It looks like comments during the draft process hurt running back Derrius Guice the most. For a while there, it looked like the talented LSU Tigers running back would be the second tailback taken this year after obviously Saquon Barkley of the Penn State Nittany Lions. That did not prove to be the case, as more running backs went in the first round than expected.
Joining Barkley as first-round running backs were Rashaad Penny of the San Diego State Aztecs and Sony Michel of the Georgia Bulldogs. Penny went No. 27 overall to the Seattle Seahawks. Michel would go No. 31 to the New England Patriots. We have to believe Guice is going in the top-45, right?
Many thought he would be an ideal fit for the Detroit Lions at No. 20, who opted to go with center Frank Ragnow out of Arkansas. That’s not a bad pick, but when was the last time the Lions could pound the rock with conviction? Exactly. That would have been last century with Barry Sanders in the prime of his Pro Football Hall of Fame career.
Guice might have been overlooked a tad in college, as Leonard Fournette shared the same backfield with him for two years. However, Guice might end up being a better multi-purpose back than Fournette. Look for his pass-catching ability to help this guy get to a few Pro Bowls in his NFL career.