This week I will present two running backs whom I feel are Yellow Flag running backs. These players are potentially NFL ready, but need a little extra work. Let’s begin.
Charles Sims, West Virginia
6’0″, 214 lbs
40 yd dash: 4.54 sec.
Predicted Pick–4thRound
Last year, Charles Sims was not a Mountaineer, he was a Houston Cougar. Also, after having a decent season, he was considering entering the draft. Sims didn’t throw his hat into thing, but rather opted to transfer to West Virginia to play. There, he made an immediate impact rushing for:
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1,095 rushing yards
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91.3 rushing yards per game average
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11 rushing touchdowns and 3 receiving touchdowns
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401 receiving yards
Sims will be a steal for whichever team nabs him. It is very rare to find a running back that can both run the ball well and catch. But enough of that, here are some of his good qualities:
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He is difficult to target for a hit-he’s very slippery
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He has that fifth gear that he can kick into to leave defenders eating his dust
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He has great hand/eye coordination for having such small hands
And his weaknesses:
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He doesn’t get low enough while running which makes him easier to tackle
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He doesn’t tighten up on the ball enough
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He has a tendency to only zone in on one defender
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He hasn’t played long enough at the wide-receiver position
Charles Sims reminds me a lot of a taller version of Darren Sproles–a serious dual threat running back. Sims can run and catch very well, making him twice as dangerous as a normal running back. I give Sims a yellow flag because he could surprise some people. I believe that with the right team he could be used as an every down player. Plus, there is the possibility that if he doesn’t succeed as a RB in the pros, he could be converted to a receiver. I predict because of the lack of need of RBs in the draft this year, he will fall to the 4 th round.
Andre Williams, Boston College
6’0″, 227 lbs
40 yd dash: 4.56 sec.
Predicted Pick–5thRound
Andre Williams was arguably the best running back in the NCAA last season. He was a Heisman Trophy candidate and a Doak Walker Award winner, not to mention he was a First Team All-American. Here are his stats from last season:
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2,177 rushing yards and 355 attempts
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18 rushing touchdowns
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167.5 rushing yards per game
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Rushed for more than 200 yards per game 5 times
Williams was used a lot by Boston College due to their inability to pass the ball effectively, so he gained plenty of experience running the ball over his four years. This is reflected in his having 704 rushing attempts and 28 career starts. Now, let’s mention Williams’s good points:
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He is a thick, stocky RB that will lower his pads and jack you up
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He has surprisingly good speed for a guy of almost 230 lbs.
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He is terrific on the goal line and can easily dive over a pile of guys to score
And his weaknesses:
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He cannot catch a pass to save his life (10 receptions in his career and none last year)
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He is a V6 type of runner, not a V8, so it takes time for him to get up to speed
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There are concerns with his durability due to being used so much in college; his career could end early
It’s no lie; Andre Williams is a terrific and very talented running back. I just feel he was used way too much in college. He had one game last year against NC State where he had 42 carries; that is way too many carries for a running back at his young age. That is why I gave him a yellow flag, as a sign of “proceed with caution”. I do predict NFL teams will take a chance and he will probably be drafted in the 5 th round and used as a 3 rd down back.
