Scouting Blog
2020 NFL Draft Running Backs
Scouting Notes
Top 10
Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin (#1)
-had a lot of carries at Wisconsin
-elusive runner
-physical runner
-has rare combination of power and speed
-athletic enough to hurdle tacklers
-good burst out of the backfield
-not asked to do a lot of catching out of the backfield or blocking
J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State (#2)
-needs better balance
-explosive runner
-good speed
-physical runner
-questionable hands out of the backfield
-good pass blocker
-played hurt at times
D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia (#3)
-able to dig out hard yards for a little guy
– got shut down early against Notre Dame
-decent burst
-ran a lot out of the shotgun
-good catching out of the backfield
-good pass blocker
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU (#4)
-elusive runner
-good catching out of the backfield
-lined up as an outside receiver at times
-good route runner for a running back
-can be an explosive runner
-good vision
Cam Akers, RB, Florida State (#5)
-executes the trick play well
-fights for tough yards
-can catch out of the backfield
-explosive runner
-got stopped with a poor OL at FSU
-average blocker
-wasn’t asked to catch out of the backfield at lot
AJ Dillon, RB, Boston College (#6)
-lined up as an outside receiver at times
-hits the hole hard
-good vision
-physical runner
-average route runner
-good change of directions as a runner
Eno Benjamin, RB, Arizona State (#7)
-okay route runner
-used a lot in play action
-tough runner for hard yards
-elusive runner
-average pass blocker
-decent vision
-sometimes needs to read the blitz better when blocking
James Robinson, RB, Illinois State (#8/Underrated)
-changes running speeds effectively
-patient runner
-fights for tough yards with elusiveness
-tries to do too much sometimes
-not particularly fast on tape
-was the focal point of Illinois State’s offense
Joshua Kelly, RB, UCLA (#9)
-executes the option well in college
-needs to improvise better on routes
-good burst
-decent vision
-physical runner
-serviceable pass blocker
-was the focus of the UCLA offense
Darius Anderson, RB, TCU (#10/Underrated)
-very speedy
-great outside runner
-needs to stay more upright when pass blocking
-not great at breaking tackles
-explosive runner
-can make the first tackler miss with speed and agility
Anthony McFarland Jr, RB, Maryland (overrated)
-average burst
-average vision
-decent pass blocker
-decent change of direction
-balance needs some work
-needs to make tacklers miss better
Tavien Feaster, RB, South Carolina (overrated)
-good at breaking tackles
-had a hard time finding the hole against Alabama
-decent pass blocker
-not as good as a receiver
-below average vision
-needs better burst
Javon Leake, RB, Maryland (Sleeper)
-decent vision
-good balance
-breaks tackles with speed
-has a sneaky burst
-explosive runner
Ke’shawn Vaughn, RB, Vanderbilt
-good vision
-tough runner
-good power for his size
-good pass blocker
-more of a smart runner than a fast runner
Lamical Perine, RB, Florida
-good receiver out of the backfield
-decent vision
-seems to come from a spread offense
-a lot of his runs were draw plays
-seems like more of a scat back
Zack Moss, RB, Utah
-ran in a spread offense
-average runner
-ran behind a zone running scheme
-decent at breaking tackles
-needs to be a better pass blocker
Salvon Ahmed, RB, Washington
-needs to make tacklers miss better
-has good speed
-average pass blocker
-patient runner
-has some toughness for his size
-doesn’t catch as much out of the backfield as you would think.
Darrynton Evans, RB, Appalachian State
-good speed
-breaks tackles better than you would think
-played well against South Carolina
-good catching out of the backfield
-has some power in his running
-decent vision
Michael Warren II, RB, Cincinnati
-very good pass blocker
-good quickness
-average at breaking tackles
-decent catching out of the backfield
-needs better burst
-runs well at the second level
LeVante Bellamy, RB, Western Michigan
-tough runner
-below average pass blocker
-good hands out of the backfield
-needs better burst
-he is elusive
-shifty runner
Antonio Gibson, RB, Memphis
-played WR and RB at Memphis
-played RB at Senior Bowl
-lined up in the slot
-good speed on tape
-ran very simple routes at Memphis
-decent lead blocker surprisingly
Benny Lemay, RB, Charlotte
-good vision
-average speed
-shifty runner
-saved some tread splitting carries with McAlister
-hits the whole decently hard
-ran well despite his O-line overwhelmed by good teams
-runs for tough yards
Jamycal Hasty, RB, Baylor
-cuts great to make tacklers miss
-good outside runner
-below average pass blocker
-sometimes lunges when he lead blocks
-capable of pass catching out of the backfield
-has second-level burst when he runs
Deejay Dallas, RB, Miami (FL)
-above average pass blocker
-decent vision
-good pass catcher out of the backfield
-lined up on the outside as a receiver at times
-surprisingly explosive
-not a complex route runner
