It's tough to find a consensus on anything when it comes to NFL prospects, but with the 2015 draft less than two months away, most analysts appear to agree on two things: Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota are the top quarterbacks and Melvin Gordon and Todd Gurley are the top running backs.
However, one longtime NFL scout is sticking his neck out and saying there's another player who deserves to be the first tailback taken in the draft.
Former Chicago Bears director of college scouting Greg Gabriel revealed Tuesday that he has Indiana's Tevin Coleman ranked as the No. 1 running back available this year.
"My thinking is that if Coleman played behind the Wisconsin line he may have run for over 2500 yards. As it was, he ran for 2036 yards, a 7.5 average per carry, 15 touchdowns and 25 receptions," Gabriel wrote. "Coleman has a complete game. He can run with power between the tackles, is creative, and consistently gets yards after contact. He has the speed to turn the corner and is elusive in the open field. As a receiver, he is very reliable, runs good routes and has very good hands. Add to that the fact that he can already pass protect and is a dangerous kickoff returner."
Coleman's stock is all over the map at this point as he's recovering from a foot injury that sidelined him at the NFL Scouting Combine. He has said he intends to run at his April 15 pro day.
NFL Media analyst Mike Mayock ranks Coleman as the fifth-best back in the draft and a potential Day 2 (Rounds 2-3) pick.
Recent mock drafts by NFL Media analysts do not have Coleman going in the first round, but most analysts see one of, if not both, Gurley and Gordon going to some team on the first night of the draft. It remains to be seen if the former Indiana star can vault himself into serious first-round consideration, but he certainly appears to have one former scout liking what he brings to the table.
You can follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter at @BryanDFischer.
