Running Back

Kansas State

6-0 230

Draft board overall prospect rank: #52

Draft board overall running back rank: #4

Overall rating: 77 (2nd round)

40 time: 4.60

4/12/10: Daniel Thomas is one of the few running backs in this draft class I could see being a legitimate feature back at the next level. Mark Ingram and Mikel Leshoure are the top 2, along with Ryan Williams if he can stay healthy. DeMarco Murray could be a Matt Forte type lead back and then there’s Daniel Thomas.

Thomas is a load to bring down at 230 pounds. He was extremely productive in Kansas State over the last two years with 545 carries for 2850 yards and 30 touchdowns, as well as 47 catches, in a tough Big 12 conference. He still has a lot of upside as a running back because he was a quarterback just 3 or so years ago.

He came to Kansas State after playing in Junior College as a mobile running quarterback. He also was a quarterback in college. Kansas State converted him full time to a running back in 2009 and it certainly paid off as Thomas became the school’s #2 all time leading rusher in just 2 years at the program.

His biggest flaw is that he has a very upright running style and we’ve seen guys struggle in the NFL with upright running styles before. Upright runners tend to be more injury prone, break less tackles, and have more fumble problems. Fumbles were a particular problem for him as he fumbled 11 times in 2 years, and 7 times in 2009. Of all the running backs in this draft class, he is one of the more fumble prone.

His upright running style and fumble problems are probably left over from his quarterback days. I think he can improve on both of these as a pro, with proper coaching and more experience at the position. Speed is another issue of his. At 230 pounds, speed is not necessarily needed, but he doesn’t have a great initial burst like Mark Ingram and he’s not someone who is going to beat you on the outside. His 4.60 40 is not ideal.

In the end, there are few major flaws with Thomas, but he’s been incredibly productive in 2 years at Kansas State and he’s still learning the position and he’s very tough to bring down in the open field, often requiring 2 tacklers to stop him. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he were a feature back by year 2 or 3 of his career.