Aaron Donald is a physical specimen at defensive tackle, possessing rare strength and quickness for a man his size. He’s as athletic as we’ve ever seen at that position, which is what helped him lead the league in sacks in 2018 and tackles for loss in 2019, too.
When you see him in person, you don’t immediately think he’s a defensive tackle. It’s not hard to confuse him for a bruising running back. In his younger days, Donald always thought he’d be a running back, but he jokes he ate his way out of that position.
He’d love the chance to carry the ball again, though, and has been trying to get that opportunity since he came into the NFL in 2016.
“I’ve been trying for six years. I’ve been trying for six years, but they just won’t allow it. Hopefully one day they’ll give me that ball and let my little league days back out,” he said in a phone interview with Rams Wire on Friday.
Donald showed a little bit of what he can do in 2018 when he scooped up a fumble and carried it for a decent return, stiff-arming Doug Baldwin at the end of the run.
“Yeah, you see how I was moving? Showed a little something,” Donald said, laughing.
Aaron Donald would run for 3,000 yards and 25 TDs.pic.twitter.com/owqGTUNSCi
— Sporting News (@sportingnews) November 12, 2018
The Rams have a powerful back already with Todd Gurley, who has scored at least 14 touchdowns in each of the last three seasons, but Donald would bring another element. Even as a lead blocker, it’s reasonable to think Donald could succeed.
But it’d be fun to see him lined up in a singleback formation behind Jared Goff and take a handoff at the 2-yard line, barreling his way into the end zone for six.