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Detroit Lions NFL Combine and draft primer: Running backs

By Michael Kirkland

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 03: Running backs Leonard Fournette of LSU and Dalvin Cook of Florida State listen with a group of players during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 3, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 03: Running backs Leonard Fournette of LSU and Dalvin Cook of Florida State listen with a group of players during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 3, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Penny for your draft thoughts
SAN DIEGO, CA – SEPTEMBER 16: Rashaad Penny #20 of the San Diego State Aztecs runs past Harrison Phillips #66 and Justin Reid #8 of the Stanford Cardinal during the first half of a game at Qualcomm Stadium on September 16, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Rashaad Penny

This isn’t the first time I have written about Penny. I’m not going to try to hide it, I really like him. Behind Barkley, and maybe Michel or Guice, I’ll take Penny any Sunday.

Penny has great size, 5-11, 224, and although lacking ideal deep speed looks the part of an NFL starter. The San Diego State product’s production was nothing short of amazing, too. His 2,248 rushing yards is the fifth most EVER in a CFB season. He was not abused over four seasons due to Donnel Pumphrey, the starter the prior year, getting most of the work.

Many scouts will look at how many carries a running back received in college as a measure of how worn out he is, which bodes well for Penny. Although older than many prospects, he has taken less carries than many, 613, while some prospects have over 1,000.

Very smooth, quick, and capable of breaking big plays if you watched the Senior Bowl. Penny’s 4.52 expected forty is not record-setting but as long as he tests well in the 10 & 20 yard measures, his speed is undeniable. Rashaad is also a capable receiver, even though he did not do a lot of receiving in college.

Combine talk

It will be important for him to do well in position drills, receiving, and agility drills. This will show scouts that his lesser college opponents are not telling about his ability to be an effective NFL runner. Pass protection drills may unveil that he needs work stopping blitzers.

I expect him to move up scout’s draft boards after another chance to show off what he can do. Penny is slated to be taken in the second round, but could work himself into the first round conversation with a strong Combine and pro day.

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