By: John Walker, @realjohnwalker
SteelerNation.com
The offseason is officially underway for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and one area that the team will focus on improving is their anemic rushing attack. So exactly how do the Steelers go about fixing their broken running game? Well, although that answer is much more complicated than just getting a new ball carrier, it is in fact one of the pieces to the puzzle with James Conner set to become a free agent. So since the Steelers will undoubtedly be looking to add to their running back room in the upcoming NFL Draft, let’s take an extended look at some potential targets by breaking down the 9 prospects in attendance at this year’s Senior Bowl.
Chris Evans - Michigan
Height: 5’10 7/8”
Weight: 219 Pounds
Wingspan: 78”
A potential late round pick, Evans perhaps is the biggest question mark in the running back group in Mobile. He has the build and intangibles to be a three down back in the NFL, but unfortunately for him, he never really developed at Michigan. His best year in Ann Arbor came back in 2017 when he rushed for 685 yards with 6 touchdowns, and added 16 catches for 157 yards and an additional touchdown. Evans then took on a reduced role in 2018, was suspended the entire 2019 season with an academic issue, and took a backseat role in his final year at Michigan. In his senior season as a Wolverine he finished with an uninspiring 73 yards and 1 touchdown on just 16 carries, and added 87 yards on 9 receptions in a limited season.
Evans is among one of the most to gain during Senior Bowl week. Despite a severely underwhelming last couple of years to his collegiate career, he’s an interesting day 3 prospect who can possibly add value to a team as a pass catcher out of the backfield. He once played cornerback and slot receiver and it’s shown on tape despite not on a stat sheet recently. Evans was used in multiple ways in the passing game and lined up all over for the Wolverines. He’s got enough speed, but his quickness and cutting ability is what makes him effective. It also benefits him that he’s shown willingness to block. He needs to work on his vision and too often just relied on physical ability to make things happen. This opportunity for Evans will be very beneficial to him to showcase he has the ability to be the player he flashed as a few years ago. He is looking to answer a lot of questions this week in Mobile.
Elijah Mitchell - Louisiana
Height: 5’10 1/4”
Weight: 215 Pounds
Wingspan: 76 5/8”
Another prospect who figures to be a day 3 pick. He’s got the build to handle a major workload, but likely would be much better off in a committee where he’s sharing the touches. He’s quicker than he appears, but he doesn’t show an ability to make defenders whiff in open space often enough. He’s a strong north-south runner with decent contact balance, but he definitely needs to find consistency in that area. Despite heavily sharing the workload at Louisiana, his final year as a Ragin Cajun was quite a productive one. He racked up 878 yards and 8 TD’s off of 141 carries. All of his receiving work came on short routes, but his ability to pick up yards after the catch resulted in 153 yards on 16 catches. Mitchell can carve himself out a nice role in his rookie season if he lands with the right team, and needs to improve as a blocker to become a more complete back.
Kylin Hill - Mississippi State
Height: 5’10 3/8”
Weight: 214 pounds
Wingspan: 73”
With a solid showing at the Senior Bowl and all other pre-draft activities, Hill can possibly find himself as a late day 2 pick in this year’s draft. He’s coming off a season with a very limited body of work due to his decision to opt out after playing only 3 games for the Bulldogs. Hill was coming off a great season in 2019 where he went for 1,350 yards and 10 touchdowns on 242 carries. He also offers nice upside in the passing game as well, and in his three game stint in 2020, set a career high in receptions (23) and receiving yards (237). He’s a hammer. He plays a physical style and is looking to finish every run by lowering his shoulder, perhaps to a fault. Hill needs to limit the hits he takes at times instead of looking for the violent collision every time he touches the ball. He doesn’t have breakaway speed and also needs to work on his vision. He can see a hole and hit it, but will rely heavily on the blocking to open up his holes. His physical style also leaves reason to be optimistic about his growth in pass protection. This week in Mobile will be a big week for Hill to remind everyone of what he’s capable of.
Larry Rountree III - Missouri
Height: 5’10 3/4”
Weight: 216 Pounds
Wingspan: 73 1/2”
Rountree is likely another day 3 pick, but I’d keep the door open on a possible late day 2 selection if his offseason is strong enough. He’s a high character guy (team captain at Missouri) with a ton of athletic ability. His most productive season with the Tigers came back in 2018, but he still put together 2 solid seasons to follow it. Rountree offers much more as a runner than a pass catcher, and is coming off a season where he went for 972 yards and 14 touchdowns on 209 carries. He lacks that coveted breakaway speed to run away from defenders. Its decent, but his effectiveness largely comes from his quick feet and explosiveness. He’s agile, has nice vision, and possesses the ability to make would be tacklers miss in space with quick cuts. Rountree isn’t a bruiser, but has shown the ability to occasionally win a physical battle. He needs a lot of work in the receiving game. He doesn’t offer much in that department which has become an area of high importance for today’s NFL running backs. Rountree should make a nice rotational piece at the next level.
Michael Carter - North Carolina
Height: 5’7 7/8”
Weight: 202 Pounds
Wingspan: 73 1/2”
Carter is another player that can potentially find himself taken on the back end of day 2. While he doesn’t necessarily have a high top end speed, he gets to his top speed quickly. He’s extremely agile and shifty, and his elusiveness makes him one of the more explosive running backs in this draft once he gets space. Getting him into that space is going to be important for his production. Being such a small guy, he’s not going to break many tackles in the hole. If defenses hit him behind the line of scrimmage, they can shut him down before he gets going. He does offer nice versatility as a receiver. His ability to move laterally so smoothly makes him a threat out of the backfield that any offensive minded coach would love to have in their arsenal. He’s coming off an electric season for the Tar Heels where he was part of one of the most dynamic duos in college football alongside Javonte Williams. Carter rushed for 1,245 yards and 8 touchdowns, while adding 267 yards and a score on 25 receptions. He would be a nice luxury pick for an offense that can afford one.
Trey Sermon - Ohio State
Height: 6’0 1/4”
Weight: 213 Pounds
Wingspan: 79”
Sermon is an interesting prospect. He likely will be a day 3 pick, but may have more upside as a lead-duty back than most running backs in this draft class. His recent performances amid Ohio State’s playoff run have certainly made his stock rise. The Buckeyes played a limited schedule, but 331 of his 870 yards came in the B1G 10 Championship Game alone. Between that game and the following Sugar Bowl, Sermon showed why he needed to be raised on draft boards. While he lacks getaway speed and hasn’t yet shown he offers anything in the passing game, his ability as a pure runner for his size makes him an intriguing player. His vision is his strong suit. The ability to see the holes open up combined with his smooth agility helps his game a ton. He also uses that aforementioned size well. He runs hard, and that 6’1, 213 pound frame makes it tough for defenders to bring him down. Unfortunately a shoulder injury early in the National Championship Game will prevent Sermon from playing in the Senior Bowl.
Khalil Herbert - Virginia Tech
Height: 5’8 7/8”
Weight: 204 Pounds
Wingspan: 71 3/4”
One of the more unheralded running back prospects at the Senior Bowl, Herbert is another projected day 3 pick who can rise with a strong showing this offseason. He jumped on the NFL radar after his lone season at Virginia Tech. He rumbled for 1,183 yards and 8 touchdowns on 155 carries. He added a little in the passing game and finished the season with 10 receptions for 179 yards and 1 touchdown. He doesn’t have ideal size or acceleration, and he doesn’t move very well laterally. But he has above average top end speed and can be lethal once in space. Herbert’s patience and vision both benefit him a ton. So does his willingness to block despite his lack of size. I like his chances of being a solid change of pace back in the NFL. He needs to offer more in the passing game if he wants to rise further up the draft boards. This week in Mobile will give him that exact opportunity.
Rhamondre Stevenson - Oklahoma
Height: 5’11 5/8”
Weight: 227 Pounds
Wingspan: 75”
The Sooner joins the rest of the crowded running back group as a likely early day 3 pick in the upcoming draft. Stevenson is a powerful back that has a solid mixture of burst to go along with it. He’s coming off of a season where he only played 6 games because of a suspension due to a failed THC test. He still performed well and went for 665 yards and 7 touchdowns on 101 carries. His intangibles really compliment each other well. He’s tough for defenders to bring down, he’s light on his feet, and has decent speed for his size. Stevenson isn’t going to make many guys miss, but has the ability to win those battles with physicality. He won’t win many foot races either, but he’s deceptively explosive and should prove well as a nice chain mover or short yardage back at the next level. I also like his potential to excel in pass protection with more work. If Stevenson can improve in the passing game, he can potentially earn himself a nice role on a team that likes to be physical offensively.
Najee Harris - Alabama
Height: 6’1 7/8”
Weight: 230 Pounds
Wingspan: 81”
The star of the class. The two-time National Champion and reigning Doak Walker Award winner, Harris is the prospect that every team needing a running back is excited about. There’s a real chance he goes on day 1, but in the event that he doesn’t, he won’t be sitting around on day 2 for very long. He’s got great size complimented with an equal amount of explosiveness. He may lack breakaway speed and won’t pull away from defenders. But still, there’s plenty to love about Harris. He’s a battering ram that can power through several tackles with a burst that’s uncommon for his size. What truly makes him an elite prospect is the fact he also excels in the passing game both as a receiving threat and blocker. He’s the most well rounded and complete back in this class, and besides fatigue there wouldn’t be any need for him to come off the field in any given situation. Harris is coming off of an insane season at Alabama where he rushed for 1,466 yards and a jaw dropping 26 touchdowns for the Crimson Tide. He also added 425 yards and 4 touchdowns on 43 receptions. Harris should contribute immediately at the next level.
So now its your turn, Steeler Nation. Are any of these running backs ones you’d like to see in a Steelers uniform? Sound off in the comment section below!
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