Tag: Larry Rountree III

Chargers waive RB Larry Rountree III

The Chargers running back room is beginning to take shape.

The Chargers running back room is beginning to take shape.

After a breakout performance from undrafted rookie Elijah Dotson in Saturday’s preseason game against the Rams, Los Angeles waived Larry Rountree III, their sixth-round pick in 2021. Rountree was RB4 on the depth chart behind Austin Ekeler, Joshua Kelley, and Isaiah Spiller. He struggled on Saturday, with five carries for just 9 yards, despite an overall stellar performance by the Chargers on the ground.

Rountree played in 16 games over two seasons in Los Angeles, logging 49 carries for 106 yards and one touchdown. He also added three receptions for 13 yards. The Missouri product was also a key contributor on special teams.

In his absence, Dotson likely takes over as the RB4 and will need to continue to prove himself to convince the Chargers to keep four running backs and fullback Zander Horvath on the 53-man roster.

Chargers 2023 roster review: RB Larry Rountree III

Larry Rountree will be fighting for a roster spot in training camp.

Training camp is approaching and with a few more weeks of dead time in the NFL offseason, Chargers Wire is documenting each of Los Angeles’ players before it kicks off.

Despite being the career rushing leader at Missouri, Larry Rountree III has struggled to find his footing in the NFL. Since being drafted by the Chargers in the sixth round in 2021, Rountree has accounted for just 87 rushing yards at a paltry 2.4 per carry average.

After failing to make the initial 53 man roster following the acquisitions of Isaiah Spiller and Sony Michel a season ago, Rountree clawed his way back from the practice squad to the active roster last November for his special teams acumen. Los Angeles liked what they saw enough to offer Rountree a reserve/futures contract for the 2023 season.

With the ineffective Michel now off the roster, Rountree reassumes RB4 duties behind Austin Ekeler, Joshua Kelley, and Spiller. The question, however, is whether or not 4 running backs will make the initial roster – especially with fullback Zander Horvath locked in for his own special teams prowess.

That leaves the third-year player likely fighting for a practice squad spot, where he should have the inside track on undrafted rookies Tyler Hoosman and Elijah Dotson.

2023 Contract: $940,000 base salary with no bonuses or guaranteed money, $940,000 cap hit.

Acquired: Rountree was selected with the 198th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and has spent his entire career with LA.

Quote: Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore on the running backs outside of Austin Ekeler:

“We’re really excited about the other guys that are in that room, particularly in the running back room, just to give them these opportunities throughout the training camp process, the preseason process, and then we’ll figure out how the roles all get distributed.”

Highlight:

NFL fans loved Chargers’ Larry Rountree’s hilarious dance moves after scoring his first career TD

Larry Rountree has got the moves!!

Scoring your first career NFL touchdown is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and Larry Rountree soaked in every second of it.

During the Los Angeles Chargers’ Sunday matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, Rountree scored his first NFL touchdown to get the home team back in it. With the Chargers down 13-3 with less than two minutes left in the first half, Rountree went up and over the pile for a one-yard touchdown run.

Rountree followed up that touchdown with one of the best scoring celebrations we’ve seen this year, breaking out all kinds of really sick dance moves in his excitement.

Seriously, it’s impossible to watch this without a smile on your face. I dare you.

How awesome is that? Talk about a moment to remember for Rountree, and what moves too! That is definitely one of the more memorable touchdown celebrations we’ve seen in awhile. NFL fans also took notice of Rountree’s moves and were just as in awe at his stylish skills.

Chargers RB Austin Ekeler could help you win your 2021 fantasy football league

Chargers RB Austin Ekeler is an elite fantasy football asset.

The Chargers offseason brought with it a coaching staff, which could bring a positive impact to those who are playing fantasy football this year.

Among the players who should have owners licking their chops is running back Austin Ekeler.

Ekeler enters his fifth season with new offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi calling the shots. One thing about Lombardi is that he has historically gotten his running backs involved more than most coaches in the league.

During his time with the Saints, Lombardi utilized backs like Reggie Bush and Darren Sproles, but the most notable was Alvin Kamara, who recorded at least 1,500 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns three times in his first four seasons.

It just so happens that Ekeler has a very similar skill-set to Kamara, considering the two are ultra-refined runners and lethal pass-catchers.

In each of his seasons, Ekeler has put up big numbers. He amassed 933 yards from scrimmage while missing six games during the 2020 season, but had 1,550 during an injury-free 2019 campaign.

Ekeler shouldn’t have to worry about that many touches being taken because Justin Jackson, Joshua Kelley or Larry Rountree III have yet to establish themselves as candidates to receive bigger roles.

In addition, Ekeler will be playing behind the best offensive line he’s had since coming into the league.

Heading into the new season, should he stay healthy, Ekeler could be looking at his best campaign to date.

If I’m drafting, the Ekeler is going to be selected with my late first-round, early second-round selection in both standard and points per receptions (PPR) formats, and I am confident that he can finish as a top-5 running back by season’s end.

Draft Ekeler and reap the reward.

Projection: 815 Rush Yds | 4 Rush Tds | 81 Rec | 801 Rec Yds | 7 Rec Tds

Chargers 2021 Training Camp Position Battles: Who will serve as backup to Austin Ekeler?

The battle royale in the Chargers’ backup will be one of the most intriguing in training camp.

Among the most intriguing positional battles lies in the backfield, where there will be an audition for the spots behind RB Austin Ekeler, who will be a key piece in Joe Lombardi’s system with his multi-dimensional skillset.

Those candidates vying for the jobs are Justin Jackson, Joshua Kelley, rookie Larry Rountree III and Darius Bradwell.

Jackson, who’s entering Year 4, has only played in 29 out of 48 regular season games. While he’s struggled to stay healthy, he’s been a good compliment to Ekeler, averaging 4.8 yards per carry.

When he’s on the field, Jackson brings great vision and elusiveness coupled with pass-catching skills. Another thing to note is that Jackson is entering the final year of his contract.

Kelley, the 2020 fourth-round pick, dealt with growing pains last season. He experienced back-to-back fumbles early on in the season, which deteriorated his confidence when running the ball and on special teams.

Prior to that, Kelley was one of the most impressive players at training camp last year.

Rountree, the sixth-round pick, joins L.A. after proving himself as one of the most productive backs in the SEC the last three seasons at Missouri, having posted 3,720 yards and 40 touchdowns.

Bradwell, a former undrafted free agent, was one of former head coach Anthony Lynn’s guys, so he will really have to prove himself to the new coaches to earn a roster spot.

You can make the argument for Jackson getting cut because he has missed 19 games due to injuries. However, he’s arguably the team’s second-best back when healthy.

You can make the argument for Kelley getting cut based on his showing in his rookie campaign. However, he could make a major turn for the better in his sophomore season.

Given the fact that the new coaching staff used one of their draft picks on Rountree, I can’t see a scenario where he’s let go of unless he was to get hurt this summer, and that alone may give him a slight advantage over Jackson and Kelley.

With very little experience and having a crowd of guys ahead of him, Bradwell is the one who will likely be on the outside looking in.

This will be one of the toughest decisions that the coaches will have to make, which could ultimately come down to who shines on special teams, an area that will be pivotal in 2021.

My prediction is that the team decides to head into the season with four backs; Ekeler, Jackson, Kelley and Rountree.

As for who finishes second in carries to Ekeler this season, I believe Rountree does. In Year 1, he has to skillset profiles well to grow into be a well-rounded back that can contribute on multiple downs.

Chargers RB Joshua Kelley sets lofty goal for 2021 season

Chargers running back Joshua Kelley wants to have a big impact in the 2021 season.

There was plenty of hype surrounding running back Joshua Kelley heading into the 2020 regular season after he was one of the training camp standouts.

Unfortunately, Kelley was unable to live up to the summer hype after his confidence deteriorated, following fumbles in back-to-back games early on, which then negatively impacted his special teams performance.

Now heading into Year 2, Kelley will be in a three-man battle for two spots behind Austin Ekeler alongside Justin Jackson and rookie Larry Rountree III.

If he earns a spot on the 53-man roster, Kelley not only wants to show he’s capable of having a bounce-back season, but assert himself as one of the top rushers.

“I want to rush for 1,000 yards, however that can be,” Kelley said. “I have a lot of high expectations for myself but I think I can reach them if I keep working and keep trusting the process.”

There’s no denying Kelley’s skillset and work ethic to produce in this league. He has the power to run through defenders, good change-of-direction, vision, burst, decent speed and passing game ability.

However, in front of a new coaching staff, Kelley must show an improvement on special teams in order to make the squad, along with an increase in confidence when running the ball.

Only time will tell if Kelley is able to meet his goal, let alone make the team, but one thing is certain and that is that he wants to have a huge impact on the team this upcoming season.

Who will claim backup running backs spots for Chargers in 2021?

The backup running back spots will be one of the most compelling position battles at Chargers training camp.

We are a little less than three weeks away until Chargers training camp begins, which marks the period that players will fight for spots on the 53-man roster.

Among the most intriguing positional battles lie in the backfield, where a few players will be auditioning for the spots behind RB Austin Ekeler, with those being Justin Jackson, Joshua Kelley, Larry Rountree III and Darius Bradwell.

Jackson, who’s entering Year 4, has only played in 29 out of 48 regular season games. While he’s struggled to stay healthy, he’s been a good compliment to Ekeler, averaging 4.8 yards per carry.

Jackson brings great vision and elusiveness coupled with pass-catching skills.

Kelley, the 2020 fourth-round pick, dealt with some growing pains last season. He experienced back-to-back fumbles early on in the season, which deteriorated his confidence when running the ball and on special teams.

Prior to that, Kelley was one of the most impressive players at training camp last year, showing out in all phases.

Rountree, the sixth-round pick, joins L.A. after being one of the most productive backs in the SEC the past three seasons at Missouri, having posted 3,720 yards and 40 touchdowns.

Rountree is an explosive runner who has good feet, contact balance, second-level vision and ball protection awareness, as well as passing game impact and special teams ability.

Bradwell, a former undrafted free agent, was one of Anthony Lynn’s guys, so he will really have to prove himself to the new coaches to earn a roster spot.

You can make the argument for Jackson getting cut because he has missed 19 games due to injuries. However, he’s arguably the team’s second-best back when healthy.

You can make the argument for Kelley getting cut based on his showing in his rookie campaign. However, he could make a major turn for the better in his sophomore season.

Given the fact that the new coaching staff used one of their draft picks on Rountree, I can’t see a scenario where he’s let go of unless he was to get hurt.

This will be one of the toughest decisions that the coaches will have to make, which could ultimately come down to who performs more optimally on special teams this summer.

My prediction is that it will be Ekeler, Jackson and Rountree, with Kelley resorting to the practice squad. But I wouldn’t be all that surprised if the team includes Kelley into the mix heading into the regular season.

Sleepers to watch at each position on offense in Chargers training camp

Identifying some under-the-radar offensive players who could generate some buzz at Chargers training camp.

Each year, there are a few players for the Chargers who fly under the radar who come to the forefront in training camp.

With that being said, let’s a look at some sleepers at each position on the offensive side of the ball you may want to keep an eye out on this summer.

QB: Easton Stick

With only three players at the position, Justin Herbert being the starter and Chase Daniel and Stick being behind him, there isn’t a clear-cut sleeper. It’s likely that Daniel will win the backup role since he’s well-versed with Joe Lombardi’s offense and he offers mentorship to Herbert, but Stick is still going to be competitive to remain on the roster. However, maybe, just maybe, Stick is used in the same gadget role as Saints’ Taysom Hill. It would certainly be cool to see if the coaches have plays designed for him in that capacity, taking advantage of his athleticism.

RB: Larry Rountree III

There’s Austin Ekeler at the top of the depth and the spots behind him remain to be seen. Rountree, the team’s sixth-round pick, was drafted with the intentions of him serving as a special teamer, but he is more than capable of carving up a role in the backfield early on. Rountree is the type of back to drop his pad level, run through contact and be able to run between the tackles and push the ball to the edge as well as offer the ability to impact the passing game due to his catching and blocking skills.

WR: Austin Proehl

The battle for WR3 behind Keenan Allen and Mike Williams will steal the spotlight, but there should be a final spot to be earned between a few wideouts, including Proehl. The Chargers mark Proehl’s fifth team since entering the league in 2018, but he has yet to make a 53-man roster. But with but with his surprising speed, ability to get open in all three areas of the field competitiveness and special teams upside, Proehl could be the guy Los Angeles benefits from having on the squad.

TE: Tre’ McKitty

Jared Cook and Donald Parham sit atop of the depth chart, but McKitty was drafted in the third-round for a reason. He may be relegated to in-line blocker role, but I’m banking on him raising some eyebrows with his receiving skills. McKitty has the athleticism, ability to separate at the top of routes, a solid frame to stack defenders and great hands to reel in the football.

OT: Storm Norton

The starters are in place with Rashawn Slater and Bryan Bulaga, but there will be a battle for the swing role. Norton, who was signed last offseason, played well in his three starts in 2020. He offers the athleticism and movement skills to provide insurance if an injury occurred. One thing I’m looking for this summer is if he got stronger and dials it up with his leverage, given the fact that he’s towering at 6-foot-8 and has a thinner frame.

IOL: Brenden Jaimes

To this day, I believe that Jaimes, the team’s fifth-round selection, may go down as one of the steals of the draft. While lack of physical traits likely force him to kick inside to guard, Jaimes has the lower-body athleticism, efficient hand usage and high football IQ to be able to keep pass rushers at bay and generate movement in the run game in this league. Oday Aboushi will likely lock up the starting right guard job, but Jaimes should push him for it in camp.

Missouri HC talks about what RB Larry Rountree III brings to Chargers

Missouri head coach Eliah Drinkwitz had high praise for Chargers rookie running back, Larry Rountree III.

The Chargers rounded out their backfield with the selection of former Missouri running back Larry Rountree III in the sixth-round of this year’s draft.

Rountree joins Los Angeles after being one of the most productive backs in the SEC the past three seasons, having posted 3,720 yards and 40 touchdowns, which are both school records.

Rountree’s former college head coach, Eliah Drinkwitz, who believes that he is going to be an excellent football player for a long time, talked about what the back brings to L.A.

“He’s going to be a tremendous asset for both that left tackle [Rashawn Slater] and for Justin to take the pressure off of them as far as having to throw the football and protect,” Drinkwitz said.

“He’s a guy that can get the tough yards. It’s not always pretty when you hand him the football as far as the blocking scheme, but he’s going to make sure it’s a positive play.

And he’s just got a great smile and personality, and he’s going to be an excellent person in the locker room for those guys to lean on. He was voted team captain by his peers for us and just a guy that was a joy to be around.”

Rountree enters training camp next month in one of the most compelling position battles alongside Justin Jackson and Joshua Kelley for one of the spots behind Austin Ekeler.

Rountree is an explosive runner who has good feet, contact balance, second-level vision, ball protection awareness, as well as passing game impact, who projects as a short-yardage/goal-line specialist and special teamer.

Should he impress the coaching staff in camp and the preseason slate, Rountree could grow into a decent-sized role sooner than most people anticipate, with the potential to be a well-rounded back that can contribute on multiple downs.

What scouts said about Chargers RB Larry Rountree III ahead of draft

NFL scouts had nothing but great things to say about the Chargers’ sixth-round pick.

The Chargers drafted running back Larry Rountree III with the thought of him serving as a key special teamer in his rookie season. But in the eyes of NFL evaluators, the team might have something more valuable.

The Athletic’s Bob McGinn spoke to a few scouts to get their thoughts on Rountree and one of them said that he is “one of the better backs that was not being talked about.”

Known for his physicality as a runner, Rountree was highly praised by another scout for it.

“He runs every play like it will be the last time he’ll ever touch the football,” the scout said. “He’s violent. I loved the kid. His passion, his drive, his maturity. If he can get it, and that’s for coaches to say, he’s talented enough as a player.”

From an athletic standpoint, Rountree isn’t going to knock your socks off but he still has a skillset that translates to production on the field.

“He doesn’t have top-end speed,” a scout said. “He’s got feet and balance. He’s really good in pass (protection) and blitz pickup. He attacks guys. Knocks ’em on their butt. Likes to play in close games. I just like everything about him.”

Rountree enters this summer in a competition with Justin Jackson, Joshua Kelley and Darius Bradwell for a roster spot.