5. Bishop Sankey – Washington Huskies
Probably the most notable name on the list, Sankey broke a Washington school record when he rushed for 1,775 yards in 2013, giving him 3,214 yards over the last two seasons.
The junior is a little undersized at 5’10” and 203lbs but there is room to add a little extra weight to his frame. This year we saw Sankey run harder and stronger which suggests he refined his build over the off-season. He possesses great acceleration but doesn’t have long-distance speed but does have enough to be a big player threat.
Vision and patience are his best assets and he does a great job of following his blocks and committing to a run. His hands are solid although he has not been asked to make any exceptional plays in the passing game.
Sankey’s blocking skills are the weakest part of his game, something he should be able to address properly when he adds a couple more pounds.
4. Tyler Gaffney – Stanford Cardinals
Tyler Gaffney is underrated simply because he will be completely overlooked when it comes to the 2014 NFL Draft when he shouldn’t be.
No, he isn’t worth a first, second, third, fourth or maybe even a fifth round draft choice. But he will definitely be an asset to a team somewhere in the NFL.
He doesn’t have breakaway speed, nor is he particularly great at catching. He runs behind a brilliantly experienced offensive line but what he does have is heart and determination.
A hard-nosed runner, Gaffney is a work horse who digs deep and plugs away well into the fourth quarter. 45 carries for 157 yards against Oregon and Gaffney finished every single one of them.
306 carries and 1,618 yards the senior had a tremendous season for the Cardinals. He is smart and could step in and spell the load perfectly for one of the NFL’s feature backs.
3. James Wilder Jr. – Florida State Seminoles
Wilder Jr. could be one of the more complete backs in the upcoming NFL Draft. At 6’2” and 229lbs, Wilder Jr. is your typical north-south runner who bruises defenders between the tackles.
Being a bigger, heavier back the junior doesn’t have breakaway speed but the speed he does possess for his size is superb. He is light on his feet and has the ability to make good cuts thanks to solid vision. When watching Wilder Jr. play it’s notable how impressively he finishes runs.
With so many talented players on the Seminoles’ roster, the Florida native split a lot of carries with a number of other players and, as a result only carried the ball on 78 occasions in 2013. He did make the most of those carries with 542 yards and eight touchdowns. His lack of touches can often be a good thing for NFL teams who know running backs have a short shelf life and so prefer players with a little less wear and tear.
2. Ladarius Perkins – Mississippi State Bulldogs
At 5’10” and 195 pounds Perkins will be a smaller, change of pace back in the NFL. He is most quick than explosive and excels at planting his foot in the ground and cutting up-field.
The video linked to the article shows his elusiveness and tremendous balance. He is a reliable pass catcher and a solid pass protector with good technique. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFrxwXKbN5g
As a senior, Perkins struggled when teams keyed in on the running game.
However, his junior season of 205 carries, 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns is a more accurate representation of what he is capable of.
1. Charles Sims – West Virginia Mountaineers
A tail back moulded to the shape of the modern NFL running back, Sims will be the latest receiving runner to burst onto the NFL scene.
A hybrid of Matt Forte and Shane Vereen, Sims can do it all. He is a smooth, fluid runner on the outside with the strength to plug away on the inside. The senior is decisive and commits to a hold when he sees it.
Sims’ pass-catching ability will make him an offensive coordinators dream at the next level. His ability to run routes with precision and receiver-like hands will make him a valuable tool in the NFL who can surpass 100 yards from scrimmage regularly.
Take a look at eDraft’s Blake Meek’s scouting report on Charles Sims: http://edraft.com/nfl/news/2014-nfl-draft-charles-sims-scouting-report/