Devy Notes: The Four Horsemen

Bruce Matson Posted On July 23, 2019

There are four bonafide stud running back prospects in college football right now. We can make a case for a few more, but there are four on top of most people’s list. Things will more than likely shake up between now and draft day. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a player like Ke’Shawn Vaughn enter the discussion by the end of the season.

The landscape is deep with running back talent. There is a lot of future NFL start playing on Saturdays right now. We have a few backs we can hang cap on, but the pool is so deep that we have to analytically look at each player to fully assess everyone’s potential.

LET’S RIDE SPACE MOUNTAIN – D’Andre Swift, RB Georgia

Even the aliens from Mars know that Swift is one of the top running back prospects in college football. The devy community has been closely eying him for the last few years. There aren’t many flaws to his game to pick at. He’s one of the few players in the country who is already more than capable of strapping it up at the NFL level.

D'Andre Swift, making everyone miss. pic.twitter.com/xYr2dQus3J

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) November 3, 2018

There aren’t many running backs out there who can accelerate like Swift. He can instantly regain speed after changing directions to outrun the defense. He’s also very agile with sudden moves that trip up defenders in the open field. If he gets the ball in open space, he’s a threat to take it the distance. Opposing defenses will need to account for him on every play that he’s on the field.

Swift’s aggressiveness is underrated. Not only will he slip past linebackers an defensive backs but he will run them over too. He finishes his runs and wants to run through people at the point of contact. Smaller safeties and cornerbacks have trouble tackling Swift in one-on-one situations because it’s a two way street with Swift. He will either run you over or slide step his way past you.

When we look at Swift’s production, we see a very efficient running back. He rushed for 6.5 yards per carry last year with 100-yard games against Florida, Kentucky, Auburn, and Georgia Tech. With 23 plays gaining 15 yards or more, Swift proved he’s one of the most explosive runners in the country. He also managed to receive a 12 percent target share which was tied with Jeremiah Holloman for third-most on the team behind Mecole Hardman and Riley Ridley.

Currently, one of the few cases that you could draw against Swift is his workload. With just 244 carries in two seasons, one could say that we don’t know if he could handle a feature back role at the next level. On the contrary, it also means he will enter the league with fresh legs, unlike most running backs prospects.

I think Swift can make an immediate impact in the NFL. I see him instantly being an RB1 in fantasy. With that being said, he’s my number one ranked back in college football.

THE ENFORCER – Travis Etienne, RB Clemson

Etienne finished his sophomore season rushing for 1,658 yards and 24 touchdowns, owning a 21.95 percent market share of Clemson’s offensive production. He had eight games with over 100 yards rushing. The one stat that pops out when you look at his season totals is his 8.1 yards per carry average.

There are some glaring holes when you look at his game logs. He only received three targets on two occasions last year and only had two multi-catch games. On top of that, 46 percent of his runs did not exceed three yards. On a positive note, he had 18 plays that went for 15 yards or more.

Speed kills and Etienne can burn opposing defenses alive. He’s a one-cut runner who can quickly find the hole. Even though he’s not the type of back who can chain together multiple moves to scoot past the opposition, his speed makes him a threat to score from anywhere on the field. Etienne’s approach to the line of scrimmage is very assertive and he wastes no time getting to and through the running lane.

Travis Etienne is a BLUR 🏃💨 pic.twitter.com/FX9aEjTDPb

— ESPN (@espn) December 30, 2018

There are a few key differences between him and Swift. Swift does a better job at making defenders miss in the open field. Swift also runs with more power. Etienne’s 12 receptions are very low compared to today’s standard. When talking speed, Etienne is the faster back, but not by much. Both backs are very explosive, but Etienne can almost instantly get to full speed. Once he’s in fifth gear, there are not many people in this world who can catch Etienne from behind.

If Etienne can get better at catching the ball out of the backfield then he will develop into a high-end fantasy producer. His speed and burst would make him impossible to stop in open space, considering he’s three steps and a cloud of dust.

I think he has the skill set to be the focal point for an NFL offense. The lack of receiving production is concerning, however, we’ve seen running backs generate productive careers with less than desirable receiving statistics. He’s easily one of the top running backs in college football. When it comes time to enter the draft, he should be one of the first running backs off the board. Etienne should have another solid season in 2019.

THE TULLY BLANCHARD – Jonathan Taylor, RB Wisconsin

Just like Ric Flair, Blanchard was also forecasted as a ladies man. However, he didn’t receive the same notoriety amongst the wrestling fans. We all know Taylor is a fantastic prospect, but considering he has rushed for 4,171 yards and 29 touchdowns in the last two seasons, like Blanchard, he doesn’t receive the publicity compared to the other two previously mentioned running backs.

Jonathan Taylor, RB from Wisconsin rushes for a 67-yard touchdown run vs. Purdue pic.twitter.com/i7IiKrWhSr

— Bruce Matson (@MetricScout) November 5, 2017

When it comes to vision, size, speed, and power, there aren’t many running backs who can hold a candle to Taylor. He’s been productive since he arrived at Wisconsin. Last year, he rushed over 100 yards in every game but one and he strung together five games with 200 yards or more. Per Pro Football Focus, he had 1,309 yards after contact and he forced 67 missed tackles.

Like Etienne, the only glaring hole in his game log is his reception totals. He only caught the ball eight times last year, equating to a five percent target share. Again, it doesn’t mean he can’t catch the ball but it would be more satisfying if he could be more active in the passing game.

Taylor is a 221-pound back who has the speed to blow by the defense. He has excellent vision and moves through trash around the of scrimmage very well. He knows how to use his size-adjusted speed to generate power and finish runs. If he could put together another 2,000-yard season then he could possibly finish his career as one of the most lucrative running backs in college football history.

I’m a fan of his game. For a running back who is coming off of a season where he posted over 2,000 yards while averaging 7.1 yards per carry, he’s not receiving the respect he deserves. He should be mentioned in the same light as Swift and Etienne on a consistent basis. Taylor has the potential to be a feature back for an NFL team. His lack of receiving prowess could keep him from being a PPR dynamo, but it doesn’t mean he can’t develop into a good pass-catcher out of the backfield.

THE FORGOTTEN HORSEMAN – Eno Benjamin, RB Arizona State

Nobody came to the arena to watch Ole Anderson wrestle, just like how people on the east coast can’t stay awake to watch PAC-12 after dark on Saturday nights. Eno Benjamin is one of the best running backs in the country but is still flying under the radar.

Last year was Benjamin’s first year carrying the load for the team. He rushed for 1,642 yards and 16 touchdowns while owning a 35.17 percent market share of the team’s offensive production. He was heavily used in the passing game, receiving a 13 percent target share while also catching 35 passes for 263 yards. He also had 23 of his runs go for 15 yards or more and 1,030 yards after contact with 49 missed tackles.

Alum Eno Benjamin goes Beast mode for his first career TD 💪🏾 who saw this 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/HOEEuXUhCg

— sportsthread (@sportsthread) November 8, 2017

Benjamin is fun to watch. He has the power to truck defenders, but he also has the contact balance to bounce right off of them. He has smooth feet and stays low to the ground, making him very tough to tackle in space. Although he’s not the fastest running back in the game, he does have enough speed to put the opposing defense on notice if he hits the open field. Most of all, I like his lateral agility. He’s light on his feet and he can go through or around defenders to pick up extra yards.

His game translates well to the next level. I wouldn’t be surprised if he immediately starts his NFL career as a team’s lead back. His ability to catch the ball out of the backfield will provide an added value in fantasy. I don’t think he’s a first-round caliber prospect, but he could sneak into the second round if he has a good season. Benjamin is a talented player who should pay dividends in fantasy once he makes the leap to the NFL.

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Bruce Matson

Contributor at Dynasty League Football

I'm a financial counselor for a hospital in South Central Ohio. I graduated from Muskingum University with a bachelor's in business while minoring in Economics and Accounting. I won my first fantasy football title with Jake Plummer as my quarterback.