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RB Scouting Reports - 2023

Bird’s Eye View: Positional Analysis

The 2023 RB draft class looks to be very strong in both top end talent and overall depth. The top 5 RBs (Robinson, Achane, Tucker, Gibbs, and Charbonnet) are complete backs that should be able to play on all three downs. Other top prospects available in April include Evan Hull (Northwestern), Chase Brown (Illinois), Deuce Vaughn (Kansas State), and DeWayne McBride (UAB).  There should be quality depth available through all three days in April.

Positional Grade: B+

Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State

5050 / 179 / 9.4” Hands

Smaller back in stature but runs with a low center of gravity and excellent forward lean – surprisingly powerful inside runner. Rare quickness and lateral agility – can cut on a dime and leave you change. Very good vision and superb burst. Possesses breakaway speed. Lacks some power due to size but is tough and willing to run the ball between the tackles. Difficult to cover out of the backfield but size makes it difficult to be seen at times by the QB. Good route runner and is too quick for any DB to cover – a matchup nightmare in space.

Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State

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Player Comparison:

Darren Sproles, ex-NFL player

Christopher Brooks, BYU

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Player Comparison:

Jamaal Williams, New Orleans

Christopher Brooks, BYU

6004 / 232 / 8.6” Hands

​Transfer from California. Big back with broad shoulders, thick legs, and well-distributed mass. Runs with outstanding pad level – destroys arm tackles. Powerful runner. Very good burst. Alert in pass protection and actively seeks work in protecting the QB. Tough. Displays enough lateral agility to be effective in a zone running scheme. Big RB with a thick trunk and legs. Runs behind his pads and pushes the pile – powerful runner. Nice hands. Shows enough lateral agility to function well in a one cut running scheme.

Evan Hull, Northwestern

5100 / 209 / 9.1” Hands

Not big but runs with surprising power. Quick and displays loose hips and good ankle flexion. Runs with good pad level and drives his legs on contact. Good vision and very good burst. Catches the ball cleanly in space. Mismatch in space against both LBs and safeties. Very effective burst. Drives legs through contact and has very good balance. Surprisingly powerful due to leg drive and lean.

Evan Hull, Northwestern

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Player Comparison:

Kareem Hunt, Free Agent

Sean Tucker, Syracuse

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Player Comparison:

Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis

Sean Tucker, Syracuse

​Prototypical size and frame of an NFL RB. Possesses ideal vision and a very quick burst. Quick feet with superb balance. Runs with power – runs behinds his pads and drives his legs. Excellent receiver and is lined up all over the field to create mismatches. Can adjust to the bad pass and still make the catch. Typically provides good ball security. Sometimes runs hesitant and won’t explode through holes because he doesn’t trust his blocking. Displays great long speed and ran track for the Orange last spring – looks special

Kenny McIntosh, Georgia

6000 / 204 / 9” Hands

Good size with a solid build. Runs tall which aids his vision but offers a larger target area for incoming tacklers. Very patient and reads his blocks well. Good burst with solid lateral agility. Smart and savvy runner. Experienced RB but has little wear and tear – 2022 is his first full year as a starter. Runs with surprising power due to leg drive and effort. Excellent receiver with very good hands and route running ability. 76 career catches at Georgia without a drop. Good size with thick legs. Good vision and cutting ability – nice jump cut. Limited long speed.

Kenny McIntosh, Georgia

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Player Comparison:

Isaih Pacheco, Kansas City

Zach Charbonnet, UCLA

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Player Comparison:

James Robinson, New England

Zach Charbonnet, UCLA

6000 / 214 / 9.7” Hands

Transfer from Michigan. Excellent size. Extremely patient runner who utilizes blocking well. Good one cut ability. Very good burst. Physical and tough runner. Drives his legs on contact. Runs with excellent forward lean. Limited long speed. Excellent hands and a very good route runner. Solid, well-rounded RB with an NFL skillset.

Israel Abanikanda / Pittsburgh

5110 / 216 / 8.2” Hands

​Solid build with good mass throughout his body. Runs with excellent forward lean and falls forward consistently. Outstanding vision. Exhibits the ability to get skinny and slice through the line with an excellent burst through the hole. Slightly tight in the hips and doesn’t string moves together. Has an extra gear to break long runs and is difficult to catch from behind. Very good hands and can extend and pluck the ball away from his body. Rushed for 1,431 yards and scored 21 TDs in 2022.

Israel Abanikanda / Pittsburgh

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Player Comparison:

Antonio Gibson, Washington

DeWayne McBride / UAB

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DeWayne McBride / UAB

5110 / 209 / 9.4” Hands

​Good size with thickness throughout his trunk and legs. Very good contact balance and easily breaks arm tackles. Drives legs on contact and runs with excellent pad level. Displays good vision and sees the cutback lane well. Enough lateral agility to work well within a one-cut scheme. Nice burst through the hole. Tough and willing to run between the tackles. Limited long speed and is not a threat to take it to the house. Limited use in the passing game and route running is an area needing development.

Mohamed Ibrahim, Minnesota

5080 / 203 / 9” Hands

Small but powerful RB who runs with great pad level and a workhorse attitude. Excellent goal line RB due to his power and forward lean. Drives his legs through contact – nearly impossible to tackle one on one. Very good burst. Enough lateral agility to excel in a one cut running scheme. Returning from a season-ending injury suffered during the 2021 season opener but, if anything, looks quicker than prior to the Achilles injury.

Mohamed Ibrahim, Minnesota

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Devon Achane, Texas A&M

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Devon Achane, Texas A&M

5085 / 188 / 8.4” Hands

Undersized but solidly built. Outstanding vision, light feet, loose hips, and explosive burst. Both quick and displays excellent long speed – elite sprinter who competes on the Aggies track team. Very good receiver out of the backfield and creates mismatches in space. Tough and physical and runs with surprising power. Complete RB.

Chase Brown, Illinois

5095 / 209 / 10” Hands

Not big but willing to run inside. Runs behind his pads and churns his legs on contact – great balance. Excellent burst. Very agile and quick – cuts quickly and cleanly. Tough. Nice hands. Light feet and cuts cleanly. Runs with excellent forward lean and runs through arm tackles. Good vision and picks and slides extremely well.

Chase Brown, Illinois

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Bijan Robinson, Texas

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Player Comparison:

Saquon Barkley, NY Giants

Bijan Robinson,Texas

5110 / 215 / 9.6” Hands

Robinson has ideal NFL size, excellent vision, surprisingly nimble with light feet and solid lateral agility. Very good burst. Drives his legs on contact. Excellent balance. Combine this with his great body lean, allows him to break tackles consistently. Natural hands catcher out of the backfield.

Jordan Mims, Fresno State

5102 / 200

​Tall RB with a solid build and overall musculature. Running style leaves his upper body exposed but he runs with effective forward lean and can push the pile in short yardage situations. Very good vision, limited lateral agility, and decent burst. Tough and physical runner who drives his legs on contact and gets the tough yards. Needs continued improvement in pass protection. Very productive senior season rushing for over 1,100 yards in 2022. 91 catches / 8 receiving TDs in his career. Enough lateral agility to make a defender miss in the hole. Runs behind his pads and gains yards through effort, as well as skill.

Jordan Mims, Fresno State

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Tyjae Spears, Tulane

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Player Comparison:
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City

Tyjae Spears, Tulane

5110 / 201 / 10” Hands

Good height with a thin build – and frame is not capable of carrying much more weight. Experienced multi-year backup who excelled in his first season as the starter in 2022. Excellent vision. Extremely quick and decisive and makes high speed cuts with surprising nimbleness. Excellent burst. Runs with excellent toughness and physicality between the tackles. Superb contact balance. Rushed for over 1,100 yards in 2022. 2022 AAC Offensive POY. Very good long speed.

Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama

5091 / 199 / 9.2” Hands

Transfer from Georgia Tech. Thin, angular build that is surprisingly powerful. Displays great agility and cutting ability. Excellent burst and forward lean. Superb receiver who lines up out wide to create mismatches. Very good hands and is a mismatch in space against LBs and safeties. Surprisingly powerful and runs with great leg drive. Great long speed and he can bust any angle – a true home run threat.

Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama

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Player Comparison:
Alvin Kamara, New Orleans

Tank Bigsby, Auburn

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Player Comparison:
Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta

Tank Bigsby, Auburn

6000 / 210 / 9.4” Hands

Good sized RB with a powerful build. Runs with superb balance. Excellent burst and very good lateral agility. Tough. Runs with effective pad level and breaks arm tackles with ease. Natural hands catcher who is used to create mismatches. Projects as a potential starter and should get selected on day 3 of the draft.

Chris Rodriguez, Kentucky

5110 / 224

Excellent size with thickness throughout his trunk with massive, powerful legs. Runs with outstanding forward lean and power – pushes the pile and is very difficult to tackle one on one. Ultimate short yardage weapon. Good vision and excellent burst. Limited long speed. Tight in the hips and has limited lateral agility. A sledgehammer near the goal line that is difficult to deny the end zone.

Chris Rodriguez, Kentucky

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Player Comparison:
Rhamondre Stevenson, New England

Kendre Miller, TCU

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Player Comparison:
Dameon Pierce, Houston

Kendre Miller, TCU

Good sized RB with a powerful build. Runs with superb balance. Excellent burst and very good lateral agility. Tough. Runs with effective pad level and breaks arm tackles with ease. Natural hands catcher who is used to create mismatches. Projects as a potential starter and should get selected on day 3 of the draft.

SaRodorick Thompson, Texas Tech

5115 / 207 / 9” Hands

Good size. Runs tall which aids his vision but offers a higher target and doesn’t always finish runs. Displays good vision and one cut lateral agility. Effective blocker and is alert and aware of his blocking responsibilities. Good route runner and a reliable target. Soft, natural hands and can pull in the inaccurate pass. Limited burst. Good vision. Drives legs on contact and falls forward.

SaRodorick Thompson, Texas Tech

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Player Comparison:
DeeJay Dallas, Seattle

Khalan Laborn, Marshall

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Player Comparison:
Salvon Ahmed, Miami

Khalan Laborn, Marshall

Former 5-star recruit. Transferred to Marshall from junior college after leaving Florida State. Average size RB. Smooth athlete with easy acceleration. Light feet and exhibits solid lateral agility. Willing to lower his head and gain the tough yards. Runs with good pad level and drives his legs on contact. Natural hands and can snag the off-target pass. Gives effort in pass blocking but technique is poor and can be easily discarded by blitzers.

Camerun Peoples, Appalachian State

6010 / 217 / 9.6” Hands

Big powerful RB with excellent size and strength. Very good burst. Solid vision. Limited lateral agility but can excel in a one cut scheme. Runs with excellent forward lean. Tends to run tall which leads to a large target area for opposing defenders to hit. Big, strong, physical and powerful runner between the tackles. Delivers a blow with his runs inside. Average hands and offers little in the receiving game.

Camerun Peoples, Appalachian State

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Player Comparison:
Hassan Haskins, Tennessee

Tavion Thomas, Utah

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Player Comparison:
LaGarrette Blount, retired NFL player

​Tavion Thomas, Utah

6000 / 237 / 9.2” Hands

Strong, physical RB who runs with power. Excellent pad level and drives his legs on contact. Good vision and adequate burst. Has a nose for the end zone (21 TDs in 2021). Limited lateral agility. Limited long speed. Tough and motivated runner. Missed significant time with injury and left the program prior to the end of the 2022 season. Ran a poor 40-yard dash time (4.74) at the combine and it is likely to impact his draft status in April.

Ronnie Brown, Shepherd

Runs low and behind his pads. Displays light feet and is quick to, and through, the hole – very good burst. Nice hands out of the backfield. 25 TDs scored in 2022. Unlikely to get drafted, Brown will still be in a team's fall camp.

Ronnie Brown, Shepherd

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Player Comparison:
Craig Reynolds, Detroit

Titus Swen, Wyoming

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Player Comparison:
Michael Carter, NY Jets

Titus Swen, Wyoming

5104 / 209

Physical and tough – runs behind his pads and delivers blows. Not big but you couldn’t tell by his playing style. Good vision with enough wiggle to escape tackle attempts. Very good burst. Slips and slides through tackle attempts. Runs with attitude and a mean streak. Kicked off the Wyoming football team in November 2022 and this may impact his draft status next month.

Xazavian Valladay / Arizona State

5113 / 199

Transfer from Wyoming. Good height with a somewhat slim frame. Displays good vision, lateral agility, and burst through the hole. Shifty and quick. Runs hard behind his pads and falls forward – surprisingly powerful and physical runner. Recorded three 1,000-yard rushing seasons and 88 career receptions between his time at Wyoming and Arizona State.

Xazavian Valladay / Arizona State

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Player Comparison:
Ronald Jones, Dallas

Hunter Luepke (FB) / North Dakota State

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Player Comparison:
Tom Rathman, retired NFL player

Hunter Luepke (FB) / North Dakota State

Big RB with solid mass and overall size. Utilized as a RB as a Bison and has little experience in a traditional FB role. As a RB, displays good vision and power running on the inside but lacks burst and lateral agility. Is a one speed RB without any special qualities as a runner. Luepke is an outstanding receiver with soft hands, excellent hand-eye coordination, and fine route running ability. Luepke reminds me of a cross between former Raider FB Mark van Eeghen and former 49er FB Tom Rathman. There have been players similar to Luepke in the annals of the NFL. There just isn’t a real comparison to him in the NFL right now. However, he is a football player – and an NFL-caliber one - and will be difficult to cut next fall.

Roschon Johnson / Texas

6000 / 219 / 9.5” Hands

Good size – tall RB with good mass throughout his body. Limited reps in Austin serving as Bijan Robinson’s backup. However, has flashed ability at times throughout his career. Utilizes a slashing-type running style where he slices through the LOS and presses the hole with quickness. Nice lateral agility with an explosive burst. Displays natural hands in space. Vision is good but still needs development as there is sometimes a slight hesitation to reacting to what he is seeing. Very good athlete with little wear and tear on his body. Very high upside.

Roschon Johnson / Texas

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Player Comparison:
Nick Chubb, Cleveland

Emari Demercado, TCU

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Player Comparison:
Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia

Emari Demercado, TCU

​Good size RB with thick legs and a low center of gravity. Primary role with TCU is as a third down receiving. Displays serious long speed and separation ability. Good vision. Decisive and runs with good pad level. Effective burst and gets to and through the hole quickly. Very good hands in the passing game. Drives legs on contact.

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