Fansided

2015 NFL Draft: Top 10 Running Backs

By Daniel Tran

Jan 1, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA;Wisconsin Badgers running back Melvin Gordon (25) runs with the ball against the Auburn Tigers during the first half in the 2015 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA;Wisconsin Badgers running back Melvin Gordon (25) runs with the ball against the Auburn Tigers during the first half in the 2015 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
10 of 11
Next
2015 NFL Draft
Sep 20, 2014; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Todd Gurley (3) runs the ball against the Troy Trojans during the first half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated Troy 66-0. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Todd Gurley, Georgia

Injuries rob players of draft position every year. This year, it will be Todd Gurley who will miss out on being the first running back taken in the 2015 NFL Draft, but not by a large margin.

Gaining 773 yards on the ground and earning eight touchdowns in six games, Gurley was suspended for four games for accepting money while signing autographs before tearing his ACL his first game back. Gurley would finish the year with 911 yards and nine touchdowns before going down.

When he is healthy, Gurley is a punishing back that has many teams licking their lips about his immediate impact. Standing at an imposing 6-foot-1, 232 pounds, he attacks the line of scrimmage and rarely goes down after first contact. He also has great acceleration through his cuts, is an effective pass blocker, and has soft hands coming out of the backfield.

Durability will be a concern for Gurley, whose knees will be an easy target for defenders attempting to tackle him. Aside from the ACL injury this past season, he suffered an ankle injury in 2013 that forced him out of three games.

An injury may have robbed Todd Gurley of his 2014 season, but it could not rob him of his first-round grade in the 2015 NFL Draft. Now, on his way to be being fully recovered, Gurley is looking to make an impact for an NFL team willing to take a chance on his talent.

Projected Pick: low first round

Next: Flash Gordon

Home/NFL Draft