1) Rashaad Penny – San Diego State
Penny not only has good size (5’11”, 224 lbs), but is incredibly productive with 2,248 yards and a 7.8 yard per carry average. He is also extremely versatile.
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The biggest knock on him is his speed. This is why some of the experts feel he may fall as far as the fourth round or possibly lower, even though his production screams one of the top backs in the draft.
It will be interesting to see how well he performs at the NFL Combine this weekend in the 40 yard dash. If he puts up a 4.5 or better, then this kid will dramatically improve his stock since everyone knows that he can run, catch and return kicks.
While I will be as interested as anyone else to see what his time is, my mind is already made up after his strong showing in the Senior Bowl. He was explosive, made plays and, oh yeah, no one was able to catch him when he turned that short pass into a 73-yard score.
If the other participants are considered legitimate NFL prospects and they can’t catch him, then regardless of his 40 time, his game speed is good enough.