Ameer Abdullah: Nebraska RB a First Round Pick?

Nebraska RB Ameer Abdullah isn’t a name that is on the front pages every week, but as the season rolls along, he certainly is showing that he deserves to be a household name heading into the 2015 NFL Draft. There are a few first-round “locks” thus far – Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon – but Abdullah is playing his way onto that list with every game.

Gurley and Gordon have the big names and big highlight-reel focus on them. Abdullah however, is quietly churning away great games under the radar. Here is a quick rundown of what he’s done this year (via ESPN’s stat lines):

8/30 vs. Florida Atlantic: 21 carries, 232 yards, TD

9/13 vs. Fresno State: 19 carries, 110 yards, TD

9/20 vs. Miami: 35 carries, 229 yards, 3 total TD

9/27 vs. Illinois: 22 carries, 208 yards, 3 TD

10/18 vs. Northwestern: 23 carries, 146 yards, 4 TD

10/25 vs. Rutgers: 19 carries, 225 yards, 3 TD

The stats don’t lie, but the evidence on-tape is more important than the weekly lines. I published my “Top 5 Running Backs” article early in the year and listed Abdullah where I currently have him, 3rd behind Gurley and Gordon. I initially said he’s a great all-around guy that lacks elite speed, but Abdullah has taken a step forward this year, clearly having worked on his agility, speed, and overall athleticism to help beat guys to the edge.

Here’s his recent tape from Rutgers. As you’ll see, this guy is fun to watch. I always say there are “hate to turn the tape off” guys, and Abdullah is one of them (c/o Draft Breakdown):

There were a lot of good things to see against the Scarlet Knights which is why I particularly liked that tape.

Some team is going to fall in love with everything Abdullah has to offer. His combine numbers may flash better than initially expected, and his interview process will go extremely well. It is no secret that Abdullah is a team-first leader that so many NFL offenses strive to acquire.