Ezekiel Elliot Is A Combination Of Jamal Lewis and Ray Rice
One of the most interesting players in the 2016 NFL Draft is Ezekiel Elliot. Elliot is perhaps the most flashy running back we’ve seen in the draft for years. He has power, speed, and he can do it all from the running back position. Last year the NFL Draft saw two first round running back selections, breaking a trend of waiting till the second round for star backs. Should Elliot be a first round pick? Will he be a top-10 pick?
Elliot put up insane production with the Ohio State Buckeyes. He’s coming off back to back seasons with over 1,800 rushing yards. He scored 43 touchdowns and averaged 6.7 yards per carry in his three years of College Football. Last season he caught 27 passes and had 206 yards. He had 58 catches as a Buckeye.
He had 274 rushing yards and three touchdowns against Indiana this season; the perfect example of you know it’s coming but you can’t stop it. He has had five games with over 200 rushing yards. In 2014 he had 220 yards in the Big 10 Championship game against Wisconsin. He had 230 yards against Alabama in the College Football Playoffs. In the Buckeye’s National Championship game against the Oregon Ducks, he had 246 yards and four touchdowns.
Strengths:
- Crazy production: Elliot average yards per carry tells you all you need to know, really. His ability to make big plays every time he touches the ball is what sets him apart.
- Great receiving threat out of the backfield: He’s too quick for linebackers to chase in the passing game. He is a matchup nightmare.
- Physical runner: There are some running backs who love to show off their “beast mode.” Elliot loves to overpower linebackers, can get the tough yards in between the tackles and has a great stiff arm.
Concerns:
- Longevity: The only real knock on Elliot is that he has been used heavily in his College Football days. He is a workhorse at the most beat up position in the NFL. Elliot looks like he will be great, but how long can he play this style of football?
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Is He An Option for the Ravens?
The answer to this question is absolutely. With the sixth overall pick, you would be hard pressed to find another playmaker with Elliot’s talent.