Bo Nix led the Denver Broncos with 35 rushing yards and a touchdown in Week 1, which wasn’t a good reflection on the team’s running backs, but it did highlight Nix’s athletic ability.
Nix was clocked as the NFL’s second-fastest player on a running play in Week 1 with a top speed of 20.05 mph, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
That kind of speed can certainly provide another threat that defenses have to account for on game days.
“I think it’s a strength and it can be used at the right times,” Nix said. “Kind of like in the game you have that opportunity, and you make the most of it. I didn’t know it’d be quite that fast, but that’s good to see. All the hard work in the offseason, we train speed, we train athleticism. That’s part of the gift that us quarterbacks can play with if we use our legs. That’s tough on defenses.”
Mike Tomlin was "surprised" with Bo Nix's mobility and its impact on the game.
"I thought he was highly effective"
(📸 @steelers) pic.twitter.com/cZFZTUmlOs
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) September 10, 2024
Broncos coach Sean Payton said Nix did not run a 40-yard dash this spring because he was getting over a toe injury, but the team could see his speed on film.
“We didn’t have some of the numbers metric-wise,” Payton said. “We had the Catapult numbers from college that suggested all of that, but we didn’t have the shuttles and we didn’t have the 40 [-yard dash]. I think he was dealing with a toe at the time, and really didn’t want to maybe put something on tape that wasn’t his best. Yes, he can run and he can avoid. Those are traits that will serve him well.”
After rushing for 744 yards and 20 touchdowns in two seasons at Oregon, Nix is poised to continue utilizing his legs in the pros.
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