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RB Profiles
By: John McMullen
As for the running backs, The 1999 draft doesn't look like it will help many teams. Ten of the first 90 or so selections in the 1998 draft, including three of the first 18, were running backs. It's tough to come up with ten legitimate running back prospects for the entire draft this year but even though the group is not deep, it's still got a diamond at the top in likely Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams. Williams could have come out last year and been a top 5 pick but decided to return for his senior season at Texas and he is clearly the top back in the draft. If Carmen Policy and soon to be Browns General Manager Dwight Clark bring in Tim Couch and he sneezes wrong, they could easily revert to plan B and take Williams, the only franchise back in the Draft.
- Ricky Williams Texas 5-10 235
Williams is a total package with size, speed and exceptional hands who would have been a top-five pick in last year's draft but opted to stay in school for another year. He's a big, strong back with good field speed & durability, has a lot of wiggle in the open field and can give any team a ball-control offense. At this point Williams is not a great blocker but with his size he certainly can improve. The good hands should keep him on the field on third downs which is becoming a rarity in the NFL for a feature back. His strong lower body brings natural comparisons with former Texas great Earl Campbell, but Williams has better hands and more wiggle. He doesn't, however run as hard as the legendary Campbell, but then again few do. Ricky really is a better and more complete move the chains type back than last year's top back, Curtis Enis but he will not be a gamebreaker type that can score from anywhere on the field in the NFL. Williams also plays baseball in Phillies system.
- Amos Zereoue West Virginia 5-11 200
Zereoue is the best running back in school history and broke all of West Virginia's records as a junior. Knowing that, Amos will probably go for the money and head to the NFL after the season. Zereoue is your classic slasher with good size, quickness, niftyness and cutback ability. He doesn't have great long speed and has had some problems with turf toe but other that looks solid." Famous Amos" is quite simply a big time producer and is the safest route to go after Williams for teams looking for a back. Doesn't have the upside of Dayne, Redmond or even Faulk but he will give you an honest days work and should develop into a 1,000 yard back in the NFL.
- J.R. Redmond Arizona State 6-2 208
Redmond is a Junior that I love and with Arizona State's disappointing season may be convinced to head for greener pastures. One of the best all-purpose players in all of college football. Redmond has great instincts, good size and excellent overall speed. He goes hard on every play and finishes every run. He breaks a lot of tackles & is tough to bring down in the open field because of his athletic ability. A great return specialist who is a threat every time he touches the ball . Redmond is a very interesting player that will make NFL offensive coordinators devise ways to get him the ball in the open field. Redmond is a rarity, a true gamebreaker who works hard and on an underachieving team like the Sun Devils, that's even more impressive. He will be an impact guy early in his NFL career in the return game at a minimum and his desire alone makes me rate him ahead of Dayne.
- Rob Konrad Syracuse 6-3 255
Konrad is the only pure fullback on the list but he is really a Mike Alstott clone in that he is more of a running back in a fullbacks' body who could play in a one-back offense or behind a lead blocker as well as his natural fullback slot. Konrad has engulfing size and excellent speed for that size. As with most backs of his size, Rob is a north-south runner who is like a runaway locomotive when he squares his shoulders to the line and gets rumbling. Has a little wiggle but that sometimes hurts him. A back like Konrad who starts looking for cutbacks or tries to string things out looking for the hole is totally neutralized. Konrad is a better blocker than Alstott and should make some NFL team very happy, early in his career but I question taking a fullback, any fullback, in the 1st round of the draft.
- Ron Dayne Wisconsin 5-11 260
Dayne is a Junior who is likely to come out. Although he missed some time in 1997 with various injuries, he's still as powerful & punishing as ever. He combines awesome size & bulk with uncanny speed and niftyness. He's almost impossible for any linebacker or safety to tackle one on one. His inside the tackle run skills make him a prime candidate for a 4 yard and grind it out old style Bill Parcells' NFL offense. Purely and simply Dayne is Wisconsin's offense if and he is on his way to another impressive statistical season. That said, Dayne looked abysmal in the Badgers big game loss to Michigan, often not even knowing the play on several occasions and leaving the Quarterback hanging out to dry. That debacle and certain off the field problems with a teammate might shy teams away from Dayne. I know that I wouldn't take him. If you are not mentally into your team's biggest game of the year with an undefeated season on the line, What does that say about Dayne's mental approach to the game?
- Kevin Faulk LSU 5-8 195
Faulk surprised a number of people by returning after an up-and-down 1997 season with the Tigers. He is a big play guy with uncanny quickness, excellent feet, good moves but only average speed. As his lack of size indicates, Faulk is not a power runner or blocker and will probably be best suited as a third down back in the pros. To be effective in that situation, Faulk will have to learn to pick up the blitz and catch the ball out of the backfield, two things, he hasn't been asked to do that much at LSU. He is a good return man who is an elusive runner and will be better suited as a punt returner than a kickoff guy because of his lack of long speed. Faulk has a lot of wiggle and big play ability but he seems to lack some desire much like Dayne. That along with his small stature and penchant for nagging injuries will certainly hinder him at the NFL level.
- Sedric Irvin Mich. State 5-11 215
Another producer, Irvin seems like he has been with the Spartans forever but that's because he has been producing since day one at East Lansing. Sedric is the workhorse and playmaker for the Spartan offense and his versatility & durability make him tough to stop. A constant threat both as a runner and receiver even without great long speed. Another guy who lacks eye popping measureables but produces every Saturday including the games against the big boys, just look at the only blemish on both Ohio St. and Notre Dame's records and you will see Irvin and the Spartans.
- Anthony Gray Western New Mexico. 6-0 233
Gray is the sleeper of the group thanks to his prototypical NFL size.A grinder with the size to carry 30 times a game. Four yards and a cloud of dust is what teams will be looking for from Gray. He must prove that he is durable enough to be the man and also prove he can catch the ball out of the backfield something he hasn't been asked to do much at this point.
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