Patriots Draft Week in Preview: Running Backs

by Richard Hill on Mar 27, 2011 11:59 PM EDT in New England Patriots NFL Draft

Here's a list of the top overall running backs in the 2011 NFL Draft:

1. Mark Ingram

2. Mikel Leshoure

3. Ryan Williams

4. Jordan Todman

5. Kendall Hunter

Mentions: DeMarco Murray, Daniel Thomas, Shane Vereen, Delone Carter

We will be looking at the top 5 this week and I'll give a brief rundown of the mentions on Saturday, along with my favorites.

Top statistics of running backs in the draft are after the jump!

Most Yards (Career): Vai Taua, Nevada (4588 yards)

Most Carries (Career): Jacquizz Rodgers, Oregon State (788 carries)

Most Rushing Touchdowns (Career): Colin Kaepernick, Nevada (59, but he's a quarterback); DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma (50 TDs)

Most Yards (Past Year): Mikel Leshoure, Illinois (1697 yards); Jordan Todman, UConn (1695 yards)

Most Carries (Past Year): Jordan Todman, UConn (334 carries)

Most Rushing Touchdowns (Past Year): Chad Spann, Northern Illinois (22 TDs)

Fastest 40 Yard Dash: Noel Devine, West Virginia (4.34 Pro Day); Da'Rel Scott, Maryland (4.34 Combine)

Fastest 3 Cone: Graig Cooper, Miami (6.66 Combine)

Fastest 10 Yard Split: Roy Helu Jr., Nebraska (1.51 Combine)

Most Bench Presses: Shane Vereen, California (31 Combine)

Longest Broad Jump: Jordan Todman, UConn (10'6 Combine)

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So let's examine who the Patriots might take in this year's draft!

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Comments

Todman

I was surprised to see the high number of carries he had, I thought he was more of a change-of-pace back. I take it he was the workhorse guy at UConn?

Deep in enemy territory

by JeffyB on Mar 28, 2011 8:01 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah, I was surprised too.

He was a monster on the field.

Pats Pulpit | @Follow Me On Twitter

by Richard Hill on Mar 28, 2011 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions

… he was the offense. The one good Qb on the UConn team only played a few games mid-season and then got kicked off the team. There was very, very little in the way of a passing game.
Opposing teams knew UConn was going to run the ball 70% of the time, and they still couldn’t stop Todman. That says a lot.

by Grib on Mar 28, 2011 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions

31 reps???? Holy cow...

I’ll take 11 players with heart on the field over 11 guys with just talent. Talent is fleeting, it goes away over time. Heart is what drives you to be better. To push yourself beyond what you think your capabilities are. To show us that when you strive, all things are possible.- SMP

formerly patriotguy2 ;)

by Jack'sAxe on Mar 28, 2011 9:08 AM EDT reply actions