Draft Prospect Notes: Running Back

The writers of Patriots Football Weekly have done their homework on all the prospects in this year's NFL Draft. Now, you can download the actual notes they took on all the top players, broken down by position for your convenience.

Download RB/FB Draft Notes PDF >>

RUNNING BACKS

Pos.	Rank	Player	School	Ht.	Wt.	40	Com
RB	1	Trent Richardson*	Alabama	5-9	228	4.52
Notes: [Andy Hart] Maybe top overall prospect. Quick, fast, powerful. Can catch. Total package. All-Pro. [Erik Scalavino] . Complete back; catches, runs, blocks at highest level; good vision; could switch hands more often, though [Paul Perillo] Great speed/power combo; Good hands; Excellent prospect.
RB	2	Robert Turbin	Utah State	5-10	222	4.57	4.5
Notes: [Andy Hart] Great production. Impressive burst for size. Pretty decisive. May not play to 40 time. [Erik Scalavino] . Massive upper body, but somewhat thin legs; downhill runner, but deceptively fast in open field; missed two full seasons with injuries [Paul Perillo] Good size; Nose of goal line; Good hands.
RB	3	Isiah Pead	Cincinnati	5-10	197	4.42	4.47
Notes: [Andy Hart] Good speed and burst. Slashing runner. Catches well, including split wide. Athlete.. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] Slasher who finds openings; Good hands.
RB	4	Doug Martin	Boise State	5-9	223	4.48	4.55
Notes: [Andy Hart] Short, shifty, bowling ball type. Labors to reach top speed, but OK burst. Inside-out runner.. [Erik Scalavino . Bowling ball frame; strong inside runner who can also bounce out; solid character on/off field; willing pass blocker [Paul Perillo] Good but not great speed; Tough runner; Solid.
RB	5	LaMichael James*	Oregon	5-8	194	4.42	4.45
Notes: [Andy Hart] Electric playmaker with proven production. Size? Speed is legit. [Erik Scalavino] . Speedy, sparkplug, best on delayed handoffs/draws; elusive [Paul Perillo] Reminds me of Darren Sproles; Very elusive and tough for size.
THE REST:
Pos.	Rank	Player	School	Ht.	Wt.	40	Com
RB		David Wilson*	Virginia Tech	5-10	206	4.42	4.49
Notes: [Andy Hart] Fast, quick, explosive. Ball security? Only 1-year starter. Can catch some. [Erik Scalavino] . KR ability; very quick burst, cuts; not a pounder [Paul Perillo] Runs bigger than size; Elusive with good hands; Good speed; Interesting prospect.
RB		Lamar Miller*	Miami	5-11	212	4.42	4.4
Notes: [Andy Hart] Catches well, but nothing special as a runner. Good speed. [Erik Scalavino] Like his size, speed, hands. Still raw as a runner. [Paul Perillo] Gets small in hole; Great speed; Used mostly as receiver.
RB		Bernard Pierce*	Temple	6-0	218	4.59	4.49
Notes: [Andy Hart] Good feet. Runs upright. Patient. Power? Nose for end zone. Good body control. [Erik Scalavino] . Big, downhill running style; not a lot of moves, but effective; cuts well, reads blocks well [Paul Perillo] Bounces off tacklers; Gets to space; Pretty elusive for big guy; Nice vision; Quick feet.
RB		Ronnie Hillman*	San Diego State	5-9	200	4.49	4.45
Notes: [Andy Hart] Fast, small and productive. Slippery. Shifty. [Erik Scalavino] . Third-down, change-of-pace-type back [Paul Perillo] Another 3rd-down type; Quick and elusive while showing ability to break tackles as well; Good patience.
RB		Chris Rainey	Florida	5-8	180	4.36	4.45
Notes: [Andy Hart] Very versatile. Quick and fast. Slippery and elusive. Decent power for size. [Erik Scalavino] . Versatile, all-around athlete; not an every-down back, but excellent receiver who can pick up yards on draws/delayed handoffs; great speed [Paul Perillo] Versatile and fast; KR ability; Explosive.
RB		Chris Polk	Washington	5-11	215	4.48	4.57
Notes: [Andy Hart] Physical. Decent hands. Not great burst. Patient or slow? Runs high at times. [Erik Scalavino] . Former HS receiver; shifty in space and in traffic; strong base; excellent pass catcher [Paul Perillo] Good size/speed combo; Great hands; Runs a bit upright; Not a burner but finds daylight.
RB		Cyrus Gray	Texas A&M	5-10	206	4.47	4.47
Notes: [Andy Hart] Weaver. Stop and go runs. Confident pass catcher with OK power. [Erik Scalavino] Decent receiver out of backfield; can run inside, but better bouncing out; good burst in open space; solid all around [Paul Perillo] Good toughness; Good speed but not overly shifty; Finished well; Liked him.
RB		Vick Ballard	Mississippi State	5-10	219	4.58	4.65
Notes: [Andy Hart] Bigger. Not fast. Tough. Finishes runs. Good feet. [Erik Scalavino] . upright runner for his size; not a lot of sizzle, but effective; needs receiving work; good “committee” complement [Paul Perillo] Tough between the tackles runner; Not overly fast; Good hands; Kind of a tweener.
RB		Tauren Poole	Tennessee	5-10	206	4.56
Notes: [Andy Hart] Not really fast or quick. Has a little wiggle. Tough to bring down. Finishes runs. [Erik Scalavino] . Decent cut-back ability; reads blockers well; solid, but unspectacular [Paul Perillo] Gets small in pool; Breaks tackles; Quick and decisive; Falls forward.
RB		Dan Herron	Ohio State	5-10	212	4.52	4.66
Notes: [Andy Hart] Boom is sort of a Sammy Morris, SPT type player. Not elite by any means. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
RB		Edwin Baker*	Michigan State	5-8	204	4.49	4.53
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
RB		Terrance Ganaway	Baylor	5-11	239	4.62	4.67
Notes: [Andy Hart] Big. Power and between the tackles guy. Not much wiggle. [Erik Scalavino] . Reminds a bit of Sammy Morris, body/running wise; not much of a receiver, though [Paul Perillo] Finishes well; Between the tackles type; Not elusive but tough and strong.
RB		Davin Meggett	Maryland	5-8	211	4.56	4.53
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] . Son of Dave [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
RB		Bobby Rainey	Western Kentucky	5-7	208	4.49
Notes: [Andy Hart] 700 Carries in two years. Short, small. College guy. Not electric enough. [Erik Scalavino] . Has some burst, but not an every-down back; limited receiver, blocker [Paul Perillo] Tough despite size; Another 3rd-down type; Good hands/elusiveness.
RB		Brandon Bolden	Mississippi	5-11	222	4.52	4.66
Notes: [Andy Hart] Upright runner. Pass catcher. Nothing special. NFL JAG. [Erik Scalavino] . Decisive hitting the hole; deceptively fast in open space; doesn’t shy from contact; character a question mark [Paul Perillo] Not dynamic; upright style; Hits edge; Decent speed.
RB		Marc Tyler	USC	5-11	219	4.59	4.76
Notes: [Andy Hart] Well rounded talent. Catches bit. Lean build. More talent than producition in college. [Erik Scalavino . Strong, tough to bring down; keeps feet moving after contact; deceptively fast [Paul Perillo] Quick feet; Moves pile; Runds faster than time; Could be a sleeper.
RB		Lennon Creer	Louisiana Tech	5-11	219	4.57	4.71
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
RB		Adonis Thomas	Toledo	5-10	185	4.45
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
RB		Foswhitt Whittker	Texas	5-9	193	4.49
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
RB		Jewel Hampton*	Southern Illinois	5-9	218	4.55
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
RB		Darrell Scott*	South Florida	6-0	231	4.48	4.73
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
RB		Lance Dunbar	North Texas	5-8	205	4.6
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
RB		Bryce Brown*	Kansas State	6-0	220	4.52
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
RB		Mike Ball*	Nevada	5-9	206		4.65
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
RB		Jonas Gray	Notre Dame	5-10	223
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
RB		Alfred Morris	Florida Atlantic	5-10	219		4.67
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.

FULLBACKS

Pos.	Rank	Player	School	Ht.	Wt.	40	Com
FB	1	Bradie Ewing	Wisconsin	6-0	239	4.76	4.76
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
FB	2	Chad Diehl	Clemson	6-2	257	4.72
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
FB	3	Evan Rodriguez	West Virginia	6-1	239	4.67	4.58
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
FB	4	Cody Johnson	Texas	5-11	252	4.72
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
FB	5	Rhett Ellison	USC	6-5	250	4.76
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
THE REST:
FB		Emil Igwenagu	Umass	6-1	249	4.73	4.83
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
FB		Brad Smelley	Alabama	6-2	233	4.75
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
FB		Drake Dunsmore	Northwestern	6-2	241	4.74	4.64
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
FB		Ryan Houston	North Carolina	6-2	245	4.82
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
FB		Tylor Gentry	North Carolina State	6-1	250	4.86
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.