DRAFT TRACKER 2021

Rampaging, loose-hipped runner who wins with force and speed. Etienne's scheme will create favorable boxes for him to run into at times, but his contact balance and overall will to avoid being tackled has earned plenty of tough yardage. He has average size and runs with long strides and a frenetic pace that hampers his quick-cut control and fluidity at times. However, he has home-run speed in the open field and runs with fury and pop to finish near the goal line. He's a greatly improved pass-catching option but needs to step up consistently in pass protection. His tools for creating yardage stand out during games and that same presence should be on display as a dangerous pro back.

Plus-sized runner who elevated his game and draft stock with a well-rounded performance in 2020. Harris showed improved short-area creativity and elusiveness to go with his trademark physicality. Creates additional yardage with both wiggle and power, but he lacks desired top gear to change games in a flash. He handled a heavier lift in 2020, with almost 300 total touches in 13 games. Harris’ value as a third-down option out of the backfield and as a personal protector should not be underestimated after his performance in his senior year. His running style could shorten his career, but he’s a tough, three-down runner who can immediately upgrade a running game.

Big, broad bully back who runs with an exciting blend of animosity and feel as a future every-down starter in the league. With just 366 carries under his collegiate belt, Williams hasn't seen much tread come off the tires, but teams might speculate that his running style could lead to some in-season wear and tear. He's a terror behind his pads, creating yardage by battering and discarding tackle attempts. He sees the front fairly well and has above-average hips and the creativity to add to his rush total with more than just power. He lacks run-away speed for the long touchdowns but runs with above-average vision and contact balance to succeed at a high rate near the goal line. He tends to trust the blocking scheme and keep his runs on track but can recalibrate when needed. Williams is best-suited to gap, power and inside zone rather than flowing wide, where he lacks one-cut quickness. He will drop passes from time to time but has the route-running and protection toughness to take over as a three-down RB1 fairly early in his career.

Complementary back with adequate size, toughness and athletic ability. He's at his best when running off-tackle and working behind and setting up lead blocks. While he has crisp feet for quick cuts and directional change, he displays somewhat average creativity and instincts in eluding linebackers and safeties who fit up into positioning between the tackles. He plays with good burst and could be a very good fit for an outside-zone scheme where he can one-cut downhill and get into space. He has soft hands and enough tape to show that he can snap off man coverage as a pass catcher out of the backfield. He's willing to stand in and protect his quarterback, too. He could go in the middle rounds but has "committee" potential early on.

Great-looking running back at a quick glance, but one who suffers from inconsistency in creativity and decisiveness. The regular-season tape at Ohio State was fairly disappointing relative to the talent he showed at Oklahoma, but his monster postseason should quell some concerns. At both schools, the interior vision and decision-making was suspect and would run him into some traffic. He does have potential as an outside-zone back, where he has more time and space to utilize his skills. He has size and open-field speed and will step up and handle his business in pass protection, as well as catch it out of the backfield. So, while Sermon's skill level as a runner is somewhat average, his potential as a three-down backup with upside should create middle-round interest.

One-year starter with underwhelming size but overwhelming production. Gainwell is a challenging study as a slasher with average burst and speed but excellent change-of-direction talent. His propensity for taking on monster contact as an inside runner should be a concern based on his frame. He does an excellent job of reading blockers/defenders and makes buttery smooth cuts to change his rush track while keeping his feet ready if another quick cut is needed. His willingness in pass protection and talent out of the backfield should help him find a home as a backup running back with third-down value.

Wrecking ball of a runner who tends to be all fight and no flight between the hash marks. Stevenson's burly, thick frame and punishing demeanor clearly takes a toll on defenses as the game rolls on. He's at his best as a downhill runner, gathering momentum to attack the second level, but sees his effectiveness plummet when defenses can spill him wide or when he's bouncing runs outside unnecessarily. He doesn't have much finesse in his game and will leave some yardage on the field due to inconsistent vision and feel for run lane development. Stevenson can act as a change-of-pace bully or a quality three-down backup for a team that values downhill, power football.

Consistent runner with NFL size and a wrecking ball running style that wears down defenses. Jefferson earned his degree in inside and outside zone scheme while at Oregon State despite having a lack of burst to the perimeter or loose hips for instant one-cut quickness. He possesses adequate vision to find and exploit run lane development, but is less slasher than he is a rhythm runner who needs carries to put his fingerprints on the game. His lack of burst will shrink the field for him a bit, but his talent and physicality are NFL-worthy as a middle-round backup who can handle more carries if needed.

Charged-up back whose running style can teeter between urgent and out of control. Tape study was much more kind to Rountree in 2020 than 2019, where his struggles with vision and finding his rhythm were noticeable. His size, burst and finish are important traits in becoming an NFL runner and he has a nice blend of foot quickness and decisiveness to the corner when there is too much traffic in front of him. Rountree has very average vision and creativity, but could become a solid backup in the league.

A tempo-based runner with a well-built, compact frame, Herbert runs with a good blend of vision and strength. The Kansas graduate transfer made his single season at Virginia Tech count with a strong showing, ranking among the FBS' top five in rushing yards and yards per carry. He's a little tight-hipped, which prevents him from being a true, one-cut runner, but his vision and speed to the corner make it work for him. He's not a wiggle runner and needs to have some blocking up front to keep his feet moving, but his quick processing of the run lanes and smooth change of direction allow him to create yards for himself within the scheme. His lack of pass pro talent could hurt his draft value. He's worthy of a Day 3 selection and has NFL backup talent.

Hubbard's 2019 production would tell you he ate, but he had plenty put on his plate with almost 26 carries per game. In 2020, his production dipped as teams seemed to find ways to bottle him up. Hubbard is a tempo-driven runner as an outside-zone back playing peek-a-boo behind his blocks. His willingness to get upfield rather than bounce everything will be applauded, but he needs to use his vision and easy change of direction to become more creative on the second level as a pro. He needs to tighten up his ball security issues, but has the talent to become a committee back with upside for a zone-based rushing attack.

Good luck knocking this bowling ball of balance and power off his feet with a single blow. If you love production and competitiveness, Patterson is your guy. He might be short but he's plenty stout and creates a chunk of his production after contact. Besides breaking tackles, he offers decent speed to the edge and downhill elusiveness to find his own yardage when necessary. He sees the field well but can be a little hesitant in buying into certain running lanes and his choppy running style delays his burst through the line of scrimmage. He lacks pass-catching production but his courage and technique in protection was eye-opening. Some of the gargantuan production came against weaker defenses, but "hard to tackle" is a translatable trade and could make him a three-down backup.

Despite lacking desired size, Hawkins is a very useful stretch-game specialist who brings energy and home run potential with him onto the field. He doesn't operate with a booming burst gear, but his play speed is consistent and he can get to a breakaway gear if defenders don't mind their run fits. He's going to be more elusive at the early stages of a run than once he's up to the second and third level and his rush tracks can be somewhat predictable at times. He can create for himself with vision and athleticism, but the run will often end as soon as there is contact. Hawkins appears capable of doing more in the passing game than Louisville asked of him and has a chance to compete for backup carries within a couple of years in a zone-heavy run scheme.

Lower-level running back with upper-level change of direction talent and lower-body balance. Hardy does a nice job of pressing the line of scrimmage before unleashing rhythmic, explosive cuts according to his reads. He has a tendency to do too much at times and will need to be more willing to shut a run down and move to the next one against NFL speed. He's quicker than fast, but his elusiveness, power and contact balance are all transferable traits into the league. A meniscus injury from 2018 could be a concern for teams, but he has the pure talent to become a committee back if the medicals check out.

One-note, downhill back who can leverage and unlock impressive power into opposing tacklers. Most of his evaluation requires 2019 tape as he never got going in Mike Leach's offense in 2020. Hill has a ground gaining jump-cut with adequate ability to elude second-level tacklers, but his primary mode of operation is to run with force and create with power. He's a grinder who lacks burst and vision to slash and create chunk runs, but could offer a change-of-pace banger and short-yardage option with some third-down value.

Running back with good size and adequate athletic traits but lacking dynamic or explosive qualities to help him stand out. Evans served a suspension in 2019 and had very few totes in 2020. From 2016 to 2018, he ran to his size and was productive relative to what was asked of him. His pad level and contact balance will create yards after contact and he'll get what is blocked. However, his greatest selling point will be his size and ability to play on third down. Those two things could help rehabilitate his draft stock, but there will be an abundance of competition for the job he will be looking for. It could just be a matter of finding the right place at the right time.

Tough, sturdy runner with the size and demeanor of an NFL running back. Jackson is well-versed with inside/outside zone, combining quality reads with decisiveness and physicality through the line of scrimmage. He runs with tempo and generally makes reads that get the ball downhill with good timing. However, he lacks speed to threaten the edge and is an average creator. Fumbling has been a major concern and must be corrected. His hands and pass protection both need work in order to play on third downs. Jackson has value as a zone-scheme back who could become productive on the next level.

Height, weight and speed all work in his favor, but when the ball is in his hands, there just isn't much about his running style that feels natural. Nwangwu has open-field speed to hit a crease and go, but he's often indecisive with the ball in his hands as he lacks a runner's instincts and fails to anticipate run-lane development. His kick-return talent helps his cause and there are elements of his game that a team may like, but there are just too many underdeveloped aspects to expect him to make a team.

Knox checks the size box with the physical traits and overall body composition of an early-down running back. His stiff-arm is powerful but it's his strong legs and sturdy base that fuel balance, allowing him to create yards after contact. He plays with above-average feet for his size as an interior runner but that athletic talent is often mitigated by indecisiveness and a lack of vision/trust that has him pulling the run off track when he shouldn't. He can certainly be physical in the open field but has a tendency to anticipate contact when running the gap, which ends up slowing valuable momentum. There is talent and size to work with on all three downs, which could boost his chances of becoming a backup in the league.

Funk's tape as a running back is somewhat average, but his high-level testing (SEE: 40 in the 4.4s, 38-inch vertical leap, 10-foot-2 broad jump) and talent as a special teams cover demon make him worthy of consideration. He's well-built and plays with pretty good power when the ball is in his hands. He has shifty traits and measurables, but his running style is a little more straightforward. He has more build-up speed than instant burst, which might make him a better off-tackle and outside runner (in plays where he can have a runway to take off). His special teams prowess will be strongly considered, but he also appears to have a potential future as a third-down option. Two ACL tears in the same knee will cause hesitance for some teams, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him make a roster.

Pure outside zone runner with good size, courage and decisiveness to be fully functional in the scheme if it's blocked up. Brown is a decisive runner, which is crucial for a back lacking desired burst, but he's missing the speed to challenge linebackers around the edge on stretch plays. His elusiveness is below average, but he will create additional yardage with strength and the ability to break tackles. He lacks third-down talent and might be viewed as a scheme-specific back with the power to compete for a RB3/4 spot.

Full-sized downhill runner with four years of tape and production. He's a physical runner with tight hips and an inability to make the sudden lateral cuts, which limits his creativity. Ragas runs with matter-of-fact power crashing through arm tackles and bouncing off of defenders on the second level. He has the leg drive and aggressiveness to fall forward after contact which benefits him as a chain mover and a touchdown maker near the goal line. He's unable to hit the edges with functional speed, which should make him a one-dimensional grinder.

Productive runner with good size but lacks the quickness and juice to force defenses to respect the full width of the football field against him. While he's experienced in outside zone, he might be too tight-hipped, lacking the burst necessary as a one-cut runner. He does have the size and vision to bang around inside, but he's not very dynamic or creative and needs it well-blocked in front of him. He might have to step it up in pass protection and as a special teams player to create a spot for himself as a third-down back with value in the kicking game.

Squatty slasher with sudden feet and clear eyes, allowing for quick processing of traffic. Teams will need to go back to the 2019 tape to see a better version of the runner as he tried to do too much by himself in 2020 and lost some of his rhythm because of it. Johnson can be a creative runner, using crisp cuts and unpredictable lane changes. He played with occasional bouts of indecisiveness that need to be eliminated in the pros. Small hands and ball security concerns also tilt the odds against him, but he does have pass-catching talent, even though his production was limited in that area.

What you see is what you get: a back with excellent size who runs with balance and power, but lacks explosiveness to hit the big play. Vision helps him make good lane choices and he's very decisive between the tackles. He runs with bend and stays behind squared pads to absorb and deliver contact. While he can break tackles for additional yards, he's easy to find for linebackers and doesn't have enough flow speed to turn the corner. His bumper-car running style makes him well-suited to be a grinder for a power attack and he has the size and toughness to compete as a blocking back in blitz pickups. He's limited and lacks juice to find chunk gains, but plays physically and could have an outside shot to make a roster.

Burly workhorse of a runner, averaging almost 22 carries per game since the start of the 2019 season. He's nimble with quick, active feet that pair nicely with his power. His game isn't very rhythmic and he can be a little indecisive when running inside. However, the confidence level rises on stretch plays and when bouncing it out outside. He's best suited for zone rushing attacks, where he can have better control over lane choices. There's not enough third down or special-teams background, but his size, power and surprising foot quickness give him a shot as a late-round or undrafted prospect who might outplay his draft slotting.

Running back with good size and great vision but a lack of necessary acceleration to get away from tacklers. He doesn't have enough juice to be a standard backup running back but might be seen a "joker" who can handle a variety of duties. If he adds more weight, teams could see him as a four phase special-teamer who can handle occasional lead blocking for outside zone and third down pocket protection duties if needed. He might not be drafted but running back coaches like his makeup and he should be a coveted priority free agent.

One-speed runner relying on size, urgency and toughness to make up for a lack of open-field talent. He can hit the edge and turn the corner on counters and bounce-outs, but gets too impatient to cut runs back. Below-average vision diminishes his ability to get the most out of runs, but his loose lower body makes sharp cuts against the grain a successful weapon for him. He's a tough runner, but lacks creativity and contact balance to stand out against others in this class, despite his traits.

Anderson is a good football player, offering versatility, athleticism and playmaking characteristics, but his size is a big obstacle. He's not big enough to be counted on as a pure backup running back, which means he will need to make it as a gadget player with wide receiver potential who can return punts. He has unreliable hands and focus when working into traffic as a pass catcher but does have the smooth hips and separation acceleration to compete at the receiver position if teams ask him to make that switch.

Smaller running back with run/catch versatility who racked up 29 rushing touchdowns and 12 receiving scores in three years at Coastal Carolina. Marable was hindered somewhat by his team's option attack, which may not have been ideal for his style of play. He plays with good vision and lateral wiggle, but he's not a strong inside runner and lacks the big, breakaway burst to rip past the second level on dive plays. He has the tools that fit a zone-scheme rushing attack and his ability to hit chunk pass plays out of the backfield could give his draft profile more life.

Scott doesn't have the speed to threaten the edge or hit the home run, and his burst gear is suspect, which will make him a tackle magnet on the next level. However, he possesses an impressive combination of vision, power and feel for blocking development as a short-yardage runner who's able to finish drives for touchdowns once he gets close. He needs a clear point of entry as an early down runner so he can get it moving downhill quickly. His short-yardage talent is appealing, but maybe not appealing enough to keep him on a roster.

A well-built, small-school running back with good burst and change-of-direction quickness, McCrary needs to prove he can play with the big boys. He has good speed flowing to the perimeter, but his vision is average and he doesn't run with enough decisiveness, which works against his potential for becoming an outside-zone runner. The physical ability is a plus, but the tape isn't special considering his level of competition.

Small but relatively tough, Williams has been Kansas' top playmaker dating back to 2018. He can be indecisive and an easy tackle when working inside, but has more bounce and elusiveness as an outside runner or when he gets to open space. He's a capable pass catcher but too small to be reliable picking up the blitz, which hurts his third-down value. While the production was strong considering how many yards he had to create on his own, his size could be a stumbling block in the NFL.

Simpson lacks the desired size for an early down running back. He runs with limited knee bend and lacks the agility to work with lateral elusiveness. He's a tough runner, but offers marginal burst through the line and into the second level. Simpson's rigid running style makes it hard for him to fit smoothly into the shape of the running lane, but he will bang and crash into bodies, falling forward for additional yardage. His running and pass-catching aren't particularly exciting, but his return potential might pique the interest of teams looking to sign an undrafted free agent at the position.

Pro size with broad, thickly built lower half. Doaks can be a physical runner when he wants to be, but there are times when he gears down rather than imposing his will into contact. He lacks foot quickness and the desired field vision to find pathways and yardage on his own, so power will need to become his calling card. He looks more comfortable lining up behind the quarterback and attacking the flanks, where he has longer to process the defense and can get his momentum building. He does just enough out of the backfield and has decent pass pro potential. He might go undrafted but has enough going for him to get a look.

Boyd is more slasher than creator and is at his best when the running track is clearly defined and not overly congested. He has adequate vision as an inside and outside runner, but tends to take on big contact from hitters due to his upright running style and lack of elusiveness. He is a good athlete with adequate traits to help him compete for a roster spot, but he'll need to become much scrappier as a runner and in pass protection to give himself the best possible shot.

McCrae's thin, linear frame will be tough to overcome in the eyes of NFL evaluators. However, he has tape showing his talent as a slasher with plenty of heart. He sees run-lane development faster than many RBs in this draft and is smooth processing from his eyes to his feet. He can make sudden lateral slides to either avoid tacklers or switch up his running lane. Despite his size, he has an impressive winning percentage turning red zone carries into touchdowns. He won't jet through the line of scrimmage with a big burst and doesn't have the natural strength to break tackles, though. He's a talented runner, but the lack of size and below-average third-down value will make it challenging for him to earn a roster spot.

Tucker plays like a sawed-off ball of muscle. He is more explosive than fast and more likely to get additional yards through force than elusiveness. He doesn't have the one-cut fluidity zone teams look for, but he does have enough burst to play outside the tackles. He's a brazen runner, taking on much bigger defenders and often takes the worst of it. Tucker is very tough and does his job, but lacks dynamic qualities and high-end lateral agility needed from a smaller slasher.

Henderson isn't quick and he's not all that elusive, but he's built like a tree stump and will find yards after contact once he gets a head of steam. He's not a bad athlete, but he doesn't have the burst or vision most teams will be looking for. He will need to become a more decisive runner and might need to drop some weight to add much-needed quickness if he's going to have a shot in the league.