Running Back 

USC

5-11 198

40 time: 4.42

Draft board overall prospect rank: #64

Draft board running back rank: #6

Overall rating*: 75

1/17/10: The possible NCAA violations that came up late last season because of a possible incident in which he drove a car that belonged to his girlfriend and not him should not effect his draft stock because he’s simply never going to have anything close to that situation in the NFL. He’s a good kid and I don’t buy that he has character issues. I do buy that he’s not a starting running back at the next level. He’s fast but he’s not Chris Johnson fast and he doesn’t have elite explosion or change directions very well. He’s not elusive. However, he does have good speed and finally put together a good season in college this year after being a top recruit in 2007 and will be a welcome addition to many of the running back committees in the NFL today.

6/13/09: Football fans have known the name Joe McKnight ever since he committed to USC as the #1 overall high school prospect in 2007. McKnight was supposed to follow in Reggie Bush’s footsteps as a tailback at USC. However, he has never had more than 100 carries in a single season due to the face that he is stuck in USC’s crowded backfield. He has mainly been a 3^rd down back/kick returner/punt returner. However, he still has all that athletic ability that he had coming out of high school and should run a 40 in the 4.3s. Despite his low amount of carries, he had still had success averaging 6.6 YPC in his two seasons at USC, and 7.4 YPC last year. He has caught 44 balls for 396 yards in his limited action. This season, assuming he is fully healthy, as he was not last season, he should got a lot more work out of the backfield. Mark Sanchez is gone and for once USC doesn’t have a stable quarterback. He and Stafon Johnson are going to split carries out of the backfield, McKnight as a change of pace speed back who can catch out of the backfield. In the NFL, he should also serve in that role. Because of his 40 time, scouts will bring up his name in the same sentence with Chris Johnson about 500 times between now and draft day 2010. However, I don’t think that comparison is right. He’s a little slower than Johnson. He isn’t going to run a 4.24, but he’s bigger and stronger than Johnson. He’s not as good of a pass catcher, although he is better than average. Also, he’s more injury prone. 

NFL comparison: Felix Jones

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