Drafting a running back in the first round has become taboo in recent years, but that shouldn’t affect Ezekiel Elliott in the 2016 NFL draft. Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon were each top-15 picks in the 2015 draft, and Elliott might be a better prospect than both of them.
If you watched Ohio State’s run to the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship this past season, you probably already know that Elliott is a special talent. While Cardale Jones became an instant sensation after replacing injured starter J.T. Barrett at quarterback, the true star of Ohio State’s offense during its title run was Elliott, who ran for 696 yards and eight touchdowns in the Buckeyes’ final three games alone.
If Elliott can continue to produce at that level for the entirety of his upcoming junior season, the man they call “EZE” should be a top-10 pick in the 2016 NFL draft, assuming he declares.
Elliott = The Complete Running Back?
Elliott has just about all the traits NFL scouts covet at the running back position, and that starts with his combination of size, speed and power. At 6’0” and 225 pounds, Elliott has both the strength to run through defenders and the acceleration to run away from them.
While Elliott might not be considered a true power back—especially when compared to the 2015 NFL draft’s other top running back prospects, Alabama’s Derrick Henry and Pittsburgh’s James Conner—he has…
Continue Reading: Meet Ezekiel Elliott, the 2016 NFL Draft’s Top RB Heading into Next Season
