The 2022 Senior Bowl rosters continue to be filled out, and the running backs the Detroit Lions will have on their roster have been announced.
As the Detroit Lions coaching staff prepares to coach in the Senior Bowl in a couple weeks, the rosters for the event are being unveiled. On the American team roster they’ll get the closest look at during the week, the Lions already know the quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends they’ll have.
On Sunday, the Senior Bowl announced the running backs and fullbacks for each roster. Here’s who the Lions will have on the American team roster.
James Cook, Georgia
Connor Heyward, Michigan State (FB)
Dameon Pierce, Florida
D’Vonta Price, Florida International
Brian Robinson Jr., Alabama
Senior Bowl to give Lions a look at some interesting running backs
Cook, fresh off winning a national title with Georgia, is a promising NFL prospect. He is the brother of Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook, with similar dual threat ability.
James Cook this season (rank among RBs in CFB)
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) January 11, 2022
💥 6.4 yards per carry (6th)
💥 83.4 receiving grade (4th)
Dual-threat weapon 😤 pic.twitter.com/XlKV9UFtE0
Heyward carries some interest for Lions fans as a Michigan State product. He is a fullback/tight end hybrid, with 35 receptions this past season. He had a great touchdown catch, one you just don’t see from a “fullback”, in the Peach Bowl against Pitt.
Never seen a more athletic play by a fullback. Michigan State’s Connor Heyward is different. pic.twitter.com/EVIhvKywxv
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) January 6, 2022
Daniel Kelly of SI.com has tabbed Heyward and his jack-of-all trades profile as a perfect fit for the Lions’ culture under Dan Campbell. He has NFL bloodlines too–his father is the late Craig “Ironhead” Heyward, and his brother is Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward.
Robinson finally got his chance to the lead back for the Crimson Tide in 2021, and he made the most of it with over 1,300 rushing yards, more than 1,600 yards from scrimmage and 16 total touchdowns.
Pierce averaged 5.7 yards per carry and 11.4 yards per catch with 13 touchdowns (tied for third in the SEC) and 16 total touchdowns in his final season at Florida.
Price missed some time due to injury in his final season at FIU, but he was productive in the nine games he played (682 rushing yards and seven touchdowns).
With D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams locked into roster spots for 2022, Craig Reynolds certainly in the mix to earn a roster spot and Godwin Igwebuike and Jermar Jefferson also around, running back is not necessarily a great need for the Lions. But the Senior Bowl will provide them a look at a pretty interesting set of players at the position.