The 2022 Senior Bowl Running Back Position Break Down
2022 is the year of the late bloomer running back at the Senior Bowl. Nearly every player in attendance for the all-star game experienced breakouts late in their collegiate careers, showing their skill once finally given an opportunity.
For Brian Robinson Jr, he sat and waited his turn at Tuscaloosa. A former four-star recruit and the #8 running back in the 2017 recruiting class, Robinson never really had a chance to showcase his talent at Alabama. Four NFL-drafted running backs started ahead of Robinson in his four years as a backup. Robinson showed flashes as a backup, always putting up consistent numbers, but he showed another level in his fifth season. Now the starter, Robinson rushed for over 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns, his physical rushing style on full display with his 204-yard rushing performance against Cincinnati in the Cotton Bowl.
Jerome Ford also started at Alabama, his path straying from Robinson's in 2020 when he transferred to Cincinnati. While backing up future Dolphins seventh-round pick Gerrid Doaks, Ford showed the potential of a star back, potential he would manifest in 2021. Ford led the Bearcats with 1,319 yards and 19 rushing touchdowns, shedding the label of just being the “Alabama transfer.” Ford is an athletic tackle breaker with good vision, still needing to work on his third-down ability.
It has been a turbulent journey so far, but the ride is starting to smooth out for Rachaad White. With zero division one offers out of college White attended division two Nebraska-Kearney before ultimately transferring to junior college Mt. San Antonio College, the same junior college that NFL players Delanie Walker and Bruce Irvin attended.
Upon his transfer to Arizona State, White led the Sun Devils in rushing and receiving yards his junior season. Despite never fully being the starter his two years in Tempe, White has the qualities to succeed further in the pros. White can do extraordinary things in the receiving game; will he handle a full workload?
D’Vonte Price and Dameon Pierce are two backs whose pro careers could surpass their college counterparts. Both were solid players who contributed over multiple seasons, but their film has scouts salivating for more. A big back with enough speed to break off long runs, Price has the height-weight-speed profile to make scouts fall in love with him.
Florida's Pierce is a fast-rising name in the draft world, with scouts falling in love with his agility. Many, including Senior Bowl Director Jim Nagy, view Pierce as the most underrated player this year.
The paths to Mobile for Abram Smith and Hassan Haskins are eerily similar. While Smith originally started on the offensive side of the ball for Baylor, the roles were reversed in 2020, Smith making the transition to linebacker. Now tackling his former positional kin, Smith proved to be an effective linebacker, even recording a game-high 13 tackles against rivals Oklahoma State. Moved back to running back in 2021, Smith was a superstar with 1,600 yards and 12 touchdowns. Smith only knows one style of running, extremely physical, the same running style as Haskins.
Also a former linebacker early in his career, Haskins was one of the only bright spots on the lowly 2-4 2020 Michigan Wolverines his junior year. As the rest of the team improved the ensuing year, Haskins reciprocated, dashing for over 1,300 yards and 20 touchdowns. Both had super senior years and have some super power to their game.
James Cook and recent addition Tyler Badie round out the group of Mobile rushers. A Doak Walker finalist for the best back in the nation, Badie was a late addition to the Senior Bowl. Sitting behind future NFL backs Damarea Crockett and Larry Rountree for three years at Missouri, Badie made the most of his lone season as the starter with a 1,612-yard season. While small in stature, Badie is an exceptional athlete in open space, as is Cook.
The brother of Vikings star Dalvin Cook, James Cook exhibits some similar traits. Never the true starter in his four years in Athens, Cook was a dynamic injection to the Bulldogs' offense whenever his number called on. His open-field athleticism and receiving abilities are reminiscent of Alvin Kamara, but can Cook prove to be a complete running back down in Mobile?
Final Running Backs Roster
Rachaad White, Arizona State (National)
Hassan Haskins, Michigan (National)
Abram Smith, Baylor (National)
Jerome Ford, Cincinnati (National)
Tyler Badie, Missouri (National)
Brian Robinson Jr, Alabama (American)
D’Vonte Price, Florida International (American)
Dameon Pierce, Florida (American)
James Cook, Georgia (American)
Writer
-By: Jacob Keppen