The 2020 NFL Draft will likely see several running backs selected. The underclassman crop will have the headliners but the senior class has plenty of talent. There likely won’t be a first-round back in the group. However, a few of the backs amongst the seniors could find their way into the Top 100.
Let’s take a quick glance at 13 of the senior running backs available in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Zach Moss, Utah
Tape Score (Preliminary): 8.6
Production Score (Preliminary): 10
Preliminary Total Score (No Athletic Testing): 6.6
Moss is a three-down back. He is an excellent pass protector. Moss shows great burst. Unfortunately, a season-ending knee injury took down Moss. He must show that he has recovered from this to keep his status as a top senior back.
Keshawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt
Tape Score (Preliminary): 8.6
Production Score (Preliminary): 10
Preliminary Total Score (No Athletic Testing): 6.6
Vaughn has tremendous balance. He almost never goes down on the first contact. Vaughn has excellent burst and is amazing in the open field. I would like to see him more active in the passing game.
Scottie Phillips, Mississippi
Tape Score (Preliminary): 8.4
Production Score (Preliminary): 7
Preliminary Total Score (No Athletic Testing): 6.09
Phillips is a well-rounded running back. He has great vision and he hits the hole fast. Phillips is a one-year starter after transferring in from JUCO.
Rodney Smith, Minnesota
Tape Score (Preliminary): 7.6
Production Score (Preliminary): 10
Preliminary Total Score (No Athletic Testing): 6.06
Smith is solid in most areas. He is tremendously productive, however.
Joshua Kelley, UCLA
Tape Score (Preliminary): 7.4
Production Score (Preliminary): 10
Preliminary Total Score (No Athletic Testing): 5.94
Kelley had an excellent first season for the Bruins after transferring from UC-Davis. I would love to see more in the passing game.
Lamical Perine, Florida
Tape Score (Preliminary): 7.8
Production Score (Preliminary): 8
Preliminary Total Score (No Athletic Testing): 5.88
You will be hard-pressed to find a tougher running back in this class than Perine. He excels with balance and as a pass protector. Perine is dangerous with the ball in his hands after he catches a pass.
Darius Anderson, TCU
Tape Score (Preliminary): 8
Production Score (Preliminary): 7
Preliminary Total Score (No Athletic Testing): 5.85
Anderson can be a home run hitter. He is above-average in all facets of the game.
Reggie Corbin, Illinois
Tape Score (Preliminary): 7.2
Production Score (Preliminary): 10
Preliminary Total Score (No Athletic Testing): 5.82
Corbin is a solid, yet unspectacular player. He struggles to break the first contact.
Devwah Whaley, Arkansas
Tape Score (Preliminary): 7.6
Production Score (Preliminary): 7
Preliminary Total Score (No Athletic Testing): 5.61
Whaley gets to top speed quickly. He is not active in the passing game.
Rico Dowdle, South Carolina
Tape Score (Preliminary): 7.6
Production Score (Preliminary): 7
Preliminary Total Score (No Athletic Testing): 5.61
Dowdle could be a top echelon prospect if he could play more than three games without getting hurt.
Kennedy McKoy, West Virginia
Tape Score (Preliminary): 7.4
Production Score (Preliminary): 7
Preliminary Total Score (No Athletic Testing): 5.49
McKoy has excellent vision. He makes quick cuts to get to the open field. Unfortunately, he doesn’t really stand out anywhere else.
Patrick Taylor, Memphis
Tape Score (Preliminary): 7
Production Score (Preliminary): 8
Preliminary Total Score (No Athletic Testing): 5.4
Taylor has shared the backfield with some excellent backs over the last couple of years. Now it is his time to shine. Taylor is a bigger back at 6’2” 223 pounds.
Jordan Cronkrite, South Florida
Tape Score (Preliminary): 6.8
Production Score (Preliminary): 8
Preliminary Total Score (No Athletic Testing): 5.28
Cronkrite is a transfer from Florida. He has a nice burst through the hole. He needs to do a better job of creating his on yardage.
I will soon take a look at the underclassmen RBs ahead of the 2019 college football season.
