2015 NFL Draft Combine Profile: Georgia Running Back Todd Gurley
By Brad Berreman
@bradberreman24
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Georgia running back Todd Gurley served a four-game suspension last season for accepting improper benefits, then he suffered a torn left ACL in his first game back in November. He still chose to forego his senior season and declare for the 2015 NFL Draft though, and despite obvious concerns about his health Gurley remains among the top running backs in this year’s draft class.
Gurley will surely not be ready for any physical activity at next week’s NFL Combine, but team interviews may be important for him as he will surely get questions about the reported money he received for signing autographs. I don’t see that situation as a huge character red-flag, unless there’s some unknown information that has not been made public, and Gurley’s talent still has him going off the board in the first round in some early mock drafts.
A left ankle injury cost Gurley some time in 2013, but he still averaged 6.0 yards per-carry with 10 rushing touchdowns and 37 receptions in 10 games played. Injury experts may put a kinetic chain together, with Gurley’s injuries over each of the last two seasons both being to his left leg. While that shouldn’t be discounted, any durability concerns seem to be in the background when considering Gurley’s pro potential.
Being a full participant in the combine would do nothing to substantially boost Gurley’s draft stock, so I think his knee injury will be a positive for him all things considered.
Melvin Gordon is the only other running back in this year’s class on Gurley’s level as a pro prospect, and both guys could be drafted in the first round. Gurley’s on-field performance, while playing in college football’s most talent-laden conference, is enough to make him no worse than the second running back drafted this spring.
Brad Berreman is a Columnist/Senior Writer at www.RantSports.com. Connect with him on Twitter and Google +.
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