Running Back/Full Back

Baylor

6-0 241

Draft board overall prospect rank: #116

Draft board overall running back rank: #9

Overall rating: 63 (4th round)

40 time: 4.63

Games watched: TCU/Baylor, Texas A&M/Baylor, Oklahoma/Baylor 

Positives

·         Powerful runner

·         Good vision

·         Great downhill runner

·         Huge (6-0 241)

·         Very tough to tackle

·         Runs guys over in the open field

·         Scary when he gets a head of steam in the open field

·         Impressive athleticism for his size

·         Very good senior season (1547 yards and 21 touchdowns on 250 carries)

·         Good short yardage runner

·         Has the size and ability to play fullback if running back doesn’t work out

·         Not a lot of tread on his tires (364 career carries)

·         Good size and technique as a blocker

Negatives

·         Poor outside runner

·         Poor 40 (4.63)

·         Takes a while to get up to full speed

·         Not a lot of burst or acceleration

·         Useless as a pass catcher (6 catches as a senior)

·         Came out of nowhere – one year wonder

·         Not good in the open field

·         Minimal wiggle and elusiveness

·         One speed runner

·         Not a lot of speed to burn

NFL Comparison: LeGarrette Blount

As a prospect, Ganaway reminds me of LeGarrette Blount. Like Ganaway, Blount is a big, powerful back, but only a one year wonder, though Blount’s reason for being a one year wonder has more to do with getting suspended for his senior season. Ganaway doesn’t have Blount’s off the field problems so he’ll probably get drafted unlike Blount. However, like Blount, I expect Ganaway (a projected late round pick) to exceed his draft slot.

The first and biggest obvious comparison between Blount and Ganaway is their size, but both are also poor pass catchers who will be pretty useless on 3^rd down in the NFL. Both are mobile for their size and are scary in the open field when they get a head of steam. Blount had one fantastic season in the NFL as a rookie, but showed his true colors in his 2^nd season.

He really failed to impress as a lead back and will be best off as a tandem back who plays mostly on 1^st and 2^nd down, which he will be in his 3^rd season as the Buccaneers are expected to draft another running back to pair with him. Ganaway will be good as part of a tandem in the NFL, used in a similar fashion. He also has some ability to move to fullback if he doesn’t pan out as a running back.