February 28, 2025 • 25 mins
In the second episode of "Bending the Edge with Beef and Lettuce," Ryan Coyle and Nick McClay look at the crop of running backs ahead of the #NFLDraft.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Number one on your car radio preset hand the new
and improved Diehard Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
App Wdyes and WD two seven to three D. Philadelpia Ice,
Fox Sports Radio The Gambler. All right, hello everybody, and
welcome back to Fox Sports The Gambler. This is Bending
the Edge running Back edition, your NFL Draft show. We
got Combine week, so I went with the cutoff for
today's show, of course, but this is this episode, Nick
(00:27):
that we're gonna be breaking down the running backs, going
the same kind of course that we did last week
with the quarterbacks, a bit of a crash course on
some of these top guys in this class. Look to
in the next forty five minutes or so hit on
the top, you know, five to.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Ten running backs, however many we get to.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
And I think the running back class is a much
more advanced class, a much more kind of hyped up
class than the quarterbacks that we just recently talked about.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
So I'm intrigued to hear what you think.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
We have a historic running back in Nash and Gent
at the top of this class, looking like a potential
top ten definitely the lock first round pick. Excited to
get into this class, A deep class. What are your
just initial thoughts on this class, and I guess compared
to the quarterbacks, how much more advanced is this group?
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Yeah, I love this class man, especially compared to the quarterbacks.
I think this is a pretty deep class. I think
they could there's a lot of running backs in here
that could just fill out some nice roles for a
lot of these spot teams that need an extra change
of pace. Well, classes pretty pretty deep for what we've
(01:33):
been used to obviously, with gent coming off one of
the greatest running back seasons of all time, and then
right behind them there's a few of Marion Hampton, then
both Buck guys running backs. I think there are a
lot of options for teams that need a change of
pace back in their in their backfield.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Yeah, and when you kind of look at you know,
we talked about it last week with the top ten
the quarterbacks, When you look at team in like the top,
you know, fifteen sixteen picks with the running back, you know,
you could definitely see a team like Chicago kind of
going all in on the running back spot, getting Ashton
Genty as another piece there for Kaleb Williams and that
offense because he kind of have that Jamier Gibbs type Browle.
(02:15):
I think in Ben Johnson's offense, he'll get Dallas. Obviously,
their running game was a disaster last year. They have
no one really to lean on in that spot, and
maybe even a few other teams at the top here
that that could depend on some running backs. So I
think there is a legit chance we see, you know,
definitely one go with Genty and we'll talk about some
other guys maybe even too. I think it's going to
depend maybe on how some of these guys run at
(02:38):
the combine and just overall grades, because go back to
what we were talking about with quarterbacks last week, doesn't really
seem like there's a real consensus this year.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
There could be a lot of.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Surprises, some of the more eye opening kind of picks
that we see in the draft this year compared to
the years past, so that it's gonna make for a
fun draft for sure. And we'll start at the top
there with the Heisman runner up of if not the
best running back seasons of the past decade in all
of college football. Ashton GenZ out of Boise State listed
have five nine, two hundred and fifteen pounds. Nick, how
(03:07):
do you think his game translates to the next level,
and do you think he's going to be, you know, ultra.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Productive as he was at the college level.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Yeah, I think he is. I think he has future
all pro written all over him. I think he reminds
me of Maurice Jones Dureau from watching the games that
he's he's played in. He's led the nation in the
missed tackles, forced yards after contact, rush attempts, rushing yards,
and Russian touchdowns. So I mean this this he's putting
(03:35):
together an insane year average out one hundred and eighty
five rushing yards per game, one hundred plus rushing yards
in every single game this year, two games with four
plus rushing touchdowns. I mean the productivity was absolutely with Sert.
You can't you can't tackle him. His vision's insane. A
little smaller on the size at five to nine, but
the way he runs, he's a bowling ball out there.
(03:58):
I think you put him in really any offense, he's
going to succeed.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Yeah, super exciting player.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
I thought the thing that stood out about him the
most throughout this season was just and.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
It kind of you know, you can kind of do
it hand in hand.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
With the level of competition he played, but the ability
to make guys miss tackles. It seemed like any time
someone had to you know, bring him down it it
took at least two to three guys or at least
the second or third kind of attempt. Just his ability
to make guys miss breakoff tackles, that was the most
kind of impressive part to his game for me. But
he also kind of had that Saquan element to his
(04:33):
game as well, and we saw it in a handful
of games this year where he would have, you know,
two three yard carries. Everyone would basically just be selling
out and try to stop him. And he has that
home run ability where it's you know, he's got twelve
carries for thirty yards, but then the next thing, you know,
he's taken a seventy five yard to the house.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Yeah, he's got that home run, A big playability at
any time the balls in his hands. Even as a receiver,
I mean, he's not, you know, the best out of
the back field, but he's a capable, productive, you know,
dual threat weapon in the backfield. All you got to
do is put the ball in his hands. He'll make
people miss. He'll make plays. Like you said, at any time.
He could just hit a home run, just like Siquin
(05:11):
has right froze for a little bit right there. But
I guess we can move on to the next one.
We're looking at a Marion Hampton out of UNC, six
foot two twenty big, well built, great size, runs insanely
downhill at all times like Genty's. He just bounces off defenders.
(05:35):
Last two seasons, very productive, over five hundred and thirty
carries over the around three thousand rushing yards, thirty rushing cutdowns.
Also is complimentary in the receiving game five hundred and
ninety five receiving yards last two seasons. So he's also
a workhose three hundred plus touches. They give him the
ball and he's been He's shown that he could he
(05:55):
could handle a heavy workload. He rides me a lot
of like a lesser of a Joe Mixon and Josh
Jacobs like that bullie ball run downhill. But yeah, he's
been productive. Ten of twelve games. You rushed Rover one
hundred plus. So I'm a big fan of amar and
Hampton out of UNC.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Yeah, he's a guy that has been They've been saying
in the streets a bit that he could sneak his
way into maybe the back half for the first round,
if he could combine good pro day potentially.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
What are your thoughts on potentially that as well.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Yeah, I really wouldn't be surprised, you know, the back
half maybe like a like a Broncos if they really
want to go at to help their backfield because they
haven't been able to develop Dvante really or he hasn't
really been able to stay on the field. But yeah,
I would not be surprised. I don't know if I
really have him in that first round talent, but I
(06:51):
but the way teams, you know, take swings and chances
on offensive weapons nowadays, I would not be surprised if
he goes into the back first round.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
And UNC has had a pretty good run on running
backs over the past, you know, almost decade or so.
I'm a good track record there, guys under mac Brown
going to the next level as well. Do you think
that's something that team's kind of take into consideration as well.
I feel like it's a kind of basic question. But
you know, UNC don't really think of them as such
a great team, but they have had a good track
(07:24):
record of running backs over the past decade.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Yeah, I mean you have to look at the coaching.
You can't, you know, just go out there and play,
play and just act like you know, stats will come.
If you're in a good system that will operate well
for you and you buy into it, you could definitely,
you know, make a case to increase your drive stock.
And you know that just shows you know, you buying
into a coaching system. NFL coaches will see that and
(07:47):
even want that even more so I can, I can
one percent get behind that.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
All right.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Next guy that I want to get into are the
two guys out of Ohio State with Trayvon Trevon Henderson
and Quinn Sewn Jenkins. Before you get in the breaking
down either of those games, if you were at GM
and you had to select one of the backs, who
would you take between the two? Or is it more
so of a dependent on kind of the system you run.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
You who you would take out of those two guys.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Yeah, I think it really is dependent on what system
you run. Like if you're looking at Henderson, you're not
really looking at like a workhorse and give him the
ball a lot a game. He only averaged nine carries
per game this last season, so I think if you
want more of a workhorse, you would go Judkins, but
Henderson he's got also that big playability where he could
(08:39):
have you know, ten rushes. I mean, just for an example,
ten rushes only like thirty forty yards and then boom,
he just breaks one out and then you know, he
looks like he has a good game, but he plays
a game smart, very good patience. He lets his block
set up good visions. Only had two fumbles in his career,
six hundred and sixty seven total combine touches and only
(09:00):
two fumbles. So you know, bath security, job security. Everyone
always talks about that, so I think and he's also
I think he's one of the best Henderson one of
the best blockers out of the backfield. So you add
that pass protection or in the in the your offense.
I think that's another, you know, tool that NFL coaches
will look at.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Yeah, the big playability I think is something that you know,
it's always been a thing in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Obviously want to create explosive plays, but I.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Feel like we've just been seeing more and more of that,
and that's the kind of difference makers in these top
tier type of teams, like you look at from start
to finish, the top two teams in the NFC this year,
I think where the Eagles and in the Lions, and
what did they have? Explosive running backs Jumior Gibbs and
Saquon could take it to the house at any moment.
You look at a guy that Jamison Williams on the
outside as well. It all kind of comes down to
(09:52):
explosive plays. You look at the Commanders in the great
year that they had Terry mcclaurin a big play receiver
kind of every every step of the way throughout his career,
and now he finally gets a good quarterback and he
look at him as a career year.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
So explosive plays, I think really.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Are kind of the name of the game right now
and what separates these kind of, you know, mid tier
teams to these top tier teams. So Trevion Henderson is
a guy too, and I think you look at the touches,
like especially this year with him and Junkins, neither one
of those guys got overloaded with touches. When you look
at a genty and I forgot to talk about that,
do you kind of take anything away or lower his
(10:30):
draft stock at all? For the amount of touches and
the amount of tread on the tires he's had compared
to a guy like Trevion Henderson, compared to a guy
like Quinn Sewn Jenkins who have had significantly less touches
than gent he has.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Yeah, I could see. I can definitely see the argument
for that. But just watching his film, watching the games,
you look at him and you're like, that's a player.
It doesn't matter how many you know, you could feed
him every single time. And obviously in a system like
Boise State, in a conference where they're in, he's going
to be getting the ball pretty much the entire the
entire game, and you know he's gonna make teams pay
(11:04):
for it like like he did. So I guess you
can really put some stock into that. Obviously, you look
at the carries, you look at the touches, it's gonna be,
you know, a big difference. But I think the production
that he put up with those carries, you know that
that is enough for itself.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
And then one of your thoughts on the other Ohio
State back you touched more on Henderson.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
Your thoughts on Judkins.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
I feel like at times, you know, I thought he
was going to be a monster at Ohio State, and
as we know, their offense took a little bit of
time to kind of get cooking as the season went along,
and obviously they had a great run there in the playoffs,
but I feel like he was underutilized a little bit.
What are your thoughts on him and kind of the
season he had after transferring from Ole mess.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Yeah, I did expect a lot from him. You know,
it's kind of hard obviously, but like we were talking
about splitting the carries with Henderson, but he's more like
the violent type, you know, run like right through you,
the physical, physical, you know, body type. He's got the
prototypical NFL size six foot two, twenty good strength runs
with you know, violent. Like I said, he just wants
(12:08):
to run right through you. But he's also got that
like contact balance that we talked about with Genteel. You know,
it takes multiple people to bring him down. He is
also one that protects a football only three career fumbles
on eight hundred career touches. So he gets the ball
out and he bought and he secures it. So in
three straight seasons of one hundred plus rushing yards and
(12:29):
fourteen plus rushing touchdowns. So you know, even though we
were talking about, you know, the volume that he was getting,
he's still the production is still there. He was SEC
Freshman of the Year, SEC first team All as. Yeah,
first team All SEC twenty two to twenty three seasons.
So I mean he put he puts something numbers and
I think he'll be able to fit in an offense
(12:50):
really well.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
And when it goes to draft stock for both these guys,
Jenkins and Henderson, where would you be, you know, comfortable
taking either one of those guys?
Speaker 3 (13:03):
You know, I think probably like they'll probably I would
go like late day, late round two, early three. I
mean you could also wait a little bit and get
some guys down the board, but I think guys like
Jenkins and Henderson, teams are gonna want, you know, players
like that in their backfield.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
All right, we stay.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
In the Big ten now and a guy that I'm
not as familiar with his game, and he's coming from
a school that isn't traditionally known for their offense of
skill players, you know, tight ends offensive line, this is
where this team kind of thrives, and then a lot
of guys on the defensive end.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
But he had a really good year this year.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Caleb Johnson out of Iowa six foot two, twenty five listed.
I believe it's the same measurements as Hampton. We'll get
some more exact measurements on these guys this week, because
I feel like a lot of these are are kind
of round numbers projection type things. But we'll get those
official measurements from the combined. But Caleb Johnson had a
great year this past year at Iowa. That offense really
(14:01):
took off with him kind of as the league guy.
This past season. The offense was really built around him,
and I was able to actually score some points this year,
not win games ten to six.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
So what are your thoughts on Caleb Johnson in his
role at the next level.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Yeah, I mean, honestly, like you touched on it, I
can't believe Io's offense actually was a team that was
scoring points. We don't really ever see that from a
team like Iowa. But speaking of Caleb Johnson, he's just violent.
He's a great size, like a mix of his athleticism
but with size, and then he's also got the finesse
and the violent you know in his game, he's really versatile,
(14:38):
like he's a man of many talents, concessus All American
Big Ten running Back of the Year. Very good. He's
not very good, but capable out of the backfield. His
football's great. He's got the great IQ. Let's his block
set up, got the strength to break those tackles. I
think he could improve in the pass protection from what
(14:58):
I've seen. I think he's someone that could also be
a change of pace back in the late maybe late
round two, early round three, like the Ohio State running backs.
But I think he's he's got He's more than capable
of being productive in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Yeah, he his game is uh. I think you you
kind of hit on the head like Morphinesse.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
It was.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
It was interesting to see Iowa kind of have an
explosive player, you think more of a just three four
yards and continue to move.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
The change type of thing.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
It was interesting to see that kind of cardball for
for Caleb Johnson. Tyler Algier though, I think is a
is a pretty interesting comp because he does have that
kind of downhill running. Do you do you see that
you know in his game or is that primarily just
like a size type of projection for you.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
I would say it's both. I would say the size
and the place Diyal that they both play with. You know,
Algier has that change the pace like we were talking
about with most of these running backs, change a pace
with the beach. With Jean, how he runs, you know,
you get him in on third down, those those downs.
I think he can make a difference. And I also
(16:08):
put down their trade bentson coming out of Florida State.
I like that count him too, just the way that
they can come in and you know, make plays happen,
and you just get the ball in their hands plate
you know, good players will make good plays. So I
think he's up there with one of the best in
in this draft. In this draft class, all.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Right, we're gonna keep it rolling here, some rapid fire,
go about another ten minutes or so. Hit it on
the running backs, which is a deep class. We could
probably talk for for, you know, a few hours about
the running backs, and I'm interested to see. I don't
know what the record is off the top of my head,
but I think there's a good chance that this is
a you know, a record setting class just for the
(16:48):
amount of running backs that are picked. It's another guy
that his I think he didn't get as much attention
this year because Kansas struggled a little bit. They really
started picking it up as he went on. But he's
been a fun player or the past few years and
kind of the resurgence or the ascent of Kansas football.
And that's Devin Neil, the running back there five to eleven,
(17:10):
two hundred and twenty pounds, past three seasons, going over
a thousand yards in each season.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
He's been an extremely productive player.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
But I just said, you didn't really hear his name
that much this year, I think due to Kansas kind
of lack of success at least at the beginning of
the season. What are your thoughts on Neil going forward?
And another player that he did have a lot of
touches in college. He was a really productive player, but
with that comes a lot of wear and tearor how
do you kind of evaluate both of those things hand
in hand.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
Yeah, I mean that's both great points. Devin Neil is
one of my favorite running backs of this class. I
think he is going to make an impact on Sundays.
He changes speeds so well from the passing game. From
the you just get the ball in his hands. Like
we were talking about earlier, good players make good plays.
You get the ball in his hands and single handedly
(17:58):
from watching him against State put up over one hundred
yards and two touchdowns on us and beat us. He
is one of the most electric running backs in this class.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
I think he.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
Forced one hundred almost one hundred and thirty miss tackles
in the last two seasons, only two fumbles in the
last two seasons. So he protects the ball great out
of the backfield, always gets those extra yards, fights for
those extra yards in those first downs. I think he's
a mix of that Bucky Irving type and Travis Etn
I think he could. He had eight games over one
(18:29):
hundred rushing yards as well, so I think he can
definitely make an impact on Sundays.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
Bucky Irving, anytime you hear that name, I think it's
kind of an eyebrow raiser because he had an awesome
season and he was a really productive player at Oregon
by a guy that you know at Oregon.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
I feel like all the running backs historically have been
super productive but haven't really amounted too much at the
next level.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
But Bucky Irvin had a great year this year.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
I think if you if you probably looked at at
least fantasy football production over the past you know, last
seven to eight weeks of the season, he probably was
right up there with like Saquan and Jamior Gibbs as
one of his top two to three running backs off
from this past draft. So if you're able to get
a guy like Devin Neil and get Bucky Irving type production,
that would be awesome because he became a really fun
(19:15):
player to watch as well. Where do you kind of
see Devin Neil's draft stock as Irving was like a
third fourth round pick.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
Yeah, I kind of see the same, maybe even late
like fifth. With how this class is, I don't really
know how how Devin Neil because he's not I don't
think he's going to test very well. He's not the fastest,
he doesn't have that, you know, top end speed. He
can definitely improve and pass protection too, but I just
think he's such an electric player that he'll be able
(19:41):
to go into any really offense and just know his
role and make a difference. So I think he'll probably
go like fifth round, i'd say, and then you know,
at best fourth, early fourth, late third.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Yeah, that's another kind of question I wanted to post
to you as well, Like with being such a deep
class at such a good class. You know, you're really
high on gent and his ability to be a potential
superstar type of player down the road.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
But how do you view that?
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Being like, all right, if you're the Bears and you're
a team that you know, we saw last year they
had a lot of troubles, they had a lot of issues.
Is it worth it to sit there and pick gent
at ten or get a guy like Devin Neil in
like the third or fourth round.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
How do you kind of view that? Or is Jens
just such.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
A good player, like it doesn't really matter to you
where you get him. You just need to have him
on your football team.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if Genty's there when the
Bears are there and they go after him, just with
like the new with Ben Johnson coming in, we saw
how he did with Montgomery and Gibbs. I really wouldn't
be surprised if the Bears go out and get them.
But this is a class. If you do miss on
that Gente type, you are able to wait and get
you know, a productive back. And I wouldn't be surprised
(20:59):
if they, you know, take a chance if he is there.
The Bears even someone to trade up for him. I wouldn't.
I would not be surprised if Genti goes that early
and then teams to start to you know, fade off
and try to wait and see how the rest of
the draft falls.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
All right, tut on, two more before we get out
of here. I'll give you kind of your picnic.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
If you had to give like two shout outs to
guys one that's you know, another one that you feel
likes a must know, and another one another running back
that's more of a sleeper type. Give me two guys
that you would want to pick on. But before we
head out.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
Dylan Sampson's one that I want to talk about. He's,
you know, he's not very elite at really one type thing.
He's very well rounded, a good patient runner, you know,
just waiting for the blocks to set up. He had
his top ten and miss tackles for so he's another
one that is hard to bring down. It's just the
ball security with him has always been an issue. Yeah,
(21:57):
he needs to improve on that. Not really used in
the past game either or pass protection. But you know,
high motor, high effort player. I think he's someone that
he was first team All SEC put up some almost
fifteen hundred rushing yards. He's someone and we watched him
play against Kentucky. We watched him, you know, single handedly
move a pile for a touchdown again in that Kentucky,
(22:20):
So you know, he's got that high motor, high effort.
I think a team will be really excited to have
him in their backfield. And a sleeper or I guess
not really a sleeper, but someone that not really anyone's
talking about that much is Virginia Tech running back Ray
schel Toutin. He is going to kill this combine. He
is going to run out of the I think he
(22:41):
for low four threes. I think he's going to run
elite speed. Hey ad, another one of those home run
big playabilities. Whenever he touches the ball, it's just he's
another one with the ball security coughs up the ball.
I think he called like nine fumbles in the last
two seasons. I think I saw that's not good at all.
He kind of reminds me of like a Chase Brown
(23:02):
or you know, like can catch the ball out of
the backfield and once he gets the ball in space,
hard to bring him down.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Yeah, that's a that's a eye popping number nine fumbles
in the past two seasons. But if you're talented and
you can get on the field like that's even a
guy that you could potentially look to use it in
the return game as well, especially with the speed. And
we'll give one last shout out to our I mean
the you got a list here, a good list of
guys that we didn't even get to touch on, Damian Martinez,
(23:31):
Ali Gordon. But the one guy that was my favorite
player to watch it colleg football this year, Cam Scattabo.
I'm very interested to see what his opportunity looks like
at the next level. Is not an overly fast player, obviously,
he's not going to be able to mall guys run
guys over like he did at the college level to
the to the extent that he did. He probably still
will have a few nice, angry runs. But he's a
(23:52):
guy that I'm definitely gonna have a close eye on
throughout the NFL draft because he has produced game after
game and you can argue even his most impressive game
was against Texas, who was probably the most talented, the
best team that he played all year.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Yeah, I mean watching him in that game was just electric,
and he even produced he produced his whole entire career.
He was Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year when
he went to the Sacramento State first team all Big Sky.
You know, he's done his this his whole entire career.
He's a bowling ball. You gotta add three tacklers on
him at all times. Goes out there looking for contact.
He goes out there looking to hurt people. He was
(24:28):
one of only two running backs in the class with
one hundred plus for Smiths tackles and the only other
one was genty. So he's up there with those contact
balance guys that you know, it takes a whole village
to bring him down. But yeah, he's gonna be exciting
to watch, and I think in the right offense, he
could definitely make a difference.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
All right, Well that'll do it for episode two here
of Bending the Edge. This week running backs, and next
week will hit into the receivers. And you know, we
talked about how therunning backs a little bit more of
an advanced class. Interested to hear your opinions on the
receiver because I've seen, you know, a few mock drafts
that have you know, three four five going in the
first round and then some that only have one or two,
(25:11):
so a spot in this draft that's a little bit
more all over the place. But we will be back
next week here on Fox Sports the Gambler, as always,
drop a light, drop a subscribe, and we'll be back next.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
Week on Bending the Edge, talking wide receivers.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
If you can.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
Wager on it, we're talking about it.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
It's the Gambler.
Number one on your car radio preset hand the new
and improved Diehard Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
App Wdyes and WD two seven to three D. Philadelpia Ice,
Fox Sports Radio The Gambler. All right, hello everybody, and
welcome back to Fox Sports The Gambler. This is Bending
the Edge running Back edition, your NFL Draft show. We
got Combine week, so I went with the cutoff for
today's show, of course, but this is this episode, Nick
(00:27):
that we're gonna be breaking down the running backs, going
the same kind of course that we did last week
with the quarterbacks, a bit of a crash course on
some of these top guys in this class. Look to
in the next forty five minutes or so hit on
the top, you know, five to.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Ten running backs, however many we get to.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
And I think the running back class is a much
more advanced class, a much more kind of hyped up
class than the quarterbacks that we just recently talked about.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
So I'm intrigued to hear what you think.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
We have a historic running back in Nash and Gent
at the top of this class, looking like a potential
top ten definitely the lock first round pick. Excited to
get into this class, A deep class. What are your
just initial thoughts on this class, and I guess compared
to the quarterbacks, how much more advanced is this group?
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Yeah, I love this class man, especially compared to the quarterbacks.
I think this is a pretty deep class. I think
they could there's a lot of running backs in here
that could just fill out some nice roles for a
lot of these spot teams that need an extra change
of pace. Well, classes pretty pretty deep for what we've
(01:33):
been used to obviously, with gent coming off one of
the greatest running back seasons of all time, and then
right behind them there's a few of Marion Hampton, then
both Buck guys running backs. I think there are a
lot of options for teams that need a change of
pace back in their in their backfield.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Yeah, and when you kind of look at you know,
we talked about it last week with the top ten
the quarterbacks, When you look at team in like the top,
you know, fifteen sixteen picks with the running back, you know,
you could definitely see a team like Chicago kind of
going all in on the running back spot, getting Ashton
Genty as another piece there for Kaleb Williams and that
offense because he kind of have that Jamier Gibbs type Browle.
(02:15):
I think in Ben Johnson's offense, he'll get Dallas. Obviously,
their running game was a disaster last year. They have
no one really to lean on in that spot, and
maybe even a few other teams at the top here
that that could depend on some running backs. So I
think there is a legit chance we see, you know,
definitely one go with Genty and we'll talk about some
other guys maybe even too. I think it's going to
depend maybe on how some of these guys run at
(02:38):
the combine and just overall grades, because go back to
what we were talking about with quarterbacks last week, doesn't really
seem like there's a real consensus this year.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
There could be a lot of.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Surprises, some of the more eye opening kind of picks
that we see in the draft this year compared to
the years past, so that it's gonna make for a
fun draft for sure. And we'll start at the top
there with the Heisman runner up of if not the
best running back seasons of the past decade in all
of college football. Ashton GenZ out of Boise State listed
have five nine, two hundred and fifteen pounds. Nick, how
(03:07):
do you think his game translates to the next level,
and do you think he's going to be, you know, ultra.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Productive as he was at the college level.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Yeah, I think he is. I think he has future
all pro written all over him. I think he reminds
me of Maurice Jones Dureau from watching the games that
he's he's played in. He's led the nation in the
missed tackles, forced yards after contact, rush attempts, rushing yards,
and Russian touchdowns. So I mean this this he's putting
(03:35):
together an insane year average out one hundred and eighty
five rushing yards per game, one hundred plus rushing yards
in every single game this year, two games with four
plus rushing touchdowns. I mean the productivity was absolutely with Sert.
You can't you can't tackle him. His vision's insane. A
little smaller on the size at five to nine, but
the way he runs, he's a bowling ball out there.
(03:58):
I think you put him in really any offense, he's
going to succeed.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Yeah, super exciting player.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
I thought the thing that stood out about him the
most throughout this season was just and.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
It kind of you know, you can kind of do
it hand in hand.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
With the level of competition he played, but the ability
to make guys miss tackles. It seemed like any time
someone had to you know, bring him down it it
took at least two to three guys or at least
the second or third kind of attempt. Just his ability
to make guys miss breakoff tackles, that was the most
kind of impressive part to his game for me. But
he also kind of had that Saquan element to his
(04:33):
game as well, and we saw it in a handful
of games this year where he would have, you know,
two three yard carries. Everyone would basically just be selling
out and try to stop him. And he has that
home run ability where it's you know, he's got twelve
carries for thirty yards, but then the next thing, you know,
he's taken a seventy five yard to the house.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Yeah, he's got that home run, A big playability at
any time the balls in his hands. Even as a receiver,
I mean, he's not, you know, the best out of
the back field, but he's a capable, productive, you know,
dual threat weapon in the backfield. All you got to
do is put the ball in his hands. He'll make
people miss. He'll make plays. Like you said, at any time.
He could just hit a home run, just like Siquin
(05:11):
has right froze for a little bit right there. But
I guess we can move on to the next one.
We're looking at a Marion Hampton out of UNC, six
foot two twenty big, well built, great size, runs insanely
downhill at all times like Genty's. He just bounces off defenders.
(05:35):
Last two seasons, very productive, over five hundred and thirty
carries over the around three thousand rushing yards, thirty rushing cutdowns.
Also is complimentary in the receiving game five hundred and
ninety five receiving yards last two seasons. So he's also
a workhose three hundred plus touches. They give him the
ball and he's been He's shown that he could he
(05:55):
could handle a heavy workload. He rides me a lot
of like a lesser of a Joe Mixon and Josh
Jacobs like that bullie ball run downhill. But yeah, he's
been productive. Ten of twelve games. You rushed Rover one
hundred plus. So I'm a big fan of amar and
Hampton out of UNC.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Yeah, he's a guy that has been They've been saying
in the streets a bit that he could sneak his
way into maybe the back half for the first round,
if he could combine good pro day potentially.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
What are your thoughts on potentially that as well.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Yeah, I really wouldn't be surprised, you know, the back
half maybe like a like a Broncos if they really
want to go at to help their backfield because they
haven't been able to develop Dvante really or he hasn't
really been able to stay on the field. But yeah,
I would not be surprised. I don't know if I
really have him in that first round talent, but I
(06:51):
but the way teams, you know, take swings and chances
on offensive weapons nowadays, I would not be surprised if
he goes into the back first round.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
And UNC has had a pretty good run on running
backs over the past, you know, almost decade or so.
I'm a good track record there, guys under mac Brown
going to the next level as well. Do you think
that's something that team's kind of take into consideration as well.
I feel like it's a kind of basic question. But
you know, UNC don't really think of them as such
a great team, but they have had a good track
(07:24):
record of running backs over the past decade.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Yeah, I mean you have to look at the coaching.
You can't, you know, just go out there and play,
play and just act like you know, stats will come.
If you're in a good system that will operate well
for you and you buy into it, you could definitely,
you know, make a case to increase your drive stock.
And you know that just shows you know, you buying
into a coaching system. NFL coaches will see that and
(07:47):
even want that even more so I can, I can
one percent get behind that.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
All right.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Next guy that I want to get into are the
two guys out of Ohio State with Trayvon Trevon Henderson
and Quinn Sewn Jenkins. Before you get in the breaking
down either of those games, if you were at GM
and you had to select one of the backs, who
would you take between the two? Or is it more
so of a dependent on kind of the system you run.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
You who you would take out of those two guys.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Yeah, I think it really is dependent on what system
you run. Like if you're looking at Henderson, you're not
really looking at like a workhorse and give him the
ball a lot a game. He only averaged nine carries
per game this last season, so I think if you
want more of a workhorse, you would go Judkins, but
Henderson he's got also that big playability where he could
(08:39):
have you know, ten rushes. I mean, just for an example,
ten rushes only like thirty forty yards and then boom,
he just breaks one out and then you know, he
looks like he has a good game, but he plays
a game smart, very good patience. He lets his block
set up good visions. Only had two fumbles in his career,
six hundred and sixty seven total combine touches and only
(09:00):
two fumbles. So you know, bath security, job security. Everyone
always talks about that, so I think and he's also
I think he's one of the best Henderson one of
the best blockers out of the backfield. So you add
that pass protection or in the in the your offense.
I think that's another, you know, tool that NFL coaches
will look at.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Yeah, the big playability I think is something that you know,
it's always been a thing in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Obviously want to create explosive plays, but I.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Feel like we've just been seeing more and more of that,
and that's the kind of difference makers in these top
tier type of teams, like you look at from start
to finish, the top two teams in the NFC this year,
I think where the Eagles and in the Lions, and
what did they have? Explosive running backs Jumior Gibbs and
Saquon could take it to the house at any moment.
You look at a guy that Jamison Williams on the
outside as well. It all kind of comes down to
(09:52):
explosive plays. You look at the Commanders in the great
year that they had Terry mcclaurin a big play receiver
kind of every every step of the way throughout his career,
and now he finally gets a good quarterback and he
look at him as a career year.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
So explosive plays, I think really.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Are kind of the name of the game right now
and what separates these kind of, you know, mid tier
teams to these top tier teams. So Trevion Henderson is
a guy too, and I think you look at the touches,
like especially this year with him and Junkins, neither one
of those guys got overloaded with touches. When you look
at a genty and I forgot to talk about that,
do you kind of take anything away or lower his
(10:30):
draft stock at all? For the amount of touches and
the amount of tread on the tires he's had compared
to a guy like Trevion Henderson, compared to a guy
like Quinn Sewn Jenkins who have had significantly less touches
than gent he has.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Yeah, I could see. I can definitely see the argument
for that. But just watching his film, watching the games,
you look at him and you're like, that's a player.
It doesn't matter how many you know, you could feed
him every single time. And obviously in a system like
Boise State, in a conference where they're in, he's going
to be getting the ball pretty much the entire the
entire game, and you know he's gonna make teams pay
(11:04):
for it like like he did. So I guess you
can really put some stock into that. Obviously, you look
at the carries, you look at the touches, it's gonna be,
you know, a big difference. But I think the production
that he put up with those carries, you know that
that is enough for itself.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
And then one of your thoughts on the other Ohio
State back you touched more on Henderson.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
Your thoughts on Judkins.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
I feel like at times, you know, I thought he
was going to be a monster at Ohio State, and
as we know, their offense took a little bit of
time to kind of get cooking as the season went along,
and obviously they had a great run there in the playoffs,
but I feel like he was underutilized a little bit.
What are your thoughts on him and kind of the
season he had after transferring from Ole mess.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Yeah, I did expect a lot from him. You know,
it's kind of hard obviously, but like we were talking
about splitting the carries with Henderson, but he's more like
the violent type, you know, run like right through you,
the physical, physical, you know, body type. He's got the
prototypical NFL size six foot two, twenty good strength runs
with you know, violent. Like I said, he just wants
(12:08):
to run right through you. But he's also got that
like contact balance that we talked about with Genteel. You know,
it takes multiple people to bring him down. He is
also one that protects a football only three career fumbles
on eight hundred career touches. So he gets the ball
out and he bought and he secures it. So in
three straight seasons of one hundred plus rushing yards and
(12:29):
fourteen plus rushing touchdowns. So you know, even though we
were talking about, you know, the volume that he was getting,
he's still the production is still there. He was SEC
Freshman of the Year, SEC first team All as. Yeah,
first team All SEC twenty two to twenty three seasons.
So I mean he put he puts something numbers and
I think he'll be able to fit in an offense
(12:50):
really well.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
And when it goes to draft stock for both these guys,
Jenkins and Henderson, where would you be, you know, comfortable
taking either one of those guys?
Speaker 3 (13:03):
You know, I think probably like they'll probably I would
go like late day, late round two, early three. I
mean you could also wait a little bit and get
some guys down the board, but I think guys like
Jenkins and Henderson, teams are gonna want, you know, players
like that in their backfield.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
All right, we stay.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
In the Big ten now and a guy that I'm
not as familiar with his game, and he's coming from
a school that isn't traditionally known for their offense of
skill players, you know, tight ends offensive line, this is
where this team kind of thrives, and then a lot
of guys on the defensive end.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
But he had a really good year this year.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Caleb Johnson out of Iowa six foot two, twenty five listed.
I believe it's the same measurements as Hampton. We'll get
some more exact measurements on these guys this week, because
I feel like a lot of these are are kind
of round numbers projection type things. But we'll get those
official measurements from the combined. But Caleb Johnson had a
great year this past year at Iowa. That offense really
(14:01):
took off with him kind of as the league guy.
This past season. The offense was really built around him,
and I was able to actually score some points this year,
not win games ten to six.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
So what are your thoughts on Caleb Johnson in his
role at the next level.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Yeah, I mean, honestly, like you touched on it, I
can't believe Io's offense actually was a team that was
scoring points. We don't really ever see that from a
team like Iowa. But speaking of Caleb Johnson, he's just violent.
He's a great size, like a mix of his athleticism
but with size, and then he's also got the finesse
and the violent you know in his game, he's really versatile,
(14:38):
like he's a man of many talents, concessus All American
Big Ten running Back of the Year. Very good. He's
not very good, but capable out of the backfield. His
football's great. He's got the great IQ. Let's his block
set up, got the strength to break those tackles. I
think he could improve in the pass protection from what
(14:58):
I've seen. I think he's someone that could also be
a change of pace back in the late maybe late
round two, early round three, like the Ohio State running backs.
But I think he's he's got He's more than capable
of being productive in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Yeah, he his game is uh. I think you you
kind of hit on the head like Morphinesse.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
It was.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
It was interesting to see Iowa kind of have an
explosive player, you think more of a just three four
yards and continue to move.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
The change type of thing.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
It was interesting to see that kind of cardball for
for Caleb Johnson. Tyler Algier though, I think is a
is a pretty interesting comp because he does have that
kind of downhill running. Do you do you see that
you know in his game or is that primarily just
like a size type of projection for you.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
I would say it's both. I would say the size
and the place Diyal that they both play with. You know,
Algier has that change the pace like we were talking
about with most of these running backs, change a pace
with the beach. With Jean, how he runs, you know,
you get him in on third down, those those downs.
I think he can make a difference. And I also
(16:08):
put down their trade bentson coming out of Florida State.
I like that count him too, just the way that
they can come in and you know, make plays happen,
and you just get the ball in their hands plate
you know, good players will make good plays. So I
think he's up there with one of the best in
in this draft. In this draft class, all.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Right, we're gonna keep it rolling here, some rapid fire,
go about another ten minutes or so. Hit it on
the running backs, which is a deep class. We could
probably talk for for, you know, a few hours about
the running backs, and I'm interested to see. I don't
know what the record is off the top of my head,
but I think there's a good chance that this is
a you know, a record setting class just for the
(16:48):
amount of running backs that are picked. It's another guy
that his I think he didn't get as much attention
this year because Kansas struggled a little bit. They really
started picking it up as he went on. But he's
been a fun player or the past few years and
kind of the resurgence or the ascent of Kansas football.
And that's Devin Neil, the running back there five to eleven,
(17:10):
two hundred and twenty pounds, past three seasons, going over
a thousand yards in each season.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
He's been an extremely productive player.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
But I just said, you didn't really hear his name
that much this year, I think due to Kansas kind
of lack of success at least at the beginning of
the season. What are your thoughts on Neil going forward?
And another player that he did have a lot of
touches in college. He was a really productive player, but
with that comes a lot of wear and tearor how
do you kind of evaluate both of those things hand
in hand.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
Yeah, I mean that's both great points. Devin Neil is
one of my favorite running backs of this class. I
think he is going to make an impact on Sundays.
He changes speeds so well from the passing game. From
the you just get the ball in his hands. Like
we were talking about earlier, good players make good plays.
You get the ball in his hands and single handedly
(17:58):
from watching him against State put up over one hundred
yards and two touchdowns on us and beat us. He
is one of the most electric running backs in this class.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
I think he.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
Forced one hundred almost one hundred and thirty miss tackles
in the last two seasons, only two fumbles in the
last two seasons. So he protects the ball great out
of the backfield, always gets those extra yards, fights for
those extra yards in those first downs. I think he's
a mix of that Bucky Irving type and Travis Etn
I think he could. He had eight games over one
(18:29):
hundred rushing yards as well, so I think he can
definitely make an impact on Sundays.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
Bucky Irving, anytime you hear that name, I think it's
kind of an eyebrow raiser because he had an awesome
season and he was a really productive player at Oregon
by a guy that you know at Oregon.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
I feel like all the running backs historically have been
super productive but haven't really amounted too much at the
next level.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
But Bucky Irvin had a great year this year.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
I think if you if you probably looked at at
least fantasy football production over the past you know, last
seven to eight weeks of the season, he probably was
right up there with like Saquan and Jamior Gibbs as
one of his top two to three running backs off
from this past draft. So if you're able to get
a guy like Devin Neil and get Bucky Irving type production,
that would be awesome because he became a really fun
(19:15):
player to watch as well. Where do you kind of
see Devin Neil's draft stock as Irving was like a
third fourth round pick.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
Yeah, I kind of see the same, maybe even late
like fifth. With how this class is, I don't really
know how how Devin Neil because he's not I don't
think he's going to test very well. He's not the fastest,
he doesn't have that, you know, top end speed. He
can definitely improve and pass protection too, but I just
think he's such an electric player that he'll be able
(19:41):
to go into any really offense and just know his
role and make a difference. So I think he'll probably
go like fifth round, i'd say, and then you know,
at best fourth, early fourth, late third.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Yeah, that's another kind of question I wanted to post
to you as well, Like with being such a deep
class at such a good class. You know, you're really
high on gent and his ability to be a potential
superstar type of player down the road.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
But how do you view that?
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Being like, all right, if you're the Bears and you're
a team that you know, we saw last year they
had a lot of troubles, they had a lot of issues.
Is it worth it to sit there and pick gent
at ten or get a guy like Devin Neil in
like the third or fourth round.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
How do you kind of view that? Or is Jens
just such.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
A good player, like it doesn't really matter to you
where you get him. You just need to have him
on your football team.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if Genty's there when the
Bears are there and they go after him, just with
like the new with Ben Johnson coming in, we saw
how he did with Montgomery and Gibbs. I really wouldn't
be surprised if the Bears go out and get them.
But this is a class. If you do miss on
that Gente type, you are able to wait and get
you know, a productive back. And I wouldn't be surprised
(20:59):
if they, you know, take a chance if he is there.
The Bears even someone to trade up for him. I wouldn't.
I would not be surprised if Genti goes that early
and then teams to start to you know, fade off
and try to wait and see how the rest of
the draft falls.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
All right, tut on, two more before we get out
of here. I'll give you kind of your picnic.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
If you had to give like two shout outs to
guys one that's you know, another one that you feel
likes a must know, and another one another running back
that's more of a sleeper type. Give me two guys
that you would want to pick on. But before we
head out.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
Dylan Sampson's one that I want to talk about. He's,
you know, he's not very elite at really one type thing.
He's very well rounded, a good patient runner, you know,
just waiting for the blocks to set up. He had
his top ten and miss tackles for so he's another
one that is hard to bring down. It's just the
ball security with him has always been an issue. Yeah,
(21:57):
he needs to improve on that. Not really used in
the past game either or pass protection. But you know,
high motor, high effort player. I think he's someone that
he was first team All SEC put up some almost
fifteen hundred rushing yards. He's someone and we watched him
play against Kentucky. We watched him, you know, single handedly
move a pile for a touchdown again in that Kentucky,
(22:20):
So you know, he's got that high motor, high effort.
I think a team will be really excited to have
him in their backfield. And a sleeper or I guess
not really a sleeper, but someone that not really anyone's
talking about that much is Virginia Tech running back Ray
schel Toutin. He is going to kill this combine. He
is going to run out of the I think he
(22:41):
for low four threes. I think he's going to run
elite speed. Hey ad, another one of those home run
big playabilities. Whenever he touches the ball, it's just he's
another one with the ball security coughs up the ball.
I think he called like nine fumbles in the last
two seasons. I think I saw that's not good at all.
He kind of reminds me of like a Chase Brown
(23:02):
or you know, like can catch the ball out of
the backfield and once he gets the ball in space,
hard to bring him down.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Yeah, that's a that's a eye popping number nine fumbles
in the past two seasons. But if you're talented and
you can get on the field like that's even a
guy that you could potentially look to use it in
the return game as well, especially with the speed. And
we'll give one last shout out to our I mean
the you got a list here, a good list of
guys that we didn't even get to touch on, Damian Martinez,
(23:31):
Ali Gordon. But the one guy that was my favorite
player to watch it colleg football this year, Cam Scattabo.
I'm very interested to see what his opportunity looks like
at the next level. Is not an overly fast player, obviously,
he's not going to be able to mall guys run
guys over like he did at the college level to
the to the extent that he did. He probably still
will have a few nice, angry runs. But he's a
(23:52):
guy that I'm definitely gonna have a close eye on
throughout the NFL draft because he has produced game after
game and you can argue even his most impressive game
was against Texas, who was probably the most talented, the
best team that he played all year.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Yeah, I mean watching him in that game was just electric,
and he even produced he produced his whole entire career.
He was Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year when
he went to the Sacramento State first team all Big Sky.
You know, he's done his this his whole entire career.
He's a bowling ball. You gotta add three tacklers on
him at all times. Goes out there looking for contact.
He goes out there looking to hurt people. He was
(24:28):
one of only two running backs in the class with
one hundred plus for Smiths tackles and the only other
one was genty. So he's up there with those contact
balance guys that you know, it takes a whole village
to bring him down. But yeah, he's gonna be exciting
to watch, and I think in the right offense, he
could definitely make a difference.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
All right, Well that'll do it for episode two here
of Bending the Edge. This week running backs, and next
week will hit into the receivers. And you know, we
talked about how therunning backs a little bit more of
an advanced class. Interested to hear your opinions on the
receiver because I've seen, you know, a few mock drafts
that have you know, three four five going in the
first round and then some that only have one or two,
(25:11):
so a spot in this draft that's a little bit
more all over the place. But we will be back
next week here on Fox Sports the Gambler, as always,
drop a light, drop a subscribe, and we'll be back next.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
Week on Bending the Edge, talking wide receivers.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
If you can.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
Wager on it, we're talking about it.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
It's the Gambler.
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