2007 DRAFT PROSPECT PROFILES: RBs

(Ed note: Players not necessarily listed in order of grade)

Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma… 6-1, 220, 4.42, JR... Arguably one of the best pure players in college football. Missed much of 2006 season after breaking his collarbone, but when healthy, Peterson is the whole package with size, speed, strength, plus a bit of an attitude on the field. Powerful 220-pounder who makes a lot of yardage after contact; also has a burst with a reported 40 clocking in the low 4.4 range; also has been timed as low as 10.6 running the 100M. Still more of a north-south runner who isn’t particularly nifty, but runs with good vision and patience; makes one sharp cut and goes with an explosive first step. A tough and determined runner who is tough to tackle; can bounce to the outside and is dangerous and elusive in the open field. Not the most technically sound blocker, but will put on a hat on pass-rushers. Has close to 4,000 career rushing yards, including over 1,000 yards through the first half of this season during which Peterson averaged 150 yards per game and 5.3 yards per carry despite the fact that opposing defenses have been stacked to stop the run because the Sooners don’t have much of a passing attack. Not asked to catch the ball very often in the OU offense and doesn’t have great hands but moves well in space and is a threat to go a long way when he gets the ball in the open. Only real negative is that Peterson tends to run too upright and takes more big hits than he needs to; indeed, Peterson has had some health problems even prior to the collarbone injury this fall; had a nagging ankle injury in 2005; he also had off-season shoulder surgery after his freshman year.


Marshawn Lynch, California… 5-10, 223, 4.45, JR… Potential elite back was the Pac 10 offensive player of the year after rushing for 1,400 yards during his junior season despite playing on a couple of sprained ankles pretty much all year; averaged 6.6 yards per carry during his career. Came to Cal as a 200-pound scatback, but has bulked up to over 220 pounds; tough north-south runner with excellent lateral agility; can make those quick cuts and be headed back upfield with speed again in an instant; not a power back but runs hard and with a low center of gravity; tough to tackle; expected to post a decent 40 clocking in the mid-4.4 range, but isn't a true burner, although he does have enough speed to break long runs as he has a quick upfield burst and hits the seam hard; will make people miss in the open field and isn’t often caught from behind; patient runner who can find the hole and will use blockers; decent receiver who had 68 career receptions, including 34 in 2006, but its an area of his game that needs some refinement; wasn’t asked to block much at Cal but will put a hat on people, although he is not all that technically sound blocking; durability is still something of a question as he was dinged on occasion at California; in addition to the 2006 ankle problems, missed three games in 2005 with a wrist injury and has had some hamstring problems. There have also been some off-field questions regarding Lynch; there are rumblings that he is not the hardest worker in college football; he was also involved in a messy domestic situation earlier this winter but no charges were filed. Summary: Talented player with the potential to be a consistent Pro Bowler who should be the second back off the board this April, but may drop into the middle of the first round because of concerns about durability and work ethic.

Michael Bush, Louisville, 6-2, 250, 4.60, SR… Bush passed up the chance to be a mid-round pick at the 2006 draft in order to enhance his status with a strong senior campaign with the Cardinals, but it didn’t work out as he missed virtually the entire year after breaking his leg in Louisville’s season-opener. When healthy though was one of the nation’s most productive backs featuring a rare combination of size, speed and athleticism. Ran for over 1,100 yards in 2005 when he averaged 5.6 yards per attempt and scored 23 TDs. Big back at 6-2, 250, although he is still more of a finesse runner who can make people miss; also is a patient runner with good instincts who uses his blockers well; has the size to move the pile and is a good shortage runner, but is not a true between-the-tackles grinder as he tends to pick his way through the line rather than just slamming it inside; is also an effective cutback runner working the perimeter. Excellent athlete who was a star high school QB who can throw the halfback option. Also a very good receiver with 49 career receptions. Not a technically sound blocker but will get in the way of pass rushers. Big question for Bush is whether he can stay healthy; tends to run a little high and takes a lot of hits; indeed, in addition to this year’s injury, Bush also missed the final two games of the 2005 campaign with a sprained foot and sat out spring practice the previous year with a broken foot. Also not known as a workout warrior; is probably 15-20 pounds overweight and has a soft body. Summary: Bush has the skill set to be an every-down back in the pros. However, he needs to take conditioning more seriously plus he’ll have to work to keep his pads down at the next level; health status will play a major impact on Bush’s ultimate draft grade, but if he checks out at pre-draft workouts will get some long looks by NFL teams early on the first day at the 2007 draft.

Garrett Wolfe, Northern Illinois… 5-7, 182, 4.45, SR… Arguably the most explosive back in the country, NIU’s Little Big Man came within a whisker of breaking the 2,000 yard mark for the season as he finished the season with 1,928 yards. Wolfe has great vision and quickness to the hole; also has fluid hips and an explosive first step; can find the crease and has enough speed – he runs the 40 in the 4.45 range - to take it all the way when he breaks clear; patient, instinctive runner who does a nice job setting up blocks; elusive back who makes people miss in the open field; also a very good receiver with soft hands who had 28 receptions this fall; also a willing blocker but because of lack of size can be overrun. Indeed, there are major concerns about Wolfe’s lack of size, as well as durability questions. In fact, while he has good strength and toughness for a player that size he just isn’t that physical at the point of attack and likely will never be a prototype between-the-tackles runner at the next level; also has a lengthy injury history: missed three games in 2005 with a sprained knee and missed spring practice this year after having surgery to repair a shoulder which kept popping out; then was forced to leave the Senior Bowl early because of a hamstring problem; will be looked as a potential special teamer, but has never been used much in the return game at NIU. Summary: Super productive college back, but lack of size means he likely won’t be drafted until late in the first day and will have to find a role as a 3^rd down back, situational runner and return man.

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