The running backs group kicked off the third day of the NFL Combine, and like most position groups, only about half of the eligible prospects participated in measured testing or on-field drills. But some of the top prospects did take the field, and there were a handful of standout running backs that showed very well.
The Notre Dame duo of Jeremiyah Price (4.36-second 40-yard-dash) and Jadarian Price (4.5) stole the show, but because they are expected to be the first two backs selected in the draft,
they likely won’t be in the Detroit Lions’ range for value and need.
Of the five prospects whom we declared “winners”, three were featured in our running backs Combine preview article, along with two other backs who weren’t in our preview for entirely opposite reasons. Here’s the top running backs the Lions were hoping paying close attention too.
Mike Washington, Arkansas (6-foot-1, 223)
Washington has been a favorite of POD this offseason, checking in as the top back to watch at the Senior Bowl, and was at the top of the list in our Combine preview. A big and powerful back, Washington would answer a lot of long-term questions the Lions have—including being a safe guard against the David Montgomery situation falling the wrong way. The buzz surrounding him of late has been that of a rising prospect, and then he ran a 4.33 40-yard-dash, jumped 39 inches vertically, and landed a 10-foot-8 broad jump, all at 233 pounds (!), which should very likely end up pushing him even higher up draft boards.
Emmett Johnson (5-foot-10, 202)
Johnson wasn’t on our Combine preview list simply because he’s been slotted as RB3 this offseason, but the rise of Washington and a few others has loosened things up a bit. Despite his 4.56 40-yard dash being the slowest in the group, that’s not a bad time for Johnson and his playing style, and his 35.5-inch vertical jump and 10-foot broad jump point to his explosive nature.
In on-field drills, Johnson exploded at the snap of every drill, jumping out of his stance, and attacked the drills with a downhill mentality. While he was a tick unbalanced when making his cuts at top speed, he was powerful in his movements, showed strong hands, and once he secured the catch, he turned and got upfield in a hurry. His playing style would be a nice match with the Lions’ scheme and playstyle, but I’m not sure he makes it to Day 3.
Desmond Claiborne, Wake Forest (5-foot-10, 188)
Claiborne has been featured in our East-West Shrine Bowl preview and Combine previews due to his speed, which he showed off in the 40-yard-dash, running in an impressive 4.37 seconds. That speed translated onto the field during drills, as he showed great recognition-and-reaction skills, exploded laterally, and maintained his speed throughout the day. Claiborne showed he is willing to press the line and trust his speed, did a nice job of selling cut routes, was crisp during cuts, and was clean out of his breaks. He confirmed his tape and is likely in contention to be a top-five back in this class.
J’Mari Taylor, Virginia (5-foot-10, 199)
Taylor is a compact and explosive runner who didn’t participate in measured testing but was skilled in on-field drills. Taylor attacked downhill, showing power in his feet and the ability to stay square and balanced when setting up his cuts. He only has average lateral agility, and he didn’t look overly comfortable in deep routes, but his underneath routes were clean, and he showed the ability to get low and power out.
Jam Miller, Alabama (5-foot-10, 209)
When scouting this draft class running backs group, Miller flashed at times, but he ended up just missing the cut. He’d immediately make me regret leaving him off my watchlist, as he showed the athleticism behind those flash plays is there. Everything Miller did was solid and repeatable, pointing to a foundation that is developable, making him a sleeper Day 3 pick with high-value upside.
Miller ran a 4.42 40-yard-dash in measured testing and attacked the on-field drills. He showed quick feet, explosive movement in his jump cuts, lateral quickness, and the ability to get low in cuts and explode out into his routes. His open-field cuts were executed at speed and without throttling down (as most backs do), then closed out with solid hands. I’d like him to sell his Texas route more before the cut—because he has the chops for it—but he was smooth in his option-angle route, effortlessly cut inside (similarly to Texas), and secured the catch at full speed.
