Running Back 

Buffalo

6-2 213

40 time (projected): 4.56

Draft board overall prospect rank: N/A

Draft board running back rank: #15

Overall rating: 59*

College career highlights:

Second Team All-MAC (2006,2007)

First-team All-MAC (2008)

Honorable Mention All-American (Sports Illustrated) (2008)

Injury report (9/14/09): Starks will miss the season with a shoulder injury, which hurts because he was a mid round prospect at best before the injury. I hope he gets drafted though because he’ll make a nice 3rd down back in the NFL.

            8/6/09: James Starks isn’t going to be an every down back in the NFL, but he’s an excellent pass catcher for someone of his size, catching 52 passes for 366 yards last season at 213 pounds. He fits in the NFL as a nice pass catching third down back and with more teams going to running back by committee, this guy has a place in the league. He runs powerfully and gets a powerful first burst, but lacks that breakaway speed. He isn’t going to run a very good 40 for his size at the combine which will hurt him. If he puts on 10-15 more pounds, he can be a goal line back in addition to a 3^rd down back. He changes direction well and has good quickness and elusiveness, but lacks good straight line speed and is nowhere near a homerun hitter. He had good production last year, but did it against lesser competition than most prospects. It’ll be interesting to see if he can keep up his production without Drew Willy at quarterback. You’re in trouble if you’re an NFL team using this guy as your feature back, because that’s just not who he is, but he has a place in the league and a value in the mid rounds. I doubt many teams will use more than a 5^th or 6^th round pick on him, but he’s worth a 4^th. 

NFL Comparison: Tim Hightower

*=For a breakdown of what this means, click here