Examining Iowa RB Mark Weisman’s NFL Prospects…Again
Sep 20, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes running back Mark Weisman (45) rushes the ball against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. The Hawkeyes won 24-20. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa Hawkeyes running back Mark Weisman is not exactly your prototypical NFL running back prospect. He’s built more like a fullback at 6-foot-1, 240 pounds, and he doesn’t have blazing speed or wild athletic ability. He has never rushed for 1,000 yards in a season and is a former transfer from the Air Force Academy.
For a three-year starter at a major college program that runs the ball as often and as effectively as Iowa has, even in their down years, it’s not too tough to figure out why NFL Draft-niks are not talking about this guy. He’s not being discussed on any sort of level with any of his peers in the Big Ten right now at the running back position, and that’s completely understandable.
But I think Mark Weisman has an NFL future. Someway, somehow, I think he has an NFL future.
There are going to be a lot of backs drafted to the NFL in the 2015 draft, perhaps on par with this year’s current class of wide receivers as one of the deepest individual position groups coming in one class that I have ever seen. As many players at this position as I expect to be drafted, it’s entirely possible that Mark Weisman won’t be one of them.
As I previously stated, this is not a guy who is going to blow anyone away with athletic ability or speed, but I think where Weisman really sets himself apart is when the pads go on, and you line up toe to toe, he’s not going to be denied two things — first downs and touchdowns.
Weisman is capable of breaking off runs for big gains, but he’s not a burner and doesn’t have a second or third gear. He stays in first gear most of the time he’s toting the rock, but he is so big and strong that he is able to carry piles with him wherever he goes and he constantly falls forward for extra yardage.
What I love most about Weisman’s game is his ability to read the play as it develops. Even though he’s not a speed back, Weisman is willing to be patient and let runs develop on zone/stretch plays. He finds creases, hits them hard, and is able to drag tacklers for additional yardage.
When Iowa gets into the red zone, they feel they have a really strong formula by simply giving Weisman the football and letting him push them into the end zone, and it’s been working really well this season. So far, he’s got 13 touchdowns, three of which have come in the first half of a rout over Northwestern, and 11 have come in their previous five games. He’s no stranger to fast starts for the Hawkeyes, but Weisman has been unreliable in the later portion of the season be it due to wearing down with injury or whatever else could be a contributing factor.
What NFL scouts want to see is a guy who is willing to get tough yardage and someone who has a natural instinct for moving the chains and putting points on the board. That’s what Weisman can do and I think it translates to the next level but I also don’t know if it’s going to be enough to get him drafted. He seems like the type of guy who will get invited to a camp and make it impossible for some team to cut him.
He’s been coached really well at Iowa and has had an offensive scheme tailored to his abilities, but in the right system in the NFL, I think he could be a guy that some team uses as a goal-line back or player to move the chains.