2024 NFL Draft: The Running Back Class

[Iggloo]

240 and he can't pass protect.

Again, most college backs can't pass protect. Only in the NFL do many of them have to really learn pass protection and blitz pickup.

So what scouts need to determine sometimes is whether they think a guy has the willingness to learn to pass block, or whether he is too much of a diva to do it.

Once thing I saw from my years watching Philly is that a good RB coach can teach most any back to pass protect, even if the back is not very large, as long as they want to learn. Duce Staley when he was the Eagles coach taught Brian Westbrook and a bunch of smaller guys to become pretty good at this. Kenny Gainwell, another smaller current Eagles back, is probably their best RB pass blocker.

Same is kind of true with TEs. Most good pro prospect TEs have rarely had to block in college because they were often the main passing weapon for their teams. Brent Celek, another Philly example, was a terrible pass blocker at first, but by the end of his career was a blocking TE in the Super Bowl.

 

[WNY_FOOTBALL_DUDE]

Going to add two more running back prospects to the list. ESPN has MarShawn Lloyd as the 3rd best running back in the class. CBS Sports has Will Shipley as the 4th best.

MarShawn Lloyd
- 23 years old. Will be 24, next January.
- 5'9, 210 pounds
- Played for South Carolina between 2020 and 2022, and then transferred to USC in 2023
- Missed his 2020 college football season due to a torn ACL.
- For the 2023 season, he had 820 rushing yards, 9 touchdowns (all rushing), and averaged 7.1 yards per carry.
Game highlights
Edge of Philly Sports take on his NFL projection

Will Shipley
- 21 years old. Will be in 22 at the end of August
- 5'11, 220 pounds
- Played for the Clemson Tigers between 2021 and 2023.
- Named First-Team All-American and All-ACC in 2022.
- In his last 26 starts, he averaged 77 yards per game, scored 22 touchdowns (2 rushing), and averaged 5.3 yards per carry.
Edge of Philly Sports
Game Highlights

We will see what happens at the Combine, but all of the big boards I have seen, only had 8 running backs which touched the top 100 list. Lloyd and Shipley are the more receiving friendly of the RB prospects.

 

[Clayton]

Not sure how much stock to put into this but Brett Kollman said Isaac Guerendo out of Louisville is a sleeper. His stock is UDFA but he says NFL people sure know who he is. Probably the type of guy that gets picked up in rd6-7.

 

[WNY_FOOTBALL_DUDE]

Not sure how much stock to put into this but Brett Kollman said Isaac Guerendo out of Louisville is a sleeper. His stock is UDFA but he says NFL people sure know who he is. Probably the type of guy that gets picked up in rd6-7.

Never heard of him. I will check him out. Lets see how he does at the combine. If he's as good as Kollman claims, he should be a Combine winner.

Just as a heads up, we have a prospect named Sione Vaki out of Utah. He's seen as both a DB and a RB. I am going to place him in the Safety Class. So don't worry, we will get to him.

Combine Running Backs

 

[shopson67]

Not sure how much stock to put into this but Brett Kollman said Isaac Guerendo out of Louisville is a sleeper. His stock is UDFA but he says NFL people sure know who he is. Probably the type of guy that gets picked up in rd6-7.

The profiles I've seen certainly read more like a day 2 or early day 3 prospect than a UDFA.

 

[WNY_FOOTBALL_DUDE]

Ray Davis
- Full name is Re'Mahn Walter Zhamar Jamar Davis
- 24 years old. Will be 25 in November.
- 5'10, 216 pounds
- Played for Temple (2019-2020), Vanderbilt (2021-2022), and Kentucky (2023)
- Named First-Team All-SEC in 2023
- In his last 25 games, he scored 19 touchdowns (14 in 2023), averaged 87 yards per game, and 5.1 yards per carry.

 

[shopson67]

Ray Davis
- Full name is Re'Mahn Walter Zhamar Jamar Davis
- 24 years old. Will be 25 in November.
- 5'10, 216 pounds
- Played for Temple (2019-2020), Vanderbilt (2021-2022), and Kentucky (2023)
- Named First-Team All-SEC in 2023
- In his last 25 games, he scored 19 touchdowns (14 in 2023), averaged 87 yards per game, and 5.1 yards per carry.

I'm going to call him Zammer-Jammer lol. Rolls off the tongue...

 

[WNY_FOOTBALL_DUDE]

I'm going to call him Zammer-Jammer lol. Rolls off the tongue...

I like it. Zammer-Jammer or Zam. It is refreshing to see a RB prospect who can catch the ball.

 

[shopson67]

I like it. Zammer-Jammer or Zam. It is refreshing to see a RB prospect who can catch the ball.

Zam-Jam, etc lol.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Guerendo 4.33 (at 221 is insane)
Benson 4.39
Kelian Robinson 4.42
Lloyd 4.46
Corum 4.53, 4.58

 

[Shanemansj13]

The guy I was waiting for Jalen Wright. He is a freak. 4.44 on his first shot but he didn’t get a good jump. I think he can get in the 4.3’s

I think Kamara is a good comparison

 

[Southieinnc]

11.

Dylan Laube, RB, New Hampshire
Height: 6-1. Weight: 225.
Projected 40 Time: 4.55.
Projected Round (2024): 3-5.
2/24/24: In 2023, Laube averaged 4.5 yards per carry for 715 yards and nine touchdowns. He showed impressive receiving ability as well, recording 68 catches for 699 yards and seven scores. His best season came as a junior, when he averaged 4.9 yards per carry for 1,205 yards and 15 touchdowns. He caught 49 passes that season for 464 yards and two scores too. Laube is put together nicely and could rise if he works out well before the 2024 NFL Draft.

 

[Clayton]

The profiles I've seen certainly read more like a day 2 or early day 3 prospect than a UDFA.

Probably rd3-4 at this point. Whenever the RB run happens, I suspect he'll be in it

 

[WNY_FOOTBALL_DUDE]

Jaylen Wright
- 6'0, 215 pounds
- Will be 21 years old on April 1st
- Played for the Tennessee Volunteers between 2021 and 2023
- Projected as a 3rd to 4th round prospect.
- In his last 25 games, he had 14 touchdowns (all rushing, 0 receiving), averaged 76 rushing yards per game, and 6.7 yards per carry.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

My overall take on the RB class is they're kinda flying under the radar with respect to the draft. There's some serious talent in this group, but the position as a whole has lost a ton of stature when it comes the draft and even more so in free agency.

 

[Clayton]

My overall take on the RB class is they're kinda flying under the radar with respect to the draft. There's some serious talent in this group, but the position as a whole has lost a ton of stature when it comes the draft and even more so in free agency.

I think part of the issue is that Jonathan Brooks got hurt. He'd probably be looked at as a top 50 talent if he could go through the whole process healthy.

Jaylen Wright clocked in with MPHs higher than Achane and Gibbs from last year. Could end up being a lot like Achane in the right system.

There are definitely going to be starters in this class.

 

[molsaniceman]

Florida State RB Trey Benson ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.
Benson checked in at six feet tall and weighed 216 pounds. The former Seminole’s 4.39 ranked as the third-fast time amongst all backs, while his 9.77 RAS is elite for the overall position. Considered by some to be the top back of the class, Benson’s strong showing at the combine could be enough to earn him early Day 2 draft capital and a chance to contribute early in the season.

 

[Schmoopy1000]

Trey Benson (FSU) should be in this list IMO.

just saw some highlights from Trey Benson on the NFL Network.
They all were talking the typical size, speed, blah blah blah.
What I am curious about. Does he fumble the ball? Watching how he carries the ball even in the open field, reminded me of the late career of Tiki Barber. Ball is always tucked & you cant get to the point of the ball at all. (very good form) I would think he takes care of the ball very well.
Young tiki was a fumble magnet, he is the only player I know of that actually fixed his fumblitis & became one of the best at taking care of the ball. Benson looked just like this. Ball tucked at all times.

Any draft gurus know if this is true? Does this guy take care of the ball?