Detroit Lions: Building depth at running back an offseason priority

Benny Snell, Jr.

Benny Snell is a running back from Kentucky, in the SEC, the Southeastern Conference. Snell has eclipsed 1,300 yards each of the last two years. He was named All-SEC and started 25 games. The Junior runner has declared his intention to forego his senior season and enter the draft.

Snell has good balance, decent burst, and runs with power. Although he runs a bit upright and lacks some lower body muscle, he’s an efficient runner with good vision. He’s never really been targeted as a receiver but has some similar qualities to Kerryon Johnson, who also played in the SEC.

Devin Singletary

Singletary has declared for the NFL Draft and is expected to be selected in the Top 100 players taken. “Motor”, as he’s been nicknamed, has scored 67 touchdowns at Florida Atlantic in his three years. While not a big back at 5-9, 200 pounds, 4.52 forty-yard dash, Motor has great lateral agility, balance, vision, burst, and obviously, a nose for the end zone.

Watching him, there are moments where his stop-start ability reminds me of a former Lions great. He’s not Barry, but perhaps a smaller school version that can be had later. Devin has been ultra-productive, surpassing 1,900 yards rushing as a sophomore, and never missing the 1,000 yards mark in his three years at FAU.

Singletary is considered a tough, YAC-yardage type of player. YAC refers to yards after contact, the yards the player generates after the first contact by a defender. You have to like any guy with his production and ease of fitting into the Motor City. Ahem.