2017 NFL Draft Prospects: Running Backs

By Charlie Campbell.
Send Charlie an e-mail here: [email protected]
Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell for updates.

The top 2017 running back prospects available for the 2017 NFL Draft. * – denotes 2018 prospect. ** – denotes 2019 prospect.

This page was last updated April 25, 2017. Follow Walter @walterfootball for updates.

1. Leonard Fournette*, RB, LSU
   Height: 6-1. Weight: 240. Arm: 31.63. Hand: 9.25.
   40 Time: 4.51.
   Projected Round (2017): Top-10 Pick.
   4/25/17: Even though he was injured in his final season, teams around the league expect Fournette to be a top-five pick. It is possible he slides into the back half of the top 10, but he shouldn’t get out of the top-10 picks. Team sources feel that Fournette is a game-changing back who could be bring an Adrian Peterson-type presence to his offense. Sources from multiple teams feel that Fournette is one of the best prospects in the 2017 NFL Draft.
   
   In 2016, Fournette averaged 6.5 yards per carry for 843 yards with eight touchdowns. He had 15 receptions for 146 yards as well. Fournette ran well, but his ankle injury held back some of the speed and explosion he displayed as a sophomore. Fournette missed six games because of the ankle injury in 2016, including LSU’s bowl game. He flashed his 2015 form when he set a school record of 284 rushing yards on 16 carries against Ole Miss with touchdown runs of 59, 76 and 78 yards.
   
   9/3/16: Fournette came to LSU with a huge amount of hype, including comparisons to Adrian Peterson. Fournette had a strong freshman season in 2014, averaging 5.5 yards per carry on 187 rushes for 1,034 yards and 10 touchdowns. But as a sophomore, he showed why the hype was justified with a terrific season. Fournette was in the running as the best player in the country as he carried LSU’s team. He averaged 6.5 yards per carry for 1,953 yards with 22 touchdowns in 2015, plus caught 19 passes for 253 yards with a touchdown. Fournette had a number of long gains called back as well.
   
   There is no doubt that Fournette is a special player. He is a powerful downhill runner who can run over tacklers but also has a burst to break off long runs and run away from them. Fournette also has moves in the open field with elusiveness to avoid tacklers. He is a natural athlete and showed impressive receiving skills as a sophomore. Fournette is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. He looks like a future franchise player and Pro Bowl running back if he can stay healthy. His play thus far has made him worthy of those Adrian Peterson comparisons.





2. Christian McCaffrey*, RB, Stanford
   Height: 5-11. Weight: 202. Arm: 30. Hand: 9.
   40 Time: 4.48.
   Projected Round (2017): 1.
   4/25/17: McCaffrey could go in the top 20 of the 2017 NFL Draft. He impressed at the combine, as expected, and many feel that McCaffrey could be the best route-runner in the draft, including all of the wide receiver prospects. McCaffrey has been tutored by Brandon Stokley this offseason on being a slot receiver, which just adds to what McCaffrey brings to an offense.
   
   WalterFootball.com was first to report that McCaffrey was going to enter the 2017 NFL Draft. Team sources say that everything they heard out of Stanford was that McCaffrey was a great teammate, hard worker, a leader, and a player who pushed his teammates to be better.
   
   In 2016, McCaffrey averaged 6.3 yards per carry for 1,603 yards and 13 touchdowns. Additionally, he had 37 receptions for 310 yards and three touchdowns. McCaffrey decided to sit out Stanford’s bowl game to get ready for the draft process.
   
   9/3/16: In my opinion, McCaffrey should have won last season’s Heisman Trophy because he carried Stanford in 2015. McCaffrey has a tremendous burst to break into the open field. He also has great vision and cutting ability. In 2015, McCaffrey averaged six yards per carry for 2,019 yards with eight touchdowns. As a receiver, he had 45 catches for 645 yards and five scores. McCaffrey looks undersized, but he still should be an early rounder.
   
   What really sets McCaffrey apart as a runner is his acceleration and explosiveness. He was a home-run hitter and a threat to rip off a huge gain every time he touched the ball last season. McCaffrey has a nice first-step and darts through the hole to get into the second level of the defense. In the open field, he has a second gear to pull away from defenders and also is very elusive. He uses his feet, vision, and agility to weave around defenders. McCaffrey isn’t a power runner who simply runs over tacklers, but he does finish his runs well and can pick up some yards after contact.
   
   McCaffrey has good balance to keep his feet, runs with an excellent body lean, and is a patient runner to set up his blocks. As a receiver, he has soft hands and is a very good route-runner. Not only does he make plays on offense, McCaffrey is a dangerous kick returner. The biggest issue for him is size and durability. While he held up well for Stanford last year, McCaffrey is undersized for a NFL feature back. He is a lot like Reggie Bush in terms of his size and playing style.



3. Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
   Height: 5-10. Weight: 210. Arm: 32.38. Hand: 9.25.
   40 Time: 4.49.
   Projected Round (2017): 1.
   4/25/17: In 2016, Cook averaged 6.0 yards per carry for 1,765 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also had 33 receptions for 488 yards. Cook suffers from some weird fumbles and ball-security issues that he needs to fix – see his fumble versus Ole Miss and two fumbles against Syracuse. On the upside, Cook demonstrated his tremendous speed, vision, cutting ability, and balance in 2016. While he isn’t the biggest of backs, he has functional power to charge through some tackles from linebackers and defensive backs.
   
   Teams do have some off-the-field concerns with Cook, not from his character, but the people that he hangs out with. He escaped some legal issues last year, but teams say that Cook has an entourage of gang bangers and they worry Cook drinks too much. Staying out of trouble is a concern that teams have.
   
   9/3/16: The Seminoles had a drop-off in 2015 after losing Jameis Winston and a lot of other talented players to the NFL, but Cook was so good on his own, he carried Florida State to a 10-win season. On the year, Cook averaged 7.4 yards per carry for 1,691 yards with 19 touchdowns. He had 24 receptions for 244 yards and a score as well.
   
   Cook somewhat reminds me of Marshall Faulk with his speed, athleticism and versatility. As a runner, Cook is impossible not to like. He is fast to hit the hole and has serious acceleration to the second level of the defense. When Cook breaks into the open field, he has shear speed to run away from a lot of defensive backs and is a threat to take the ball to the house on long touchdown runs. Cook also has excellent body lean, pad level, vision to weave through defenders, balance, and patience. He is elusive in the open field and slashes through defenses.
   
   While Cook isn’t the biggest of backs, he is put together well with a thick lower body. That allows him to keep his balance after contact is made and pick up more yards. Cook also shows some natural receiving skills. He has soft hands and is an athletic route-runner. He looks like a future three-down starter in the NFL.



4. Alvin Kamara*, RB, Tennessee
   Height: 5-10. Weight: 214. Arm: 32.75. Hand: 9.25.
   40 Time: 4.56.
   Projected Round (2017): 1-2.
   4/25/17: Kamara is a lot like Jamaal Charles as a runner in that both are fast slashers who are built well with some power. Additionally, Kamara is a phenomenal receiver with great hands and route-running to also be used as a slot receiver. He also is a dynamic returner on punts and kickoffs. Teams have concerns about Kamara being able to handle a heavy work load in the NFL and think he might be best in a platoon situation where he doesn’t have to be a bell-cow back who takes on 20-30 carries per game.
   
   Kamara took on a lot of the third-down duties with blocking and receiving for Tennessee. In 2016, the redshirt junior averaged 5.8 yards per carry for 596 yards and nine scores. He also caught 40 passes for 392 yards and four scores.
   
   9/3/16: At most schools, Kamara would be a starter and the feature player, but Kamara splits carries with Jalen Hurd, so he doesn’t get to be the every-down starter. NFL sources have said that Kamara has impressed them during scouting fall practices. In 2015, he averaged 6.5 yards per carry for 698 yards with seven touchdowns. Kamara did show some skills in the passing game with 34 receptions for 291 yards with three scores.





5. Joe Mixon**, RB, Oklahoma
   Height: 6-1. Weight: 226.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.48.
   Projected Round (2017): 2-3.
   4/25/17: Many believe that the troubled Mixon could go as high as the second round. Some team sources think he will end up going in the third, so his range could go from the second round to the fourth.
   
   Mixon is an electric runner with excellent speed and the ability to rip off a long run on any carry. He became Oklahoma’s featured runner as a redshirt sophomore with an average of seven yards per carry (168 carries) for 1,183 yards with eight touchdowns despite sharing carries with Samaje Perine. Mixon also was a receiving weapon with 32 receptions for 449 yards with five touchdowns.
   
   As a freshman in 2015, Mixon averaged 6.7 yards per carry for 753 yards with seven touchdowns. He had 28 receptions for 356 yards with four scores as well.
   
   Sources have said that they think Mixon is a first-round talent with three-down starting potential in the NFL. Some teams, however, already have ruled him out because of the incident from 2014 in which he punched a woman after she turned down his advances. After video of the incident was released two years later, Mixon issued a tearful apology. There were other off-the-field issues at Oklahoma as well. Some teams immediately removed him from their draft boards because of the character concerns. Sliding deep into the 2017 NFL Draft is possible.



6. D’Onta Foreman*, RB, Texas
   Height: 6-0. Weight: 233. Arm: 31.38. Hand: 10.13.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.55.
   Projected Round (2017): 2-3.
   4/25/17: Foreman had a tremendous 2016 season and was one of the most productive runners in the nation. He averaged 6.3 yards per carry for 2,028 yards with 15 touchdowns. Foreman isn’t much of a receiver, making just seven catches for 75 yards in 2016, but he is a load as a runner who can run over the opposition. Foreman will be an early round pick after declaring for the 2017 NFL Draft. As a sophomore, he averaged 7.2 yards per carry for 681 yards and five touchdowns.
   
   



7. Marlon Mack, RB, South Florida
   Height: 5-11. Weight: 213. Arm: 32. Hand: 9.
   40 Time: 4.50.
   Projected Round (2017): 3-4.
   4/25/17: Mack ran well for the Bulls in 2016. He averaged 7.1 yards per carry for 1,187 yards with 15 touchdowns, plus hauled in 28 receptions for 227 yards. 2016 was Mack’s third straight 1,000-yard season. He had 1,381 yards as a sophomore and 1,041 yards as a freshman. The junior is a sleeper back who could be a nice role player in the NFL. Some sources like Mack as a second-day prospect and believe he could contribute quickly.



8. Kareem Hunt, RB, Toledo
   Height: 5-10. Weight: 216. Arm: 31.13. Hand: 9.75.
   40 Time: 4.62.
   Projected Round (2017): 3-4.
   4/25/17: Hunt averaged 5.6 yards per carry in 2016 for 1,475 yards with 10 touchdowns. He also made 41 receptions for 403 yards and a touchdown. Hunt was excellent at the Senior Bowl, using his speed to slash through the defense. He was very impressive as a receiver out of the backfield. Hunt may not have the size to be an every-down back in the NFL, but he could be a dangerous weapon as a complementary back and be an asset in passing situations. Team sources say they think Hunt could be a third-rounder who contributes immediately with starting potential in the NFL.
   
   9/3/16: Hunt missed four games during the 2015 season, but averaged 5.5 yards per carry for 973 yards with 12 touchdowns. His best season came as a sophomore when he averaged eight yards per carry for 1,631 yards with 16 touchdowns. Hunt contributed as a freshman as well (6.3-866-6).



9. Samaje Perine*, RB, Oklahoma
   Height: 5-11. Weight: 233. Arm: 30.38. Hand: 10.
   40 Time: 4.65.
   Projected Round (2017): 3-5.
   4/25/17: Perine averaged 5.4 yards per carry in 2016 for 1,060 yards with 12 touchdowns. He had 10 receptions for 106 yards, too. Perine is a physical, tough runner who was banged up in his final season and also split the workload with Joe Mixon.
   
   9/3/16: Perine averaged 6.0 yards per carry in 2015 for 1,349 yards with 16 touchdowns. As a receiver, he had 15 catches for 107 yards with a score. Perine was a freshman sensation in 2014, racking up 1,713 yards and 21 touchdowns. That worked out to an average of 6.5 yards per carry. Perine set the NCAA single-game rushing record with 427 yards against Kansas that season. He also had five touchdowns in that contest. Perine is a hard-nosed physical running back.





10. Jeremy McNichols*, RB, Boise State
    Height: 5-9. Weight: 212. Arm: 31.5. Hand: 10.
    40 Time: 4.49.
    Projected Round (2017): 3-5.
    4/25/17: McNichols doesn’t have great size, but he was a tough runner for Boise State in 2016. McNichols averaged 5.4 yards per carry for 1,709 yards with 23 touchdowns. He also had 37 receptions for 474 yards with four touchdowns. As a sophomore, McNichols averaged 5.6 yards per carry for 1,337 yards with 20 touchdowns. He had 51 catches for 460 yards with six scores. McNichols could at least be a back for the passing game in the NFL.
    
    
11. Brian Hill*, RB, Wyoming
    Height: 6-1. Weight: 219. Arm: 31.38. Hand: 8.88.
    40 Time: 4.54.
    Projected Round (2017): 3-5.
    4/25/17: Hill is a thick runner who produced a lot of yards and points for Wyoming. He averaged 5.3 yards per carry in 2016 for 1,860 yards with 22 touchdowns alongside eight catches for 67 yards. As a sophomore, Hill produced with an average of 5.8 yards per carry for 1,631 yards with six touchdowns. He had his best receiving season that year with 20 receptions for 132 yards. Hill projects as first- and second-down back in the NFL.
    
    
12. Wayne Gallman*, RB, Clemson
    Height: 6-0. Weight: 215. Arm: 32.63. Hand: 9.13.
    40 Time: 4.60.
    Projected Round (2017): 3-5.
    4/25/17: In 2016, Gallman averaged 5.1 yards per carry for 1,087 yards with 16 touchdowns. He tacked on 17 receptions for 113 yards as well. Gallman also missed some time with a concussion. He is more of a quick slashing runner with some athleticism as a pro, but he doesn’t have a lot of power for the NFL. Gallman was slower than expected at combine.
    
    9/3/16: Gallman was the workhorse of the Clemson offense in 2015, averaging 5.4 yards per carry for 1,527 yards with 13 touchdowns. He also caught 21 passes for 213 yards with a score. Gallman is a quick runner who could stand to add some weight for the next level.
    
    Gallman has impressive feet with the ability to be elusive in the open field. He has tremendous lateral quickness to dodge tacklers and a burst to accelerate running North-South. Gallman also has some power to him to pound the ball for some tough yards and finish off runs. It would be good to see Gallman improve his knee bend and pad level. He is a taller back, and as a result, he can run a little upright at times. That can lead to issues with injuries and ball security.



13. Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU
    Height: 6-0. Weight: 211. Arm: 30.5. Hand: 9.63.
    40 Time: 4.59.
    Projected Round (2017): 3-5.
    4/25/17: Williams was a powerful rushing presence in 2016, averaging 5.9 yards per carry for 1,375 yards with 12 touchdowns as a senior. He had only seven receptions for 80 yards.
    
    Williams is a physical back who is capable of picking up yards after contact. In a talented running back class, he could be a really good value in the mid-rounds. Williams had a decent week at the Senior Bowl.
    
    As a junior in 2014, Williams averaged 4.8 yards per carry for 518 yards and four touchdowns on 109 carries. He averaged 5.7 yards per carry in 2013 for 1,233 yards with seven touchdowns alongside 18 receptions for 125 yards.





14. De’Veon Smith, RB, Michigan
    Height: 5-11. Weight: 223. Arm: 29.5. Hand: 9.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.59.
    Projected Round (2017): 4-6.
    4/25/17: In 2016, Smith averaged 4.7 yards per carry for 846 yards with 10 touchdowns. He made 16 receptions for 66 yards as well. Smith is a tough downhill runner who also has some vision and cutting ability. His numbers suffered in 2016 because he split carries, but he is a talented back.
    
    At the East-West Shrine, Smith was excellent and sources raved about him. He showed some real receiving and blocking skills. The performance in St. Petersburg earned Smith an invitation to the Senior Bowl, where he put together a solid week.
    
    9/3/16: Sources have told WalterFootball.com that Smith impressed them last season even though the junior had fewer than 200 carries. He averaged 4.2 yards per carry for 753 yards with six touchdowns. He added 19 receptions for 159 yards and a touchdown. Smith is a bruising thumper who is expected to take on a bigger role as a senior.



15. Corey Clement, RB, Wisconsin
    Height: 5-10. Weight: 221. Arm: 30.88. Hand: 9.88.
    40 Time: 4.68.
    Projected Round (2017): 4-6.
    4/25/17: Clement averaged 4.4 yards per carry in 2016 for 1,375 yards with 15 touchdowns. He had 12 receptions for 132 yards as well. Clement had a respectable showing at the Senior Bowl as he was a physical downhill runner. He ran slowly at the combine though.
    
    9/3/16: Everyone was excepting a big season out of Clement as the replacement for Melvin Gordon, but it never got off the ground. Clement was limited by a groin injury against Alabama in the season opener and then proceeded to miss seven games after sports hernia surgery. He only played in four games in 2015, recording 48 carries for 221 yards and five touchdowns.
    
    Clement had a solid season as the backup to Gordon in 2014, averaging 6.5 yards per carry for 949 yards with nine touchdowns. Clement also had 14 receptions for 119 yards and two scores that season.



16. Joe Yearby*, RB, Miami
    Height: 5-9. Weight: 200.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.54.
    Projected Round (2017): 4-6.
    4/25/17: Yearby averaged six yards per carry in 2016 for 608 yards with seven touchdowns. He had 10 receptions for 65 yards. After 100-yard games in the first two contests of the season, Yearby didn’t gain over 75 yards or see more than 10 rushing attempts in any game over the rest of the year. Despite serving as the backup running back to Mark Walton, Yearby entered the 2017 NFL Draft.



17. James Conner*, RB, Pittsburgh
    Height: 6-1. Weight: 233. Arm: 31.25. Hand: 9.88.
    40 Time: 4.65.
    Projected Round (2017): 4-6.
    4/25/17: In 2016, Conner ran for 1,092 yards with an average of 5.1 yards per carry carries with 16 touchdowns. He also caught 21 passes for 302 yards with four scores. Conner ran slowly at the combine, but that was expected for the power back.
    
    It was a triumph for Conner to return to the field and find the end zone as much as he did in 2016; however, he doesn’t look like quite the same player as he was before his knee injury and his victory over cancer. Sources said it may have been in Conner’s best interest to play one more year of college football and get all the way back before going into the 2018 NFL Draft, but he decided to enter the 2017 NFL Draft.
    
    9/3/16: What was supposed to be a big 2015 season for Conner never got off the ground as he tore his ACL. Then, he was diagnosed with cancer. Conner was declared cancer free in the spring and has been training hard to return to football this fall. Conner was a a bruising back in 2014, yeat showed surprising quickness for such a big runner. The sophomore averaged six yards per carry on the year for 1,765 yards with 26 touchdowns. He had five receptions for 70 yards as well. As a true freshman, Conner averaged 5.5 yards per carry for 799 yards with eight touchdowns. While Conner has to improve his receiving ability for the NFL, he looks like a bell-cow back capable of carrying a heavy work load if he returns to his previous form.



18. Donnel Pumphrey, RB, San Diego State
    Height: 5-8. Weight: 176. Arm: 28.13. Hand: 9.63.
    40 Time: 4.48.
    Projected Round (2017): 4-6.
    4/25/17: Pumphrey was superb in 2016. He averaged 6.1 yards per carry for 2,133 yards with 17 touchdowns. Pumphrey also made 27 receptions for 231 yards. If he were bigger, he would definitely be rated higher. Pumphrey had a prolific college career, becoming the all-time leading rusher in NCAA history. Pumphrey was okay at the Senior Bowl, but his size is a big detriment for the NFL.
    
    9/3/16: Pumphrey has put together back-to-back huge seasons for San Diego State. In 2015, he averaged 5.4 yards per carry for 1,653 yards with 17 touchdowns. He also had 28 receptions for 416 yards with three scores. As a sophomore, Pumphrey averaged 6.8 yards per carry for 1,867 yards with 20 touchdowns. He caught 23 passes as a sophomore and 22 as a freshman. Pumphrey could be a backup/third-down back in the NFL.



19. Joe Williams, RB, Utah
    Height: 5-11. Weight: 210. Arm: 30.75. Hand: 9.38.
    40 Time: 4.41.
    Projected Round (2017): 4-6.
    4/25/17: Williams was a tough runner for the Utes in 2016. He averaged 6.7 yards per carry for 1,407 yards with 10 touchdowns. He had nine receptions for 107 yards. Williams showed some serious speed with a fast 40 time at the combine. He could be a mid-round sleeper who ends up being a good value pick.



20. Aaron Jones*, RB, UTEP
    Height: 5-9. Weight: 208. Arm: 32.5. Hand: 9.5.
    40 Time: 4.56.
    Projected Round (2017): 4-6.
    4/25/17: Jones turned in a big 2016 season, averaging 7.7 yards per carry for 1,773 yards with 17 touchdowns. He also showed receiving skills with 28 receptions for 233 yards and three scores. Jones put together another big season in 2014 with 1,321 yards (5.5 average) with 11 touchdowns. He had 30 catches for 293 yards and three scores as well.
    
    Jones missed almost all of the 2015 season with torn ligaments in his ankle. He received a medical redshirt for that season and decided to skip his senior year to enter the 2017 NFL Draft.



21. Elijah McGuire, RB, La.-Lafayette
    Height: 5-10. Weight: 214. Arm: 31. Hand: 9.
    40 Time: 4.53.
    Projected Round (2017): 4-6.
    4/25/17: McGuire averaged 4.9 yards per carry in 2016 for 1,127 yards with seven touchdowns. He hauled in 29 balls for 238 yards and two scores as well. McGuire had an impressive week at the East-West Shrine.
    
    9/3/16: McGuire has been a solid runner the past three seasons. His best season came as a sophomore in 2014 when he averaged 7.6 yards per carry for 1,264 yards with 14 touchdowns. He also had 45 receptions for 468 yards and two scores as a receiver that season. McGuire’s rushing numbers were solid as a junior (5.0-1,058-13) and freshman (8.4-863-8). The senior has good receiving skills for the NFL.






22. Elijah Hood*, RB, North Carolina
    Height: 6-0. Weight: 232. Arm: 30.38. Hand: 9.38.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.64.
    Projected Round (2017): 4-6.
    4/25/17: In 2016, Hood averaged 5.9 yards per carry for 858 yards with eight touchdowns. He made 25 receptions for 142 yards as well.
    
    Hood is a solid college back, but for the NFL, he looks limited as he lacks a burst and first-step quickness. Hood needs three or four steps to get going and is only a North-South runner. He doesn’t have the feet to be elusive or run laterally. Hood looks like a third-day talent and rotational back for the NFL.
    
    9/3/16: North Carolina made a push to the ACC Championship in 2015 with Hood as the team’s feature back. He averaged 6.7 yards per carry for 1,463 yards with 17 touchdowns on the season, plus had 13 receptions for 71 yards. Hood is put together well for the NFL as a bruiser back, but the speed to hit the hole is something that he will have to prove in order to rise.




23. Tarik Cohen, RB, North Carolina A&T
    Height: 5-6. Weight: 179. Arm: 29.75. Hand: 10.13.
    40 Time: 4.42.
    Projected Round (2017): 5-7.
    4/25/17: Cohen is very undersized, but he is a fast athlete with excellent elusiveness. In 2016, he ran for 1,588 yards with 19 touchdowns. He also had 37 receptions for 339 yards and one touchdown. Cohen will have to compete to be a backup for the passing game and change-of-pace runner.



24. Matt Dayes, RB, N.C. State
    Height: 5-8. Weight: 207. Arm: 29.25. Hand: 10.5.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.56.
    Projected Round (2017): 5-7.
    4/25/17: Dayes had a quality senior year, averaging 4.7 yards per carry for 1,166 yards with 10 touchdowns. He also caught 32 passes for 267 yards.
    
    Dayes isn’t the biggest of backs, but he is a physical runner with some quickness to hit the hole. Dayes may not be a feature back at the NFL level, but he could be a quality rotational back. He wasn’t overly impressive at the Senior Bowl.
    
    The senior should be a nice asset as a receiving back in the passing game. As a junior, he averaged 6.5 yards per carry for 865 yards with 12 touchdowns with 24 receptions for 172 yards. Dayes cruised at 5.5 yards per carry the year before for 574 yards with eight scores. That season, he caught 32 passes for 321 yards with five touchdowns.



25. Stanley ‘Boom’ Williams*, RB, Kentucky
    Height: 5-7. Weight: 190. Arm: 30. Hand: 8.63.
    40 Time: 4.51.
    Projected Round (2017): 6-FA.
    4/25/17: Williams is a fast back who is a threat to rip off a long run on any carry. In 2016, the junior averaged 6.8 yards per carry for 1,170 yards with seven touchdowns. He had eight receptions for 56 yards and a score. Williams showed more receiving skills as a sophomore and freshman, over which he totaled 30 catches. As a sophomore, he averaged 7.1 yards per carry for 855 yards and six scores. Williams could be late-round sleeper who is a nice value pick.



26. Shock Linwood, RB, Baylor
    Height: 5-8. Weight: 200.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.52.
    Projected Round (2017): 7-FA.
    4/25/17: In 2016, Linwood averaged 5.5 yards per carry for 751 yards and two touchdowns. He ran for 237 yards against Iowa State. Linwood is a smaller, change-of-pace back for the NFL. He decided to skip his bowl game.
    
    9/3/16: Linwood is a quick runner who would be rated higher if he were larger. As a junior, Linwood averaged 6.8 yards per carry for 1,329 yards with 10 touchdowns. He rushed for 1,252 yards on 240 carries (5.1 average) with 16 touchdowns in 2014. The senior looks undersized for the next level, but has some quickness and is a slashing runner. Linwood could hope to stick in the NFL as a backup/change-of-pace back. He averaged 6.9 yards per carry in 2013 for 881 yards with eight touchdowns.



27. Justin Davis, RB, USC
    Height: 6-1. Weight: 195.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.57.
    Projected Round (2017): 7-FA.
    4/25/17: In 2016, Davis averaged 5.4 yards per carry for 607 yards with two touchdowns. He had 14 catches for 112 yards as well. Davis was dealing with an ankle injury for part of the year.
    
    9/3/16: With the Trojans breaking in a new quarterback in 2016, it wouldn’t be surprising if Davis takes on a larger role. As a junior, he averaged 5.3 yards per carry for 902 yards with seven touchdowns. He also caught 18 passes for 189 yards. Davis was a backup as a sophomore (4.6-595-4) and freshman (6.8-361-6).





28. Tarean Folston, RB, Notre Dame
    Height: 5-9. Weight: 209.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.57.
    Projected Round (2017): FA.
    4/25/17: On the year, Folston averaged 4.3 yards per carry for 334 yards with two touchdowns. He missed a couple of games with injuries.
    
    9/3/16: Early in the 2015 season, Folston injured his right knee against Texas and was out for the year. He averaged 5.1 yards per carry in 2014 for 889 yards with six touchdowns while snagging 18 receptions for 190 yards and a score. Folston started that season slowly, but earned more carries as the year progressed and ended up being Notre Dame’s leading rusher. He has talent, but needs to produce a big season in 2016.



29. Jahad Thomas, RB, Temple
    Height: 5-10. Weight: 180.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.51.
    Projected Round (2017): FA.
    4/25/17: In 2016, Thomas averaged 4.6 yards per carry for 953 yards and 13 scores. He also had 33 receptions for 418 yards and six scores.
    
    9/3/16: Thomas had a strong 2015 season for Temple, averaging 4.6 yards per carry for 1,262 yards with 17 touchdowns. He had 22 receptions for 216 yards and a score as well. Thomas is undersized for the NFL.






30. Darius Victor, RB, Towson
    Height: 5-8. Weight: 217.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.55.
    Projected Round (2017): 7-FA.
    4/25/17: Victor ran for 1,305 yards with 12 scores as a sophomore and 1,021 yards with 15 touchdowns as a junior. His senior season was limited to only four games.



31. Trey Edmunds, RB, Maryland
    Height: 6-1. Weight: 217.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.55.
    Projected Round (2017): FA.
    4/25/17: In 2016, Edmunds averaged 6.1 yards per carry for 158 yards with one touchdown. He missed the final eight games of the year.
    
    9/3/16: Edmunds flashed at times for Virginia Tech, but has never had a consistent season. Injuries have derailed him in each of the past two years. As a freshman, Edmunds averaged 4.1 yards per carry for 675 yards with 10 touchdowns. He has transferred to Maryland for his senior year.



32. Barry Sanders, RB, Oklahoma State
    Height: 5-10. Weight: 198.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.55.
    Projected Round (2017): FA.
    4/25/17: Sanders totaled 28 carries for 93 yards and two touchdowns on the year. He had some good moments on kick returns, averaging 24 yards per return.
    
    9/3/16: Sanders averaged 6.2 yards per carry for 315 yards and four touchdowns in 2015 at Stanford as a backup to Christian McCaffrey. Sanders was a backup as a sophomore and freshman as well. He has moved on from the Cardinal to Oklahoma State for 2016, and perhaps he will get opportunity to play more as a senior.

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