The South Florida Solar Sentinel opens its eight-part collection previewing prime gamers within the 2023 NFL draft (April 27-29) with working backs. This 12 months’s class is taken into account pretty sturdy on the prime, a departure from a 12 months in the past when no working again was taken within the first spherical. The Dolphins aren’t searching for a working again this 12 months, or at the very least that’s not a prime want proper now. However you by no means know what can or will occur within the weeks main as much as the draft.
Bijan Robinson, Texas
At 6 foot 1, 220 kilos, he rushed for 1,580 yards final season as a junior. He’s averaged 226 carries every of the previous two years, which suggests he can carry a giant workload, and he additionally had 60 receptions for 805 yards and eight touchdowns in his profession, which suggests he can keep on the sphere for third down.
Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
Gibbs, a Georgia Tech switch, rushed for 926 yards (6.1 yards per carry) and 7 touchdowns, however at 5-9, 199 kilos his huge factor is his versatility. Gibbs had 1,215 yards receiving on 103 receptions in three seasons. Gibbs is a shifty, artful runner who's a big-play risk each time he touches the ball.
Zach Charbonnet, UCLA
Charbonnet, the Michigan switch, rushed for greater than 2,500 yards and 27 touchdowns prior to now two seasons at UCLA. He averaged 6.9 yards per carry final season, fourth in FBS. He’s not particularly quick (he ran a 4.53-second 40-yard sprint) however he’s efficient and is aware of the right way to use his 6-1, 214-body to get energy and pace when wanted.
Devon Achane, Texas A&M
Achane (pronounced A-chain) is about pace. He runs a 4.32-second 40-yard sprint, However he’s small. At 5-9, 188 kilos he’s not somebody who can take a lot of carries and run between the tackles. Slightly you need to get him the ball in house. Final season he had 1,102 yards dashing on 196 carries (5.6 yards per carry). Achane, who ran the 60-meter sprint and dash relay for Texas A&M’s observe group, can also be efficient as a kickoff returner.
Tank Bigsby, Auburn
Bigsby (6-0, 210) is a top quality, straight-ahead runner who can minimize and alter path shortly. Nonetheless, he’s not a third-down again and doesn’t provide particular groups assist so his contribution have to be weighed in opposition to that backdrop. Nonetheless, the man is cash. He rushed for 970 yards (5.4 ypc) and 10 touchdowns final season after totaling 1,102 yards dashing and 10 touchdowns in 2021. Bigsby, a bodily runner who can break tackles, is a Day 2 prospect.
Better of the remainder
Texas’ Roschon Johnson (6-0, 219; 93 carries, 554 yards dashing, 5 touchdowns) is among the most intriguing prospects, and the actual fact he performed behind Robinson solely provides to the intrigue. DeWayne McBride (5-10, 209; 1,713 yards dashing, 7.3 yards per carry, 19 TDs) of Alabama-Birmingham is taken into account a top-five prospect by some. Zach Evans (Mississippi), Kendre Miller (TCU), Sean Tucker (Syracuse) and Kenny McIntosh (Georgia) are all price watching.
Class grade: C+
One 12 months after no working again was chosen within the first spherical there’s just one first-round prospect this 12 months — Robinson. After that, maybe another person sneaks into the underside of the primary spherical however that is principally thought-about a wait-and-see 12 months for working backs.
Search for Day 2, the second and third rounds, to be lively for working backs with numerous worth picks doable. This class might produce a number of gamers with endurance but it surely doesn’t appear many have multi-year Professional Bowl potential.
Groups in want
Should you’re speaking about groups with Tremendous Bowl aspirations, put Buffalo close to the highest of the listing. Dallas, which gave its franchise tag to Tony Pollard, who's coming off leg surgical procedure, may also look to reinforce its backfield. The Los Angeles Chargers is also seeking to enhance their scenario together with Carolina, Cleveland and Tampa Bay.
Dolphins’ focus
The Dolphins return their prime 4 working backs — Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr., Salvon Ahmed and Myles Gaskin along with fullbacks Alec Ingold and John Lovett. It’d be laborious to see the Dolphins utilizing one in all their 4 draft picks on a place already manned by returning veterans.
()