2011 draft watch: Heisman winner Mark Ingram the only sure bet in class
Article By rlande.tsn on 21st July, 2010
With the college football season approaching, it's time to begin evaluating the talent pool for the 2011 draft. Sporting News draft expert Russ Lande and his team of former NFL scouts will take assess each position in the coming weeks. Next up: running backs.
Lande's take: The list of the running backs likely to be in the 2011 draft is not nearly as impressive as the quarterback class. There are some interesting prospects but no sure-fire top 10 picks after Alabama's Mark Ingram. However, with so many running backs playing a bigger role in NFL passing games, smaller guys like Penn State's Evan Royster, West Virginia's Noel Devine and Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers hold more draft value than a decade ago.
After breaking down game film all summer, here is our scouts' rankings for the top junior and senior running backs entering the college season.
* -- underclassman
1. Mark Ingram, 5-10/215, Alabama *
He is a strong and physical runner with rare instincts and vision. He is excellent at finding open spaces and making quick cuts to get through the hole. He runs with excellent body lean, gets his shoulders down to make himself a smaller target, runs through contact and gains yardage after contact. He will get downgraded by some personnel men because of his lack of elite speed, but we view him as an Emmitt Smith-like back with enough quickness and speed to be an elite NFL back.
2. DeMarco Murray, 6-1/216, Oklahoma
He is tough and competitive, consistently running through contact. Often runs upright but is improving at lowering his shoulder to deliver a blow to would-be tacklers. He shows the footwork and agility to make sharp jump-cuts and bounce runs outside. He shows the instincts to locate holes and burst through them. He has good—but not elite—speed and thus struggles to outrun defenders with the angle. He must learn to wrap up the ball better to avoid fumbling.
3. Gr...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for NFL
Lande's take: The list of the running backs likely to be in the 2011 draft is not nearly as impressive as the quarterback class. There are some interesting prospects but no sure-fire top 10 picks after Alabama's Mark Ingram. However, with so many running backs playing a bigger role in NFL passing games, smaller guys like Penn State's Evan Royster, West Virginia's Noel Devine and Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers hold more draft value than a decade ago.
After breaking down game film all summer, here is our scouts' rankings for the top junior and senior running backs entering the college season.
* -- underclassman
1. Mark Ingram, 5-10/215, Alabama *
He is a strong and physical runner with rare instincts and vision. He is excellent at finding open spaces and making quick cuts to get through the hole. He runs with excellent body lean, gets his shoulders down to make himself a smaller target, runs through contact and gains yardage after contact. He will get downgraded by some personnel men because of his lack of elite speed, but we view him as an Emmitt Smith-like back with enough quickness and speed to be an elite NFL back.
2. DeMarco Murray, 6-1/216, Oklahoma
He is tough and competitive, consistently running through contact. Often runs upright but is improving at lowering his shoulder to deliver a blow to would-be tacklers. He shows the footwork and agility to make sharp jump-cuts and bounce runs outside. He shows the instincts to locate holes and burst through them. He has good—but not elite—speed and thus struggles to outrun defenders with the angle. He must learn to wrap up the ball better to avoid fumbling.
3. Gr...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for NFL
Readers Comments
Related News
Featured Sponsors
Interested in getting MLB Tickets for this coming season? The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division. Get your New York Yankees Tickets today!
The Baltimore Orioles Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. Since 1992, the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
New York Mets Tickets: The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. The Mets are a member of the East Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Get your Minnesota Twins Tickets today!
The Toronto Blue Jays Tickets are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners Tickets are looking to be a good team this year.
Detroit Tigers Tickets: The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises.
The Philadelphia Phillies Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. One of the biggest games of the season are the Phillies Red Sox Tickets. Another long time rival in the same state is Phillies Pirates Tickets.
The Chicago White Sox Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division.
The Atlanta Braves Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in Texas, representing the Dallas-Ft.Worth metropolitan area. Get your Texas Rangers Tickets today!
San Diego Padres Tickets: The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California.
Tampa Bay Rays Tickets: The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in 1998, the club has played at Tropicana Field.
The Florida Marlins were established in 1993 as an expansion franchise, the Florida Marlins Tickets are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
San Francisco Giants Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, who currently play in the National League West Division.
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland Indians Tickets are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League.
The Baltimore Orioles Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. Since 1992, the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
New York Mets Tickets: The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. The Mets are a member of the East Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Get your Minnesota Twins Tickets today!
The Toronto Blue Jays Tickets are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners Tickets are looking to be a good team this year.
Detroit Tigers Tickets: The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises.
The Philadelphia Phillies Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. One of the biggest games of the season are the Phillies Red Sox Tickets. Another long time rival in the same state is Phillies Pirates Tickets.
The Chicago White Sox Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division.
The Atlanta Braves Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in Texas, representing the Dallas-Ft.Worth metropolitan area. Get your Texas Rangers Tickets today!
San Diego Padres Tickets: The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California.
Tampa Bay Rays Tickets: The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in 1998, the club has played at Tropicana Field.
The Florida Marlins were established in 1993 as an expansion franchise, the Florida Marlins Tickets are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
San Francisco Giants Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, who currently play in the National League West Division.
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland Indians Tickets are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League.
