore, ten more than Bennett, who made six tackles behind the line of scrimmage. At 6’6”/330 pounds Heard has the size to be an impact player and did break into the backfield for 2.5 sacks in his freshman campaign. At linebacker, sophomore Matt Featherston is more in the “Wrecking Crew” mold than the veterans are.

CFI FINAL ANALYSIS

I am a fan of the Aggies, especially McGee, who displayed moxie when making his first start as a freshman in Austin when subbing for an injured Reggie McNeal. He can make the plays necessary to win games, combined with backs Goodson and Lane -- they form a backfield trio as good as any in the country. There is enough ability to crack the top ten, especially if the afore-mentioned defenders, as well as some on offense, come through. Nevertheless, it is hard to see them passing both the Sooners and Longhorns, possibly one, but not both.

Check back tomorrow to see who is #19 in CFI’s Top 25 Countdown