Paxton Lynch, Alex Collins and More: Season Review

Oct 10, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back C.J. Prosise (20) runs for a touchdown in front of Navy Midshipmen safety Lorentez Barbour (2) and linebacker Michah Thomas (44) in the third quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

C.J. Prosise, RB Notre Dame

C.J. Prosise was a guy who sparingly played the running back position in 2014 after being used primarily as a receiver. In 2015 he was asked to switch to running back full-time and he didn’t disappoint. In his first four games as a true collegiate running back Prosise racked up 600 yards while averaging an outstanding 8.1 yards per carry over that time. Since then however he’s racked up just two games of over 100 yards and failed to surpass 50 yards in games against Clemson, Temple and Pittsburgh.

A concussion took him out of the Pittsburgh game after only eight carries and held him on the sidelines for Wake Forest. He would return against Boston College, but only to suffer an ankle injury after his eigth carry again.

So what does he bring to the table as a running back? Well if he can get past his eight carry Prosise is the type of all around back that NFL teams are looking for. Being a versed offensive weapon means that an NFL team can place you anywhere on the field and get production. Prosise having the background of wide receiver and safety knows what it takes to get open down the field and how to find the soft spots in the defense.

In his career Prosise has accumulated 896 receiving yards and three touchdowns coming out of the backfield and in his one season as a receiver. I know I’ve talked a lot about what he can do as a receiver so let’s tap into his rushing ability. Anyone who can put up a large yards per carry average is doing something right and Prosise is the type of back who finds a seam and hits it. At 6’1 220 lbs he has the size to be a bruiser but plays in a more finesse style which works for him.

In the piece I wrote on him earlier in the season I made a reference to how he reminded me a lot of Arian Foster. I’m going to change that a bit and say Matt Forte because he has all the tools to be a guy who goes for 1000 yards rushing and 400 yards receiving in a 16 game season. If not for his injuries Prosise would’ve been a candidate to win the Doak Walker award and various other hardware amongst his peers. I currently have him ranked as the fourth best running back in the draft, his combine times and versatility should keep him in the 3rd to 4th round range. When asking around a lot of people Have Heard Of Cj Prosise, but his name isn’t as hot as it once was.

Next: Joe Schobert