It's not often that a rookie gets a chance to learn from an all-time great and can play a role on a successful team from day one. However, that's exactly the opportunity that Baltimore Ravens' fifth-round pick Adam Randall has been given.
During the Ravens' rookie minicamp, Randall spoke about the opportunity to learn from Derrick Henry.Â
"I'm just looking forward to being able to get in the room and see how he (Henry) works... And I'm just gonna be a sponge and a fly on the wall, just in that meeting room. And, take everything that I can and apply it to my game like Henry being taller stature like I am. I'm just gonna continue to learn how to work on my pad, low and shorten up my strides, just to continue to be a better running back," Randall said.Â
Randall has an amazing opportunity ahead of him, and thankfully, he seems ready to take full advantage of it. High character is one reason why Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti fell in love with Randall during the pre-draft process. This quote is a nice display of his mindset and readiness to learn from Henry.
Adam Randall is walking into a dream situation with the Baltimore Ravens
As Randall noted, it's not just that Henry is an all-time great player and tenacious worker, but both players have similar frames. Randall being able to learn from an all-time great power back will certainly benefit him. Henry's mentorship will be especially impactful as Randall is fairly new to the running back position, transitioning over from receiver during his senior year at Clemson.
While Randall might be new to playing running back, he proved to be a natural, racking up 1,068 all-purpose yards and 13 all-purpose touchdowns. His physical gifts and general power at 6-foot-4, paired with his pass-catching ability, give Randall plenty of upside. This skill set and solid production have caused Ravens fans to be incredibly excited about Randall despite him being a fifth-round pick.
Henry will be a massive resource to help Randall with the nuances of the position and the transition to the NFL. And crucially, Henry is a consummate professional who will graciously help Randall learn the tricks of the trade.
As a rookie, Randall should have some type of role, especially in third-down situations and special teams. While it's fair to expect Randall to learn a ton from Henry, Justice Hill can also help out. He is often used as a receiving back, has great pass blocking chops, and earlier in his career played plenty of special teams snaps.
The blend of learning about his immediate role from Hill and learning the skills to make him a long-term high-end running back from Henry should benefit Randall immensely.Â
With Henry continuing to age, it's possible that Randall could blossom into Baltimore's future starting running back. I don't want to put this pressure on a fifth-round pick. Nevertheless, Randall's potential is undeniable, and the Ravens are giving him everything he needs to reach his ceiling.
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