This year’s class of running backs could break that mold as the latest mocks now have upwards of 10 players going in the first three rounds, including two players who are gaining momentum as first round choices.
From the beginning of the college football season, Ohio State junior Ezekiel Elliott has been ranked on top of the player rankings board. The 6’0″, 225 pound youngster has 4.5 speed and the strength to run between the tackles. He has a good burst through the line and is averaging over seven yards per carry against some stiff competition. Elliot hasn’t been used much in the Buckeyes passing attack, but football experts believe that is due to the offensive scheme the team runs and not his hands.
Despite a lack of success from players in the past, Alabama has another back ready to make the jump into the NFL with Derrick Henry. The junior is big at 6’3″ and 241 pounds, but his quick feet, good hands, and excellent blocking skills make him a solid prospect and a player likely to hear his name called within the first or second round next April.
One player gaining some momentum as the season progresses is Kenneth Dixon from Louisiana Tech. With nearly 2,000 rushing and 28 touchdowns over the last year and a half, Dixon has become a workhorse for the Bulldogs and a player that has stepped up against tougher opponents, something scouts love when judging talent.
The passing game has taken over professional football, but having a solid running game has proven to win games at the next level and while the position might not have the glamour it once did, you won’t find many successful teams that don’t have a good play maker in the back field.
