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LSU’s Fournette, FSU’s Cook among top RB prospects
Fournette, Cook
are top prospects
By MIKE McLAIN
You might want to call it the “Zeke Factor.”
In recent years the role of the running back in the pass-happy NFL appeared to have been de-emphasized. It’s not clear if that was actually the case in the meeting rooms of offensive coordinators or if it was a media exaggeration.
The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. The fact is that teams obviously put plenty of stock in the value of a talented running back, which is why the position has been targeted for a top-10 pick in six of the last 10 drafts.
In the two drafts before that timespan (2005 and 2006) a running back was selected second overall — Reggie Bush in ’06 and Ronnie Brown in ’05.
Still, with so much emphasis on spread formations and intricate combination routes, the passing game seemed to have morphed into an extension of the ground game.
Then along came Ezekiel “Zeke” Elliott, selected fourth overall last year by the Dallas Cowboys out of Ohio State. Elliott followed an outstanding college career with a stellar rookie season in which he rushed for 1,651 yards and 15 touchdowns, while assisting the passing game with 32 receptions for 363 yards and one touchdown.
It just so happens that a strong group of runners is following Elliott in this year’s draft. From the speed-power combination of LSU’s Leonard Fournette to Florida State’s breakaway threat Dalvin Cook to the do-everything talents of Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey, there’s plenty from which to choose.
Fournette couldn’t be stopped in 2015, rushing for 2,045 yards and 22 touchdowns. An ankle injury limited him to seven games last season, in which he gained 873 yards and scored eight touchdowns.
Fournette is listed at 6-1 and about 225 pounds, although he weighed noticeably more at the NFL combine. When healthy and down in weight, he can be a destructive ground force. Having just 40 career receptions indicates he has to prove his worth in the passing game.
Despite the injury concerns, you’d have to think that a team in need of a running back will make him the first back picked.
Fournette realizes that Elliott’s rookie accomplishments can only help his chances of being a high selection.
“It helped us completely,” Fournette said. “It showed he’s not just a running back. He can help in the passing game. He can run and block. He led a great way for these running backs coming out right now.”
Cook doesn’t possess Fournette’s size at 6-0 and 200 pounds, but that doesn’t mean he’s easy to tackle. In fact, Cook led the FBS in elusive rating, breaking 99 tackles (92 rushes and seven receptions) and averaging 4.19 yards after contact last season.
The combination of great vision, speed and strength make him a possible impact back. Concerns are nagging hamstring pulls and, more importantly, ball security. He fumbled 14 times on 763 touches during his college career. Seminole fans still remember his two lost fumbles in a loss to Oregon in the 2014 national semifinals.
“After the game I addressed the media because it was something that’s on me,” said Cook, who rushed for 1,845 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2016. “It’s something that I watch a lot of tape on and it’s always the man you don’t see. When you’re fighting for those extra yards you’ve got to take care of that football and chinning the ball is something I worked on and I feel like I improved on it.”
McCaffrey will enter the NFL with a chip on his shoulder based on the belief of critics that don’t envision him as a lead back.
“I feel like a lot of people don’t give me credit for my skills and talents,” McCaffrey said. “But I also don’t really care too much. I don’t feel like I’m crazy disrespected. I have a chip on my shoulder at all times. That’s been my whole life.”
McCaffrey is viewed as much as a potential slot receiver (think New England Patriots) as a featured back. As a runner he has a sudden burst and quick moves.
In 2015 McCaffrey broke Barry Sanders’ NCAA record for all-purpose yards with 3,864. The number included 2,065 rushing and 645 receiving yards. He had 1,070 yards on kick returns and 130 yards on punt returns.
McCaffrey battled injuries last season and sat out the Cardinal’s bowl game against North Carolina.