Category: Running Backs

Strengths

Evans is a runner who had a high number of carriers (482) and just two fumbles during that time. Only once did he lose a fumble. Protecting the football is the quickest ways to find a way onto the field. He runs with the ball high and tight with the ball in the appropriate hand. Won’t kill you with bad decisions with ball security which will keep him out of the dog house.

The name of his game is speed. Evans has been rumored to have sub 4.4 speed, as low as 4.37 in the 40-yard dash. He can outrun defenses in a hurry. The speed is evident with his breakaway runs and on kickoff returns. Returned three kicks for touchdown with one being for 100 yards. Get the ball in his hands and let his athleticism take over. He will destroy any angles that defenders take.

He is also very good in the passing game as both a blocker and receiver. He can help out or chip on blocks and leak out. Once he gets the ball in his hands, he can make a defender miss with his quickness. Does a good job of tracking the ball in the air. Soft hands as a receiver.

Weaknesses

At times he will slow down when getting upfield and will brace for contact. At those times, he should use his athleticism to try and make the defender miss. Not big on broken tackles, he does better to create a miss with start and stop. Will need to improve on recognition, such as seeing cutback lanes.

Not a back you want taking on blitzers one on one. Doesn’t have the necessary power to take on defenders without losing ground. Power isn’t the name of his game. Inside running could be a problem if the lanes aren’t clean. Contact balance is iffy.

Projection: Day 3

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2020 NFL draft: Benny LeMay scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Charlotte running back prospect Benny LeMay

Benny LeMay | RB | Charlotte

Elevator Pitch

LeMay is a back that could work his way into the later rounds. Small-school back, but has some power to his game. Not very fast so that will limit impact he could have on special teams. He is better between the tackles than on the boundary.

Vitals

Height | 5-8

Weight | 221

Class | Senior

Strengths

LeMay has terrific contact balance. With his short and compact frame, he can absorb contact and keep pushing forward. Runs with physicality and his stiff arm can create some separation when running the football. He isn’t a back that goes down on first contact so defense have to bring more than one body to bring him down.

He is a back that you can trust with the ball. Only fumbled it four times in four years at Charlotte. Also shows good ability to catch the football when running routes. He will be a good outlet throw for a quarterback needing to get rid of the ball to avoid a sack. He does have some quickness and shiftyness to create problems when in the open field and good vision to boot.

Weaknesses

LeMay doesn’t possess blazing speed as evident of his 4.75 40 time that he posted at the NFL Combine. It confirmed what was on tape from his time in Charlotte. Not a guy who will house very many runs. Running on the boundary will be a concern due to the inability to beat many defenders to the corner on plays outside the tackle.

He can be slow to hole but not due to his speed. Seems slow to diagnose the blocking up front. Needs to make a decision, plant his foot and get up field. Will dance around a bit trying to make something happen when nothing is there. With his size and power, needs to just lower his shoulder and go.

Right now he isn’t a three-down back as he is a liability in pass protection. He should be fine in protection once he shows better technique. Needs to use his hands and power to take on blitzers in pass protection.

Projection: Day 3

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2020 NFL draft: J.J. Taylor scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Arizona running back prospect J.J. Taylor

J.J. Taylor | RB | Arizona

Elevator Pitch

Taylor is the smallest prospect in the upcoming NFL Draft. Don’t let the size fool you, he plays much bigger than his size. He might have some physical limitations but fans and teams alike will love the heart and determination of Taylor. He will need to contribute on special teams to make a roster.

Vitals

Height | 5-5

Weight | 185

Class | Senior

Strengths

Taylor is a fun player to watch. He runs with good vision to find holes and with his smaller frame can squeeze through. Taylor can even get skinny in the smallest of creases. Plays with quick trigger, as he will plant his foot and shoot up the field. He plays with an initial burst that helps create problems for defenders at the second and third levels.

He does provide some kickoff return ability, the quickness to get going and the vision to see the lanes will allow him to have some impact on special teams. Does have good hands as a receiver, will be valuable as a dump off option or in the screen game.

Weaknesses

Quicker than fast. While having the burst to get upfield quickly will help his game, he doesn’t have that second and third gear. Taylor won’t have the runaway speed to hit the home run. Too often on longer runs, he was caught from behind.

He won’t provide much in terms of pass protection, just won’t be able to hold blocks very long due to his size. Likely will get overpowered by bigger pass rushers and blitzers. Limited catch radius that will need pinpoint accuracy from his quarterback to complete the catch process.

Projection: Day 3

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2020 NFL draft: Anthony McFarland, Jr. scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Maryland running back prospect Anthony McFarland, Jr.

Anthony McFarland Jr | RB | Maryland

Elevator Pitch

McFarland is an explosive back that could find himself in a nice role at the NFL level. His ability to be elusive and hit the afterburners makes him a prime candidate to be a change of pace back in the NFL. He could develop into more but he is still relatively young.

Vitals

Height | 5-8

Weight | 205

Class | RS Sophomore

Strengths

McFarland is a slippery running back he does a great job making defenders miss in the open field. Not an easy guy to keep your grasp on. After eluding defenders in the open field, he has the burners to make a house call. Just ask the Ohio State defense in 2018 when he made three runs of 50+ in that game alone.

He can also be dynamic with the ball in the air, especially on wheel routes. Defenders have a hard time keeping up with him. A linebacker drawing the assignment are going to have a rough afternoon. Shows the ability to track the ball and make a big play down the field.

Weaknesses

Despite his ability to slip defenders, has below average contact balance. Not a back that will power through arm tackles. He needs to use his athletic ability to evade tackles rather than pure raw power. Also the fact that he had leg injuries in high school and college that could be a bit concerning based on what the medicals say.

His frame may prevent him from being an every down back at the NFL level. Not a back that will be able to consistently hold up in blocking situations. If he is on the field in passing situations, he needs to be running routes.

In the run game, McFarland needs to do a better job of allowing his line to create lanes and trust the process. He has a quick trigger to not see the hole and bounce it to the outside. Teams who are able to set the edge will snuff that out relatively quickly.

Projection: Day 3

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2020 NFL draft: JaMycal Hasty scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Baylor running back prospect JaMycal Hasty

JaMycal Hasty | RB | Baylor

Elevator Pitch

Hasty is another one of the smaller elusive backs in the NFL Draft. He has the wiggle to make you miss in the open field and the wheels to beat you down the sideline. Not the fastest as far as the long speed but his quickness can get you beat quickly.

Vitals

Height | 5-8

Weight | 205

Class | Senior

Strengths

Hasty is a back who can really be a good change of pace back at the NFL level. He provides the ability to create when nothing is there due to his footwork. He can use a jumpcut to really get defenders flowing away from where he is going. Can plant his foot and get upfield quickly.

He possesses the ability to make people miss in space. Also shows good contact balance to power through arm tackles. He also is very good pass catcher at the position with a fairly good route tree. Linebackers and some defensive backs will struggle to stay with him. Excels in the scramble drill to find space for his quarterback.

He does well to set up his blocks downfield and run off of them for big chunks of yards. He isn’t immune to cutting back across the grain for big plays as well. Uses those skills in the return game so that could be just another way Hasty gets on the field in 2020.

Weaknesses

There will be questions about his health after dealing with injuries. Not just in college but at Longview High School as well. Never had a full workload during his time at Baylor. Not many miles on the tires but conditioning would be a factor if given an extended role at the NFL level. His workload against high level of competition was very low.

Ball security is a huge concern with Hasty. He had six fumbles in the limited carries. His fumble rate is concerning and could be a reason that he stays off the field if he doesn’t take better care of the football. Not a guy you will want to stay in on pass protection, he doesn’t provide enough to keep him in on those situations.

Projection: Day 3

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2020 NFL draft: DeeJay Dallas scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Miami running back prospect DeeJay Dallas

DeeJay Dallas | RB | Miami (FL)

Elevator Pitch

Dallas could be a short-yardage back at the NFL level. With his burst at the line, he could be a handful for some defenders to deal with. Not your open field speed back, but his power is one of best assets. Could be a punishing finisher when teams get deep in plus territory.

Vitals

Height | 5-10

Weight | 217

Class | Junior

Strengths

Dallas runs with tremendous balance even when contacted. His compact frame allows him to absorb the contact from defenders. He can take punishment and as long as he keeps his feet moving, he is hard to bring down. Very much a back you want with the ball in his hands near the goal line where defenses really stiffen up.

He runs hard, while not being the fastest back on the field, he can keep plays alive that should be blown dead in the backfield. He seems to enjoy taking hits as he fights through with a good center of gravity due to his frame. Shows good pad level. Not breakaway speedster but has the juice to bust off some long runs after forcing missed tackles.

After being a quarterback in high school and playing wide receiver and running back, Dallas could be used in special teams as a returner. Shows good vision at the second and third levels. Has the ability to be a good receiver and does a decent enough job as a blocker.

Weaknesses

Dallas is a bit raw as he is still learning the position after moving from quarterback and wide receiver. Teams will need to work with him on his assignments in the passing game. Just a matter of being young that is hurting him at this point with the running back job.

While he will use the physical frame to get lose in the second and third levels, he definitely isn’t a home run threat. He doesn’t have that top end gear to stretch the field and put pressure on teams in the chase. He needs to keep the feet moving, once they stop he doesn’t get going again which kills the play.

Projection: Day 3

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2020 NFL draft: Joshua Kelley scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about UCLA running back prospect Joshua Kelley

Joshua Kelley | RB | UCLA

Elevator Pitch

Kelley joined the Bruins after spending his first two seasons with UC-Davis. He started his junior and senior seasons for UCLA, being a consistently productive player for them. His physical, downhill style of play fits in naturally with most NFL offensive schemes.

Vitals

Height | 5-11

Weight | 212

Class | Redshirt Senior

Strengths

Kelley runs with good contact balance. Not a back that is easily taken down on first contact. His strong lower half of the frame allows him to power through weak arm tackles. He will square his shoulders to pop defenders attempting to bring him down. Has the athleticism to leap over a defender bracing for the big hit from Kelley.

Despite his power, he does possess some quickness to elude defenders in open space. He can evade tackles with a stutter step and then he is off to the races in the third level of a defense. Hard man to bring down one on one in space. Will get skinny by contorting his body angle to get through the hole as well.

Kelly showed that he can contribute in the passing game as a receiver but needs more work in terms of getting touches. Shows to be a decent blocker. He really wins in the red zone as a downhill runner. Has the power to carry defenders into the endzone.

Weaknesses

Kelley has issues with his vision, needs to work on setting up blocks and running into openings. Often times he ran into contact with other options available. Despite that he can evade tackles, he needs to do a better job of making defenders miss at the second and third levels. Not as athletic in terms of change of direction and short area quickness as you would like.

Kelley could find himself getting flagged at the next level due to how much he lowers his helmet on runs. Needs to keep the head up which should help with some of his vision. He will also need work with his running style as he leans forward a bit much and his pad level is a bit high. Small things that NFL coaches can work with.

Projection: Day 3

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2020 NFL draft: Ke’Shawn Vaughn scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Vanderbilt running back prospect Ke’Shawn Vaughn

Ke’Shawn Vaughn | RB | Vanderbilt

Elevator Pitch

Vaughn can be menacing with his physical style of running and he is tough to bring down. He won’t outrun you but he is likely to out punish you if given the opportunity to square his shoulders. A back up running back at the NFL level most likely.

Vitals

Height | 5-10

Weight | 214

Class | RS Senior

Strengths

Vaughn is built like a punishing back and that is how he likes to play his game. When he takes contact, Vaughn has a knack for getting positive yards after the initial hit. He doesn’t give up on runs. He is able to maintain balance through contact. His ability to keep balance through contact is one of his best traits that will make scouts smile when watching him play.

Getting Vaughn going in the redzone and in plus territory is a way that he wins. He has the attitude and demeanor to win with determination to go along with his ability to run through contact. Near the pylon, Vaughn uses that to find the endzone more often than not. He isn’t a back to dance around, Vaughn sticks his foot in the ground and gets north and south.

Weaknesses

With his play style, Vaughn is likely going to be taken off the field in passing situations. He is just not dynamic as a pass catcher. It doesn’t help that he is limited athletically due to tight hips. He is wound tight and doesn’t have much fluidity that the elite backs in this class have.

Vaughn won’t be a back who will get to the second and third levels of a defense based on his straight line speed. He just doesn’t possess that second and third gear that he can get to. Teams won’t have problems catching him in pursuit, bringing him down after catching him is another question.

He will likely be a liability on passing downs due to his inability to be a sufficient blocker for the quarterback. This is a learned trait that he can work with. Teams will need to focus on his development in order to make him more than just a two down back at the NFL level.

Projection: Day 3

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2020 NFL draft: A.J. Dillon scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Boston College running back prospect A.J. Dillon

A.J. Dillon | RB | Boston College

Elevator Pitch

Dillon is a handful at the running back position. He shows good contact balance and won’t go down on first contact. Physical enough to throw defenders off of him as he continues the run. Will be a good backup runner until he can add pass catching to his game. He fits best as a red zone and short yardage back at the NFL level.

Vitals

Height | 6-0

Weight | 247

Class | Junior