2011 NFL Draft: Top 10 Running Back Prospects

For the NFL teams in need of a running back, there isn't a lot of talent in the 2011 NFL draft class. There are a couple of running backs that are getting first round consideration, but overall the class is filled with a bunch of unknowns.

One of the reasons there are fewer running back prospects is because more college football teams are moving to the spread offense. The role of the running back has changed in college football and it's starting impact the NFL draft.

2011 NFL Draft Top 10 Running Back Prospects:

1) Mark Ingram, Alabama

2) Mikel Leshoure, Illinois

3) Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech

4) Shane Vereen, California

5) Daniel Thomas, Kansas St.

6) Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma St.

7) Jacquizz Rodgers, Oregon St.

8) Delone Carter, Syracuse

9) DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma

10) Bilal Powell, Louisville

One to watch: Derrick Locke, Kentucky

2011 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Bilal Powell

Bilal Powell, Louisville (5'10" 204 lbs.)

Positives: He has a good combination of size and speed. He has the ability to grind out tough yards and break long runs. He has very good balance and does a good job of bouncing off tacklers. He had a very good week at the Senior Bowl. He has good upside.

Negatives: Doesn't explode through the line of scrimmage, waits too long for holes to open up. He's an upright runner who absorbs a lot of big hits. He's not a very good receiver out of the backfield. He needs to work on his pass blocking skills.

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2011 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Derrick Locke

Derrick Locke, Kentucky (5'8" 188 lbs.)

Positives: He is one of the fastest players in the draft. He can be dangerous runner in the open field. Despite his small size, he's a hard runner between the tackles. He runs very good routes and has the ability to line up in the slot. He can be a dangerous return man in the NFL. Similar to San Diego Chargers running back Darren Sparoles.

Negatives: Because he is so small, he will likely never be a feature NFL back. He's had durability issues, with a shoulder injury last year and a serious knee injury in 2008.

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2011 NFL Draft Scouting Report: DeMarco Murray

DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma  (6'0" 215 lbs.)

Positives: He's exceptional athlete. He's very quick and has good balance. He sees the field very well and hit holes quickly. He's a solid pass catcher who can line up at wide receiver. He also has the ability to return kicks and punts in the NFL. He has a ton of upside.

Negatives: He runs to upright and can get knocked over too easily. He doesn't break many tackles and sometimes gets careless with the ball. He's not a very good pass blocker, he's usually involved in the pass pattern on third downs. He has issues with durability, including missed time last season due to injury.

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2011 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Delone Carter

Delone Carter, Syracuse  (5'9" 220 lbs.)

Positives: He's a tough runner who plays with a lot of effort. He's a solid runner between the tackles, and can run through arm tackles. He does a very good of protecting the football. He has good vision and awareness, will likely contribute right away as a short yardage back.

Negatives: He doesn't have great speed. He's not much of a pass catcher, had only 28 receptions during his four-year college career. Character is a concern, had a misdemeanor assault charge. He's not the most durable runner, missed two seasons due to injury.

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2011 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jacquizz Rodgers

Jacquizz Rodgers, Oregon St. (5'6" 196 lbs.)

Positives: He's a shifty runner, who can make defenders miss. He's a solid receiver out of the backfield and has the ability to lineup in the slot. Despite his small size, he hasn't missed a game the past two season. He could also serve as a kickoff returner in the NFL.

Negatives: He's very small. He doesn't have very good speed. He needs to get stronger, he will get knocked around in pass protection. He doesn't possess a lot of upside because of his limited skill set.

 

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2011 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Kendall Hunter

Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma St. (5'7" 200 lbs.)

Positives: He's a shifty back who's very fluid on the football field. He has a strong frame and at 5'7", he runs low to the ground. He's very good to finding open running lanes and sets up his blocks very well. He can be a threat as a pass catcher in the NFL.

Negatives: He doesn't have breakaway speed. He's not strong enough to run through NFL defenders and he's a below average pass blocker. His duability will be an issue, after missing much of his junior season with an ankle injury.

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2011 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Daniel Thomas

Daniel Thomas, Kansas St. (6'0" 230 lbs.)

Positives: He's a big, tall runner who looks good running in the open field. He has a strong upper body and gets plenty of yards after contact. He's a patient runner who can get north and south in a hurry. He might be a good goal line back for an NFL team. He has good upside.

Negatives: He needs to do a better job of keeping his pads low, runs too upright. He needs to work on his lower body strength. He's a below average receiver with bad hands. He will need to work on his balance and pass blocking skills if he wants to be an NFL running back.

Latest: He did not perform at Combine due to a hamstring injury.

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2011 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Shane Vereen

Shane Vereen, California (5'10" 210 lbs.)

Positives: He has a good combination of size and speed. He has the ability to get around the corner and run between the tackles. He has good hands out of the backfield and runs very good routes. Also, a very good kick returner. He does a great job holding onto the football.

Negatives: He needs to get stronger before becoming an first and second down back. He's not a big play threat. He's okay in pass protection, but usually goes out on patterns on passing downs.

Latest: He ran a very respectable 4.5 40-yard dash at the Combine. He also showed exceptional strenth by bench pressing 225 pounds 31 times, the most among tailbacks at the Combine.

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2011 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Ryan Williams

Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech (5'9" 210 lbs.)

Positives: He has a good frame that can withstand the NFL pounding. He has above-average speed and make defenders miss. He does a great job of protecting the football. He has a lot of toughness and has a nose for the end zone. Has shown good hands out of the backfield and does a good job of anticipating the play before the snap. He's a strong character guy. He can also help on special teams as a return man.

Negatives: He needs to get stronger. He has a tendency to get pushed around in the passing game. He will need to improve his pass blocking skills once in the NFL.

Latest: He showed off freakish athletic ability with a 40-inch vertical at the Combine. Showed very good speed at the Combine as well, running a 4.55 40-yard dash. He's moving up many people's draft boards.

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2011 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Mikel Leshoure

Mikel Leshoure, Illinois (6'0" 225 lbs.)

Positives: He has great size for a running back and above average speed. He has quick feet and does an exceptional job at reaching top speed almost immediately. He has the size to run through tackles and doesn't shy away from contact. He's also a very good pass catcher who can easily develop into a three down running back.

Negatives: He has a tendency to try and break the big run and is prone to negative yardage plays. Some character concerns after he got into a fight with an Illinois teammate in 2008. He needs to work on his conditioning and pass blocking if he wants to be an every down back.

Latest: He ran a great 40-yard dash at the Combine (4.56). He is a fringe first-rounder with a ton of upside.

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