Top Running Back Prospects for 2011
As the dynamic of play in the National Football League has evolved, so have the requirements to play various positions. In contemporary football, most teams strive to have at least two running backs to share carries, and some teams even go with three.
Since 1998, a total of 41 running backs have gone in the first round of the NFL Draft. With the college and professional football seasons starting up soon, here are the senior running backs who are slated to be top prospects:
DeMarco Murray: The fifth-year player out of Oklahoma seems to be the top running back with expiring eligibility this season. The 6-foot-tall, 215-pounder can pretty much provide teams with anything. His running shows both speed and overall quickness and he can also catch. Although he’s been plagued by injury, he still has 2,471 rushing yards and 977 receiving yards and will go high in the draft if he stays healthy.
Evan Royster: Sometimes players are touted because of their lack of flaws. Royster is one of those players. He has started the last two seasons at Penn State and has amassed 2,405 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. He is a good athlete in general and is regarded as a smart athlete with good character traits, which now increase draft stock in the NFL.
Graig Cooper: The Miami running back might miss his entire last year at school but has done well enough to be ranked as a top prospect. Prior to tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in last year's bowl game against Wisconsin, Cooper started as a true freshman and led the Hurricanes in rushing for three seasons.
Daniel Thomas: Thomas is a transfer student to Kansas State and not a true running back. The former quarterback has the ability to run, pass, and catch and although he is listed as a running back, he will be drafted for athletic purposes. At a height of just over six feet, Thomas can be converted into any position, and has shown the ability to adjust to new positioning well.
Noel Devine: The slightly diminutive Devine has played exciting Darren Sproales-esque football for West Virginia for the last three years. In his last two seasons, he has run for 2,754 yards and can also do kick returns and receiving.
Delone Carter: Carter might be missing next season for off-field behavioural issues, but still has a chance to return to the Syracuse team if he follows a program. If he does so successfully, the explosive runner will show the NFL that he can follow order and improve his draft stock greatly. Last season, Carter had 1,021 yards rushing. Also, at 6-2, he can also play numerous positions if asked to convert.
Da'Rel Scott: The Maryland running back did not have a very good last season, but neither did his team. Still, his potential is undeniable and Scott had a 2008 season of 1,133 yards on the ground, including a performance where he rushed for 174 yards in a single half. He has a 4.4 40-yard time and can also do returns.
Roy Helu: Helu played for a passing-challenged Nebraska team. Even with opponents stacking defences against the run, Helu managed 1,147 yards and 10 touchdowns. His strength makes him a good inside runner but he can still run 40-yards in 4.5-4.6 seconds.
Kendall Hunter: Kendall missed most of his final year at Oklahoma State, but his 2008 performance also merits him a spot on this list. In 2008, Hunter ran for 1,555 yards and had 16 touchdowns. Hunter has a high average of yards gained, including 6.5 yards per carry in 2007. Lastly, he has shown himself capable of big plays, and had 19 runs of 20 yards or more when healthy in 2008.
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