2015 Draft
Running Back
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1	Melvin Gordon	RB	x	Wisconsin	4.52	6010	215	1
Comparerd to Reggie Bush only bigger and stronger. Elite in balance and acceleration within the context of having a well-rounded skill-set...Good but not outstanding overall athleticism with average power. Unproven as a pass catcher. "Goes from zero to 60 in a flash. PFDG - "...arguably, the nost talenteds back ever to come out of the University of Wisconsin." Sticks his foot in the ground and hits top speed in an eyelash. Not a pile-pusher (runs a bit high),..Elite acceleration and vision...Once he gets up to speed in the pro passing game, he figures to be a very good 3-down RB. Brandt (Pro Day) - "Stood on his combine numbers, but he worked out and looked pretty good catching the ball. Gordon's running style, along with his improvement as a receiver, reminds me a little of Jamaal Charles, the former Texas running back who is now a star for the Kansas City Chiefs. Gordon is likely to be a first-round pick, and I think he'll be a very good player in the NFL." Combine - VJ: 35.0; BJ: 10-6; 3C: 7.04; 20S: 4.07; 60S: 11.00
2	Todd Gurley	RB	x	Georgia	est. 4.52	6010	222	x
If he was injury-free, he'd be a Top 5 prospect regsrdless of position. Built for the NFL...runs with a low pad-level along with natural balance, power and momentum. Compared to Marshawn Lynch, Torn ACL a major red flag. PFDG - ACL injury...elite talent if healthy..."If he comes all the way back from the torn ACL, he'll be special." Brandt (Pro Day) -"...not among those who were able to work out. Gurley had ACL surgery in late November, and neither the player or his trainer know when the running back will be able to work out." Combine - BP: 17; NA
3	Jay Ajayi	RB	x	Boise St.	4.57	6000	221	x
Long-ball threat in the open field. Quick-footed, nimble and able to play at 100mph under control. Nice size - Bulked up/runs hard but lacks elite tackle-breaking power. PFDG - Big dude with power, speed and deceptively nimble feet......ball-security issue. Brandt (Pro Day) - "stood on his numbers from the NFL Scouting Combine, where he was a top performer among running backs in the vertical jump, broad jump, 20-yard short shuttle and 60-yard shuttle. At Boise State's pro day, Ajayi had an outstanding workout. He was really quick in his routes and cuts. He is a good receiver out of the backfield.
Combine - VJ: 39.0; BJ: 10-1; 3C: 7.10; 20S: 4.10; 60S: 11.10
4	Duke Johnson	RB	x	Miami (FL)	4.54	5090	207	x
Very good acceleration...notable stiff-arm, but may be limited by size to be a 3-down pro back with inside power. PFDG - "Explosive, undersized and injury prone." Compact, creative...can make taklers miss, but has durability issues. Brandt (Pro Day) - NA Combine - VJ: 33.5; BJ: 10-1;
5	Mike Davis	RB	x	South Carolina	4.52	5090	217	x
Built like a fireplug. Compact, tightly put-together frame and unique combo of burst, agility and power...but wore down late in the season. (Will he do the same thing in the pros)? PFDG - "Bowling ball" qwho runs with low COG; a little bit of Maurice Jones Drew in him...production fell off between 2013 to last year and makes him a bit risky - but could lead a RB by committee crew. Brandt (Pro Day) - "Ran the 40 in 4.52 seconds. He had a 35 1/2-inch vertical jump, and stood on the rest of his numbers from the NFL Scouting Combine. Davis also had a good positional workout, catching the ball really well out of the backfield." Combine - VJ: 34.0; BJ: 9-81; 3C: 7.00; 20S: 4.18; 60S: 11.65
6	Cameron Artis-Payne	RB	x	Auburn	4.53	5010	212	x
Older (JUCO background) but with plenty of tread left . One-step, plant & cut type back. Rang says has the lateral burst and flexible ankles to knife through holes. Not very instinctive as a runner. Lacks elite speed, power and a home-run gear. PFDG - Compact RB with very good lateral skills and some juke...projects as a rotational RB on early downs. Brandt (Pro Day) - "..stood on his combine numbers. He had a good positional workout, catching the ball well out of the backfield. Artis-Payne was a junior-college transfer from Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, Calif. The 2014 season was his only one as a full-time starter for Auburn, but he posted the third-best rushing season in school history with 1,608 yards." Combine - VJ: 36.5; BJ: 9-10; 3C: 7.13;
7	Karlos Williams	RB	x	Florida State	4.48	6010	230	x
Looks dynamite on paper with eye-opening size, power and straight-line speed. But seems much more comfortable running outside the tackles than he does sticking his nose in the propellor blades. PFDG - Stands out as a pass catcher who can even flex out as a TE...but may be limited to a big-back/H-back role on passing downs. Brandt (Pro Day) - "...had a good positional workout, catching the ball well out of the backfield." (Note Brandt lists him at 6033 229). Combine - VJ: 33.5; BJ: 9-9; 3C: 7.16; 20S: 4.46
8	Matt Jones	RB	x	Florida	4.61	6020	231	xx
Looks like a product of Central Casting - nice size, well-built frame, good power when he runs low. But a bit one-dimensional as a downhill runner with good power but not as nimble as you might like. Needs significant work on pass pro. PFDG - Nice upside with raw skills...potential starter in a one-cut system, but would start out as an inexperienced 2-down RB. Brandt (Pro Day) - NA Combine - VJ: 31.5; BJ: 9-4;
9	Tevin Coleman	RB	x	Indiana	xx	5110	206	xx
Cards brought him in. Narrow frame but runs with good body strength and an attitude. Pad level too often a bit high. PFDG - Bell cow with medical questions...Well-rounded big back and tackle-breaker who's very good in the passing game but durability issues make him a risky 1st round option.. Brandt (Pro Day) - NA Combine - Hand: 8.6; BP: 22
10	Ameer Abdullah	RB	x	Nebraska	4.60	5090	205	x
Kind of small for what the Cards figure to be looking for. Runs tougher than he looks and with a low pad-level. Leaner than ideal. Ball security a potential issue. PFDG - No workhorse (Compares to Ellington)...Smooth and instinctive but undersized....but plays bigger than size. Brandt (Pro Day) - "...ran the 40-yard dash in 4.54 and 4.53 seconds. He stood on the rest of his numbers from the combine, where he was a top performer among running backs in the vertical jump, broad jump, three-cone drill, 20-yard short shuttle and 60-yard shuttle. Abdullah did a really good job in the positional drills. He was really quick and caught the ball extremely well out of the backfield...." Combine - VJ: 42.5; BJ: 10-10; 3C: 6.79; 20S: 3.95; 60S: 11.18
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