This group is very talented led by the multitalented phenom
Reggie Bush. Watch for as many as four spectacular runners
to be taken in the first round
Top
Running Backs
1
. Reggie
Bush, 5-11, 201, Southern Cal
(Jr.):
Bush, with graceful elusiveness and
blurring speed, should be a runner,
receiver and returner who makes an
instant impact. He is an explosive
player that will draw immense attention
from defenses and still find ways to
gain yards. Comparisons that are unfair
to Bush are being made, we wont go so
far as some have and call him the second
coming of Jim Brown, or Gale Sayers, but
he is absolutely the best all around
football player to come out of college
since Marshall Faulk and Barry Sanders.
Bush is the highest
rated running back and overall prospect (regardless
of position) in the 2006 draft. Bush will need to
add some bulk to his frame and there are some
concerns regarding his potential to carry a full
load at the NFL level. However, Bush is the most
dynamic athlete in this class and his versatility is
what sets him apart from other top prospects. Even
if Bush needs to be eased into a fulltime ball
carrier's role as a rookie, he can still remain on
the field as a receiver out of the backfield, in the
slot, or split out wide on passing downs and he also
can provide a huge boost in the return game for the
team that drafts him. Athletes like Bush do not come
along very often, which is why we would have no
hesitation selecting him with the first overall pick
in 2006
FoxSports:
Go ahead and compare
him to some of the elusive greats of the past, such
as Gale Sayers, but a little bigger and faster. That
gives you the idea of how he can impact a game. Ran
away with the Heisman Trophy just as he ran away
from almost everybody who tried to catch him.
Elusive, electrifying runner/returner with good
hands and good-bye speed. Finished tenth in NCAA
Division 1-A history with 6,551 all-purpose yards.
Startling stats — 3,169 yards and 25 touchdowns on
433 carries (7.3 avg); 1,301 yards, 13 touchdowns on
95 catches; 67 kickoff returns for 1,522 yards with
one touchdown, and added 559 yards and three scores
on 44 punt returns. Did not work out at the Combine
but ran the 40-yard dash in 4.33 seconds at his Pro
Day
2.
Laurence Maroney,
6-0, 217, Minnesota (Jr.):
Laurence Maroney is an explosive runner with great
vision and is a complete back who can do it all. A
nice combo of size, speed, and power who has
extremely quick feet and never stops moving his legs
which allows him to break tackles and pick up extra
yardage. He also blocks very well for a
college player and will be a superstar in the right
system at the next level.
Maroney does not possess USC RB Reggie Bush's
versatility, but Maroney is an explosive runner in
his own right and he's a bit more proven as an
every-down load-carrying type of back. Maroney lacks
ideal size and he had some durability issues during
his only season as the fulltime starter (2005).
However, he has excellent balance and vision as a
runner, he shows adequate power for his size, and he
is explosively fast. He has great experience in a
zone-blocking running scheme and seems like a
natural fit for a team employing such a system in
the NFL such as the Broncos or Ravens. In our
opinion, Maroney grades out as a mid-to-late first
round prospect in the 2006 class and he should be
the third or fourth running back selected
FoxSports:
Could be a star in the right system. Not dazzling as
an elusive runner, but has exceptional
one-cut-and-go ability. Maroney is best when he can
reach the corners, where he can utilize his
acceleration and burst with more effectiveness. Did
not work out at combine, but ran March 23 with a
4.48 in the 40. Upright and sometimes overly patient
running style that is reminiscent of Kansas City's
Larry Johnson, who was drafted 27th in 2003 out of
Penn State and finished with a flourish last season.
Maroney hasn't been required to do much as a blocker
or receiver, although he did catch 21 passes for 170
yards last season while rushing for 1,524 yards on
5.4 yards per carry
3. DeAngelo
Williams, 5-9, 214, Memphis
:
DeAngelo Williams possesses incredible athleticism,
shows great balance and burst, and He also has great
straight-line speed and acceleration when getting
through the holes in the line. Has the ability to
run around or over tacklers so long as they don't
wrap up in time the big question with Williams
remains durability as he has been injured almost
every year.
He does have a lot of
mileage on his legs and has had some trouble staying
healthy in the past. He also lacks ideal height and
elite speed. However, he has enough size, strength,
quickness, toughness, vision and versatility to
emerge as a premier starting running back in the
NFL. He's an absolute workhorse as a ball carrier
and he has enough receiving and blocking skills to
emerge as an every-down starter at the next level.
Furthermore, Williams is a high-character person
with a great work ethic. In our opinion, Williams
ranks among the elite prospects in the 2006 class
and should be considered as a top-15 draft pick.
FoxSports:
Short but not small as
he plays big, runs hard and is compact and
efficient. Exceptional open field runner who has
proven to be dangerous any time he breaks free
around the perimeter. His career total of 6,026
yards rushing puts him in the D1-A's exclusive
6,000-yard club with only Tony Dorsett, Ricky
Williams and Ron Dayne. His 7,573 all-purpose yards
set a collegiate record and his 362 points scored
rank ninth in Division 1A history. Would have left
after his junior season, but broke his leg (right
fibula fracture) in the GMAC Bowl. Also had a torn
MCL in 2003 and sprained knee in 2002, so durability
may be a concern. Flashed his spectacular open-field
running ability at Senior Bowl. Did not run at the
combine but did well at his Pro Day March 24 with a
4.40 timing in the 40 and he looked good catching
the ball
4.
LenDale White, 6-1, 238,
Southern Cal (Jr.):
LenDale White is a load to bring down and has
solidified himself as one of the best power runners
in college football a freight train ready to run
defenders over is the description heard most.
This is also his biggest negative in that he has
tended to play heavy and likes to play heavy as it
fits his style. You hear a lot of scouts talking
about his weight a lot. He is really fast for his
size a lot like the Chiefs Larry Johnson only with
more of a Jerome Bettis attitude. He could
very well be the best back overall out of this
class.
He
technically served as the backup to teammate Reggie
Bush during the 2005 season, but White carried
almost an identical load on the ground and served as
the leading between-the-tackles runner. White is not
nearly as explosive or versatile as Bush, but White
does possess greater size and is a much more proven
commodity as an every-down back that can move the
chains and withstand a pounding. It is important to
note that White had a huge advantage at the
collegiate level due to his exceptional supporting
cast. However, White is an outstanding player in his
own right and he has the size and power to excel as
a north-south "bell cow" in the NFL. If White runs
well at USC's Pro Day (April 2, 2006) and checks out
mentally and physically, he could emerge as the
second running back selected behind his former
backfield-mate, Bush.
FoxSports:
Known as the thunder that struck opponents from the
USC backfield that featured Bush as lightning, White
is now weathering more of a cloudy situation. After
he failed to run at Indy and his own Pro Day, White
revealed he had a torn hamstring, apparently
sustained during workouts at the combine. Doctors
say he should be ready to work out by mid-May, but
it will be interesting to see how this impacts where
he is selected. White is a no-nonsense, north-south
runner with enough toughness and tenacity to plow
over people and enough speed to run around and away
from them. Not a complete back in terms of being
natural receiver or consistent pass blocker. In 39
games with the Trojans, White started only eleven
times. He ranks eighth on the school's career-record
list with 3,159 yards on 541 carries (5.8 avg). His
52 rushing touchdowns set a USC all-time record and
ranks second in Pac-10 history. White also caught 31
passes for 331 yards (10.7 avg) and five scores. His
57 total touchdowns tied a Pac-10 career-record and
ranks twelfth in NCAA Division 1-A history
5.
Maurice Drew, 5-07, 207, UCLA
(Jr.):
Maurice may be small, but he is stout and packs a
punch. His listing at 5-7 is a reach to say the
least, but he is a fireplug who has good speed and
is very tough to tackle.
Maurice Drew will be a valuable performer for some
team in the NFL. His playmaking ability in a variety
of roles will be attractive to a lot of teams. He
will likely never be an every down back, but should
be a standout as a change of pace back and return
man.
In many ways, Drew reminds us of Eagles RB Brian
Westbrook. Drew is a bit more compact and strong,
while Westbrook shows a little bit more open-field
explosiveness, but both are tremendously versatile
backs that can contribute as runners, receivers and
return men. Unfortunately, also like Westbrook, Drew
lacks size and comes with his fair share of
durability concerns. The team that drafts Drew
cannot plan on using him as a featured back.
However, if used properly in a versatile role, Drew
should emerge as a potential game-changing weapon.
That's why we consider Drew's value to be in the
second-to-third round range of the 2006 class.
FoxSports:
While USC backs Bush and White get all of the
attention, Los Angeles boasted another of the elite
backs in the country in Drew. Like Bush, Drew is not
just a featured runner, but incredibly dangerous as
a receiver and return specialist. He led the team in
rushing for three consecutive years. Holds the
school's all-purpose yardage career-record and is
the only player in Bruins history to score five
touchdowns in a game, accomplishing that feat twice.
Enjoyed a superb workout at the combine, coming
through with one of the fastest 40-yard times of any
player (4.39), posted a 36-inch vertical and benched
225 pounds 18 times, despite measuring UNDER
5-feet-7 in height, at exactly 5-6 and 6/8 inches.
Short, but obviously not small. Came from Northern
California's famed De La Salle High, where he was
key player in all-time record 138-game win streak
6.
Joseph Addai,
5-11, 214, LSU:
Joseph is a well
rounded running back with solid size, and is tough
to bring down. He runs tough between the tackles,
and continues to fight for extra yardage. He also
has good enough speed to get to the outside and turn
it up field. Addai’s best asset though may be his
versatility, as he also displays excellent hands out
of the backfield. He plays slower than his timing
though and some question his size as well.
Addai is a decisive, slippery runner with excellent
timed speed. He lacks ideal bulk and he does not
show great elusiveness to make many defenders miss
in space. However, Addai is powerful for his size,
he has the frame to fill out, and he's a home-run
threat in the open field because of his explosive
second-gear. He also is an outstanding blocker and
reliable receiver in the passing game. He will wow
NFL personnel officials with his post-season
individual workouts and, as a result, his stock
should peak at the right time. In our opinion, Addai
has proven he has starter's potential in the NFL and
he will be worth a second-round pick to a team in
need of a versatile home-run threat at the RB
position in the 2006 draft
FoxSports:
Despite
only starting 19 of 51 games for LSU, Addai's 3,404
all-purpose yards rank ninth on the school's
all-time record list. He rushed 490 times for 2,576
yards (5.3 avg) and 18 touchdowns. Never able to
hold down a starting position for LSU, but Addai is
considered one of the more intriguing running back
prospects for the 2006 draft. Some scouts compare
him to former Auburn running back Ronnie Brown, the
No. 2 overall selection in 2005. Like Brown, Addai
has been surrounded by so much running back talent
he has never been given the opportunity to be the
feature back. Addai has the combination of size and
speed to be successful as a go-to back. He was a
third-down specialist in the past because of his
ability as a receiver and blocker. Addai helped
himself with a strong Senior Bowl performance and
was one of the real bright spots of the combine,
running a 4.40 40, and posting a 38.5-inch vertical
jump
The rest of the best
Jerious Norwood,
5-11, 210, Mississippi State Taurean Henderson, Texas Tech
Fullbacks
In today's pass happy NFL the fullback position is
just not very useful and plays only about 30% of the
downs and dropping. Quickly becoming a specialist
position akin to long snappers, punters, returners,
and kickers.
Lawrence Vickers, 6-0, 245, Colorado
One of the most versatile players in college football as he has good speed,
solid blocking ability and natural hands. Could be a threat at tailback,
fullback and receiver, and has a position named for him at Colorado -- the V
Back. For teams that utilize their fullback as more than just a glorified
blocker, Vickers could be a major asset, much like William Henderson (Green
Bay), Mike Alstott (Tampa Bay), Fred Beasley (Miami) and Tom Rathman (ex-49ers)
in their prime. Looked excellent at Senior Bowl.
Matt Bernstein, 6-1, 260, Wisconsin
Had the thankless role of lead blocker. But Bertstein's importance to the
Badgers was unquestioned, as he was sorely missed the second half of the 2005
season due to a sports hernia. He is not only one of the premier blockers, but
showed flashes of brilliance as a runner when he had to assume that role when
injuries depleted the tailback unit in 2004. Lacks speed (fastest time at the
Combine was a 4.91), but is a load as a lead blocker, can rush for the tough
inside yards and is a reliable receiver out of the backfield.
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