2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Chris Rodriguez

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Chris Rodriguez, 6-0/217 Running Back Kentucky

Chris Rodriguez Scouting Report
By Charlie Campbell

Strengths:

Good build and size

True power back

Keeps legs going after contact

Consistently breaks tackles

Finishes runs well

Burst to the hole

Drags tacklers

Decisive runner

Doesn’t dance in the backfield

Zero hesitation to pound the ball into the defense

Has a nose for the end zone

Wears down defenses

Runs well in the second half

Capable of controlling games

Durable

Ready to contribute immediately

Good fit for a zone-blocking system

Good knee bend

Runs behind his pads

Upside

Weaknesses:

Good speed, but not elite

Will need development as a receiver

Not very elusive

Will have to learn NFL blitz protection

Summary: Replacing a legend is never easy, but Rodriguez did a great job as the replacement for Wildcats program great Bennie Snell. Rodriguez flashed ability as Snell’s backup in 2019, averaging 7.5 yards per carry for 533 yards and six touchdowns. In 2020, he averaged 6.6 yards per carry for 785 yards and 11 touchdowns. Rodriguez had his best season in 2021, averaging 6.1 yards per carry for 1,379 yards and nine touchdowns. He also made 13 catches for 61 yards and three scores that season. As a senior, Rodriguez missed the opening month of the year and then dealt with a weak offensive line that had lost a lot of talent to the NFL from its 2021 version. In 2022, Rodriguez averaged 5.2 yards per carry for 904 yards and six touchdowns.

As a runner, Rodriguez is a load. Rodriguez is a true power back who runs over defenders and constantly bursts through tackles. Rodriguez has power and strength, and he is excellent in short-yardage and goal-line situations aided by his great physicality. He is constantly breaks tackles and does a fantastic job of keeping his legs churning after contact. Rodriguez is a decisive runner who charges downfield and is not one to dance in the backfield. He displays zero hesitation to stick his nose into a scrum and power through the defense to generate positive yardage. His power allows him to finish runs well, and he will consistently drag tacklers behind him.

Rodriguez has a real burst to hit the hole and acceleration to get downfield. His good contact balance and patience allow him to flow to the line before darting downfield. Rodriguez will power through arm tackles, and his legs don’t go dead on contact. With his burst and strength to run through contact, Rodriguez is a dangerous threat to break runs into the second level.

As a receiver, Rodriguez will need some work for the NFL because the Kentucky offense did not throw him the ball much. He flashed the ability to contribute in the receiving game, but he will need development in both route-running and blitz protection.

Rodriguez will probably end up going in the mid-rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft. He has starting ability and could be a sleeper steal.



Player Comparison: Jamaal Williams. Rodriguez has as similat running style to Williams (6-0, 224). Both are strong, physical downhill runners who will powefully plow through tacklers. Williams was a fourth-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft coming out of BYU, and Rodriguez could go in a similar range during the 2023 NFL Draft.

2023 NFL Draft Player Previews - Choose Player 2023 NFL Draft Player Previews - Home Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M Adetomiwa Adebawore, DE, Northwestern Jordan Addison, WR, USC Will Anderson, DE, Alabama Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE, Kansas State Steve Avila, G, TCU Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland Micah Baskerville, LB, LSU Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin Matthew Bergeron, OT, Syracuse Mekhi Blackmon, CB, USC Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU Brian Branch, S, Alabama Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson Chase Brown, RB, Illinois Sydney Brown, S, Illinois Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA Malik Cunningham, QB, Louisvile Gervon Dexter, DT, Florida Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina Max Duggan, QB, TCU Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland Zach Evans, RB, Ole Miss Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Notre Dame Isaiah Foskey, DE, Notre Dame Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon Derick Hall, OLB, Auburn Jaren Hall, QB, BYU Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma Daiyan Henley, LB, Washington State Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee Siaki Ika, DT, Baylor Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M Paris Johnson, OT, Ohio State Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU Broderick Jones, G, Georgia Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa Will Levis, QB, Kentucky Quan Martin, CB, Illinois Cody Mauch, G, North Dakota State Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame Will McDonald, DE, Iowa State Kenny McIntosh, RB, Georgia Tanner McKee, QB, Stanford Kendre Miller, RB, TCU Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss Cam Mitchell, CB, Northwestern Malachi Moore, S, Alabama Mike Morris, DE, Michigan Wanya Morris, OT, Oklahoma Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State Zion Nelson, OT, Miami B.J. Ojulari, OLB, LSU Demarvion Overshown, LB, Texas Owen Pappoe, LB, Auburn Jarrett Patterson, C, Notre Dame Clark Phillips, CB, Utah Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas Chris Rodriguez, RB, Kentucky Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas Noah Sewell, LB, Oregon Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan Nolan Smith, DE, Georgia Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota Tyler Steen, OT, Alabama Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee Joe Tippman, C, Wisconsin O'Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida Henry To'oTo'o, LB, Alabama Tuli Tuipulotu, DE, USC D.J. Turner, CB, Michigan Lukas Van Ness, DE, Iowa Deuce Vaughn, RB, Kansas State Tyree Wilson, DE, Texas Tech Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia Keion White, DE, Georgia Tech Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

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