Bracket Buster: Maryland RB, Da’rel Scott
From Wes Bunting:
The stock of Maryland RB Da’Rel Scott is through the roof right now after timing [sic 4.34] forty time at the NFL combine. I’ve heard from several sources of him potentially getting a look late in round one. I don’t buy it personally, but you never know just how high a guy can rise after a good workout.
With that in mind I thought I’d do a prospect profile of Da’Rel Scott to see what people are saying about him.
Measurables
5-11 211 pounds. 4.35 40 yard dash.
34 inch vertical jump. 9.9 broad jump
3 cone drill 7.15
20 yard shuttle 4.20
20 yard dash 2.55
10 yard dash 1.55
19 reps on the bench press
Stats
Career: 430 attempts for 2,401 yards 17 touchdowns
2010: 122 attempts 705 yards 5 touchdowns
48 career receptions
Video
To see a highlight film from different games, it’s here on youtube. It’s being difficult and I can’t get it to show up in this space.
This second video is him vs Cal in 2009
Scouting Reports:
Positives: Great combination of speed and strength… Isn’t big, but has a nice frame and runs low to the ground… Accelerates very quickly, explosive when he gets a seam… Keeps his legs driving, doesn’t go down easily… Very nice balance… A good inside runner… Displays a good burst through the hole… Willing pass blocker… Displays above-average hands out of the backfield… Does a good job of always moving forward, doesn’t dance too much through the hole… Should be a good change of pace back in the NFL in the same mold as Mike Goodson when he came out of college… Led all running backs at the combine with a 4.34 40-yard dash.
Negatives: Ball security is an issue, has had fumbling problems in the past… Isn’t particularly shift or creative in the open field, better as a straight line runner.Below average vision, tries to break everything to the outside and routinely gets swallowed up at the line of scrimmage… Major injury concerns, struggled with an ankle injury in 2007, a shoulder injury in 2008, and a broken forearm in 2009… Did not have a very prolific career at Maryland, eclipsed 1000 yards once, in 2008, and has only scored nine touchdowns over the past two years combined… Was suspended in 2008 for violating curfew… Was typically substituted out around the goal line, struggled in short yardage situations because he always tries to make the big play.
Looks a lot thicker on tape than his frame would suggest. Possesses good overall muscle tone through his upper half and is pretty well put together through his legs. Displays an explosive first step when asked to press the hole. Is able to instantly accelerate out of his stance and gets up to top-end speed quickly. Isn’t overly laterally gifted and lacks ideal shiftiness as a runner. However, is a no-nonsense type guy who is patient when asked to set up his blocks, exhibits a good feel in tight areas and can put his foot in the ground and absolutely explode into daylight. Possesses a real second gear to his game and is consistently able to outpace angles at the second level and create in space. Does a nice job taking short, compact steps once he gets into the open field, allowing him to maintain his balance once he reaches full speed and cleanly sidestep defenders in both tight areas and in space.
Isn’t an overly powerful between-the-tackles type runner and struggles to simply push the pile and drive for tough yards. But does a nice job running behind his pads and likes to finish runs. Displays a good forward lean when pressing the hole and into contact, and doesn’t expose his body to a lot of unnecessary hits.
Isn’t the most natural of pluckers in the pass game as he consistently lets the ball into his body. But does look comfortable flaring out of the backfield, adjusting to the throw and creating after the catch. Does have some durability concerns, but they have been more of the fluke injuries — broken bones — than muscle tears.
Impression: An explosive back who can really accelerate into daylight at the drop of a hat. More of a one-cut guy who isn’t real shifty when asked to break down and make a guy miss. However, he presses the hole quickly, exhibits good balance as a runner and is a lot tougher to bring down than his frame would indicate. At worst, looks like a very solid No. 3 back in an NFL rotation ..
CBS Draft Scout
Positives: While track star fast, can also turn and cut very well; shifty. Excellent vision, picks the right hole and explodes through it. Powerful lower body can run through arm tackles. Finishes inside runs hard, keeping his feet moving and gets the extra yard. Made big plays in big games. Good receiver out of the backfield. Gives effort as a blocker.
Negatives: Injury history – knee and wrist the most serious. Was not asked to block much, and may struggle with NFL feature back blocking assignments because of small frame. Has had problems with fumbles, although protected the ball as a senior. Didn’t do much as a kick returner early in his career at Maryland. Only as a sophomore did he truly carry the load. Part of a three-back rotation as a senior.
Big Board Rankings
CBS Draft Scout 189th overall
National Football Post 152nd overall
drafttek.com 240
sideline scouting 16th RB
walterfootball 22nd RB
Bartolis Final Thought
Da’Rel Scott has what scouts love and that is a terrific size to speed combination and you look at it and see that he only had one season with over a 1,000 yards and didn’t and only one season over 200 carries and you think there’s no way that would get a player in the first round. Too much projection, but C.J. Spiller only had one season over a 1,000 yards and 200 carries and went 9th overall to a team that didn’t need a running back. Jahvid Best never had 200 carries in a season in college and the Lions traded up for him in the first round.
Now, Best and Spiller were much productive receivers out of the backfield, but Scott can catch the football too and there is a lot to like. He has the size to run between the tackles (not great at it though) and is a willing blocker (but needs work at that too). And you would like to have seem him carry the ball more and be the feature back at Maryland, and not a part of a rotation. You’d like to have seen him be healthier throughout his college career, but his talent is undeniable.
Right now the draftnik community as him projected somewhere between a 3rd and 5th round pick, but don’t be shocked if he’s an early second round prospect. And there’s a chance that he even goes in the late first round, and if he does he would very definitely be a mock draft wrecker.
Check out our other scouting reports and prospect profiles here: