Rookie Reveal: Ezekiel Elliott

Billy Coogan

rookiereveal

Editors note: Billy Coogan makes his DLF debut and introduces a new series.

This is the first installment of my brand new “Rookie Reveal” series in which I will give my view on some of the notable prospects in the upcoming NFL draft. I will include findings from my time spent watching game film as well as a mini bio of the player that usually would not be found in typical scouting reports. Also, be on the lookout for my “2016 Rookie Report” with the help from some of the best members on the DLF Forum, will be out in March sometime.

Ezekiel Elliott – Ohio State No. 15

July 22, 1995 (21 years old) 6-foot-0 – 225 lbs.

St Louis, Missouri

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezekiel_Elliott

zeke_stats

Unless you have been hiding under a rock for the last year and a half you probably can guess who the unanimous No. 1 running back in the 2016 draft class is, if your guess is Ezekiel Elliott then you are correct.

Ezekiel “Zeke” Elliott’s coming-out party couldn’t have come at a better time. He couldn’t have picked better timing, a pick a bigger stage or a tougher opponent, the No. 1-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. With the whole country watching Elliott compiled a crazy stat line of 20 carries for 230 yards and two touchdowns, he also added one reception for 13 yards, impressive as his numbers were the fact that he did it in the first ever College Football Playoff against a Nick Saban led defense was the icing on the cake. If you didn’t know who Elliott was prior to kickoff that evening he made sure that you wouldn’t be forgetting his name any time soon.

It’s no surprise that this young man is the top ranked running back in this class. He has excelled in several prime time games against elite competition with the whole country watching and has a college highlight tape that rivals that of some NFL Hall of Famers.

[inlinead]His running style reminds me of a mix between Arian Foster and LeSean McCoy, are you excited yet? Elliott’s great footwork and balance are his greatest tools. He can kill you with the jump-cut, spin move, run through you or around you and once he gets even with you there’s no sense chasing him because you aren’t gonna catch him, he’s Forrest Gump fast once he gets up to speed. During his time in Columbus under Coach Urban Meyer they ran a shotgun/read option scheme and he often had big holes to run through which made his runs look easy at times, but when he found himself behind a wall he kept his eyes up, his head down and his legs driving, I’m sure NFL scouts and general managers will love that trait.

Every time he touches the ball he has the talent to score from anywhere on the field with his ideal size/speed combo and if you give him an inch he will take a mile. He runs hungry and wants to get every yard but he also shows awareness to make sure he gets what he needs to get on short yardage situations most of the time. The young man from St Louis shows good patience most of time but he also likes to dance a little too much when things aren’t there and he loses yards because of that, but hey…so does Adrian Peterson.

He displayed good hands when called upon and looked natural running routes out of the backfield or slot. He also isn’t afraid to get dirty laying down blocks on run plays or when protecting the quarterback in the pocket. Elliott has dominated the NCAA and Big Ten teams for the last two years and is easily my No. 1-rated running back in the 2016 class.

The few weaknesses in his game that I took note of were

1) He needs to trust his blockers a little better, sometimes he became impatient and bounced plays to the outside before running lanes opened up

2) He isn’t afraid to take on larger defenders, which often leads to a higher chance of injury

3) He doesn’t have elite acceleration through holes like he does when attempting to change direction or move laterally, but don’t worry- not every great NFL running back does either.

I am expecting Elliott to go in the first round of the NFL draft this April. I have seen him going anywhere from No. 10 (NY Giants), No. 18 (Indianapolis) or at No. 22 (Houston). As of right now your guess is as good as mine, but if I had to guess I’d say he’s be going to play with Andrew Luck & Co. in Indianapolis. In dynasty rookie drafts I don’t think there is any way he goes after 1.02. Personally I have him ranked as my top prospect.

Notes and accomplishments:

  • 2014 College Football Playoff National Championship
  • 2015 85th Sullivan Award (annually awarded to the nation’s top amateur athlete)
  • 2014 & 2015 Academic All-Big Ten honors
  • 2014 Sugar Bowl MVP as well as MVP of the College Football Playoff title game
  • Ran for 149 yards and four touchdowns against Notre Dame in the final game of his college career.
  • Elliott’s father, Stacy, and mother, Dawn, both attended the University of Missouri as student-athletes. Stacy a football player and Dawn a member of the track and field team.
  • During his senior year of high school he won four state championships at the Missouri Class 3 state championships ( 100 meter, 200 meter, 110 high hurdles and 300 hurdles).
  • Attended John Burroughs School (grades 7-12) which has been recognized as one of the nation’s premier preparatory schools and holds strict entry requirements regarding academics and personal conduct.
  • Majored in marketing while at Ohio State University

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