The “Triple Take” crew takes a deeper dive into the working backs of their second take a look at the place. In this installment of this draft prospect preview by place, the Steelers Radio Network trio of Matt Williamson, Dale Lolley and Mike Prisuta give their takes on the highest prospects. If you wish to hear the audio model of “The Triple Take” click on right here.
The opinions of those Steelers Radio Network personalities don’t replicate the views of the Steelers group.
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Dale’s Take …
First Draft
5 – Tank Bigsby, Auburn (6-0, 210 lbs.)4 – Tyjae Spears, Tulane (5-10, 201 lbs.)3 – Zach Charbonnet, UCLA (6-0, 214 lbs.)2 – Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama (5-9, 199 lbs.)1 – Bijan Robinson, Texas (5-11, 215 lbs.)
After Further Review
5 – Israel Abanikanda, Pitt (5-10, 216 lbs.)4 – Tyjae Spears, Tulane (5-10, 201 lbs.)3 – Zach Charbonnet, UCLA (6-0, 214 lbs.)2 – Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama (5-9, 199 lbs.)1 – Bijan Robinson, Texas (5-11, 215 lbs.)
Analysis – This is such a deep class, however I needed to bump Bigsby for Abanikanda, who got here in larger than I anticipated on the NFL Scouting Combine. He’s a workhorse and catches the ball effectively. He additionally has breakaway pace. This class is simply very deep.
ALSO WORTH CONSIDERING
This is a extremely deep working again class with maybe as many as 12 set to be taken within the first 4 rounds. … Texas A&M’s Devon Achane posted a 4.32-second 40-yard sprint on the NFL Scouting Combine at 188 kilos. That was simply forward of Alabama’s Gibbs (4.36) and East Carolina’s Keaton Mitchell. Gibbs weighed in at 199 kilos, whereas Mitchell was 179 kilos. … At 5-9 ½, 209 kilos, Chase Brown of Illinois ran a 4.43-second 40 with a 40-inch vertical soar on the Combine. He ran for over 1,600 yards final season and simply missed the minimize for my high 5. … At 179 kilos, Kansas State’s Deuce Vaughn is not very heavy. But he is additionally 5-5. He’s thicker than many different backs on this class. Vaughn compares very effectively with former Saints and Chargers star Darren Sproles. Okay-State break up him out broad and likewise ran him between the tackles. …Kendre Miller of TCU rushed for 1,399 yards final season and nonetheless hasn’t turned 21. At 5-11, 215 kilos, he is a good-sized working again with a nostril for the tip zone (17 touchdowns in 2022).
Mike’s Take …
First Draft
5 – Tyjae Spears, Tulane (5-11, 195 lbs.)4 – Chase Brown, Illinois (5-11, 205 lbs.)3 – Devon Achane, Texas A&M (5-9, 185 lbs.)2 – Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama (5-11, 200 lbs.)1 – Bijan Robinson, Texas (6-0, 222 lbs.)
After Further Review
5 – Tyjae Spears, Tulane (5-11, 195 lbs.)4 – Chase Brown, Illinois (5-11, 205 lbs.)3 – Devon Achane, Texas A&M (5-9, 185 lbs.)2 – Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama (5-11, 200 lbs.)1 – Bijan Robinson, Texas (6-0, 222 lbs.)
ALSO WORTH CONSIDERING
UCLA’s Zach Charbonnet may simply be included within the Top 5 in what’s a crowded and proficient class behind Robinson, the clear commonplace on the place and probably the greatest gamers accessible within the draft. Charbonnet posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons on the bottom for the Bruins (1,137 and 1,359 yards) after transferring from Michigan. He averaged 7.0 yards on 195 carries and seven.2 yards from scrimmage on 232 touches in 2022 … Auburn’s Tank Bigsby led the crew in speeding thrice and in speeding TDs twice in his three seasons with the Tigers … Arizona State’s Xavien Valladay did not get an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine regardless of posting three 1,000-yard campaigns in 4 seasons at Wyoming and one with the Sun Devils on the way in which to 4,466 profession speeding yards. He has nice explosion at 6-foot and 198 kilos and has the look of a 3rd down again on the subsequent degree … Houston’s Derek Parish did not attend the Combine, both, however he is a former edge rusher (17.5 profession sacks) who performed fullback within the East-West Shrine Bowl and demonstrated a capability to catch the ball within the flat and switch upfield. He might not be the following Patrick Ricard however Parish received the Pat Tillman Award (given since 2005 to the East-West Player who exemplified character, intelligence, sportsmanship and repair on and off the sector … Northwestern’s Evan Hull earned his nickname, “The Incredible Hull,” by becoming a member of the unique 500/500 Club (913 yards speeding, 546 receiving, probably the most amongst FBS working backs, in 2022). He was the point of interest of an offense that wasn’t overflowing with skill-position choices … Kenny McIntosh of Georgia was the opposite member of the five hundred/500 Club in 2022 with 829 speeding yards and 504 receiving yards for the Bulldogs as they efficiently defended their nationwide championship. Clemson’s Travis Etienne Jr. had been the latest 500/500 working again (914 speeding, 588 receiving in 2020) previous to McIntosh and Hull. McIntosh was preceded into the NFL from the Georgia backfield by Zamir White (2022), James Cook (2021), D’Andre Swift (2020), Sony Michel (2018) and Nick Chubb (2018) … Minnesota’s Mohamed Ibrahim set Gophers profession data for speeding yards (4,668) and speeding touchdowns (53, together with 20 in 2022, one other Minnesota file and tied for probably the most in FBS).
Matt’s Take …
First Draft
5 – Zach Evans, Tennessee (5-11, 202 lbs.)4 – Devon Achane, Texas A&M (5-8 1/2, 188 lbs.)3 – Zach Charbonnet, UCLA (6-0, 214 lbs.)2 – Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama (5-9, 199 lbs.)1 – Bijan Robinson, Texas (5-11, 215 lbs.)
After Further Review
5 – Roschon Johnson, Texas (6-0, 219 lbs.)4 – Tyjae Spears, Tulane (5-10, 201 lbs.)3 – Zach Charbonnet, UCLA (6-0, 214 lbs.)2 – Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama (5-9, 199 lbs.)1 – Bijan Robinson, Texas (5-11, 215 lbs.)
Analysis – Evans and Achane actually did nothing to harm their stock. Both are extraordinarily explosive, though you should marvel how a lot of a workload Achane can deal with on the subsequent degree. Spears’ chopping capacity may be very uncommon and his soar numbers on the Combine (39″ Vertical and 10′ 5″ Broad) showcase how explosive he’s as effectively. As for Johnson, his rugged model and measurement performs very effectively on the subsequent degree. Plus, he has an intensive particular groups background.
ALSO WORTH CONSIDERING
History has taught us that after we mix a working again’s official time within the 40-yard sprint along with his weight to provide a measure of pace given his measurement, aka his “Speed Score”, we get a superb indicator of success on the subsequent degree. Last yr, the three finest on this capability had been Isiah Pacheco, Breece Hall and Kenneth Walker – all of whom had been very spectacular as rookies. A number of working backs that shined on this metric that are not listed above and may not be getting sufficient buzz embrace Tulsa’s Deneric Prince with a 4.41/40 at 216 kilos, Illinois’ Chase Brown with a 4.43/40 at 209 kilos, Louisville’s Tiyon Evans with a 4.52/40 at 225 kilos and Northwestern’s Evan Hull with a 4.47/40 at 209 kilos. In truth, Prince had the very best Speed Score of any working again this yr adopted by Gibbs and Robinson. Make certain all these working backs are in your radar.
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