Saturday NFL Draft Watch: San Diego State Running Back Ronnie Hillman

If you’re searching for the next guy that people are going to be talking about as the dark-horse for the 2012 Heisman Trophy, look no further than San Diego State running back Ronnie Hillman, who is enjoying about as productive a first couple years in college football as anyone in the country.

Hillman has rushed for 1,656 yards as a sophomore with 19 touchdowns and he looks to add to that total tonight in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. For his career, Hillman has 3,188 yards and 36 touchdowns on the ground, and at 5’10” 190 pounds to boot.

He should continue to be extremely productive next year with the offense flowing through him, but the thing I am most impressed by is the strides he has made in the passing game. He caught only nine passes as a freshman, which for an athlete of his caliber is simply unacceptable. This year, he’s caught 20 passes for 221 yards and a touchdown.

The guy that Hillman really reminds me of is LeSean McCoy. Speed, quickness, change of direction, receiving ability, always can find him in the end zone–this guy has the tools to make it at the next level, and if he can get up to 200 pounds without losing his quickness, he should be picked in the 2nd round at the latest.

This kid just has great quickness and great feet, and is capable of breaking off a big play at any time. He is definitely the player to watch for NFL Draft fans on Saturday.