Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford: 2017 NFL Scouting Report
By Brady Lunt
Few players in all of college football had the statistical production compiled by Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey. Despite finishing second in the Heisman race with 1,539 votes, McCaffrey had one of the most memorable seasons in history while breaking numerous NCAA records. During the last game of the regular season, against USC, McCaffrey broke Barry Sanders’ NCAA record for single-season all purpose yardage with 3,250. The very next game, he would break the Rose Bowl record for all-purpose yards with 368 yards (172 rushing, 105 receiving, 91 returns). The performance also made him the first player in the 102-year history of the Rose Bowl to have at least 100 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving. McCaffrey would finish his record-breaking streak by becoming Stanfords single-season rushing leader with 2,109 yards. To say he had a tremendous season would be a massive understatement.
McCaffrey proved to be one of the best players in the country and the offensive playmaker for the Cardinals. His talent on offense and special teams make him the top player to watch in 2016 and the early Heisman favorite. McCaffrey’s attitude is one that can only be compared to greats like J.J. Watt or Tom Brady, who love football, work hard to get better, and give their all to win. In describing himself, McCaffrey said, “Great players always play with a chip on their shoulder no matter if they have a reason to or not… I’m someone who believes in having motivation at all times”.
Measurables
- Height: 6’0″
- Weight: 201 lbs
- Year: Junior
- 40-yard dash (sec): 4.50
Strengths
- Versatility as a receiver and returner
- Speed
- Vision
- Toughness
- Attitude, Work ethic
The first thing that sticks out when you watch McCaffrey is just how often he is used by head coach David Shaw. McCaffrey has shown tremendous playmaking ability as a running back, receiver, and kick/punt returner. Not only is this illustrated by his production and newly-set records, but just how fluid he is when doing each phase. Rushing the ball, he attacks the line of scrimmage with toughness and velocity. His vision allows him to find the hole quickly and adjust to break through. He shows outstanding speed to turn it up field and is a threat to take the ball to the end zone every time he touches it. McCaffrey is entering a time where the running back position is starting to gain recognition and getting crowded. Despite names like Leonard Fournette, Nick Chubb, and Dalvin Cook, McCaffrey has shown he can do so much more on the field.
Weaknesses
You have to be nit-picky when evaluating Christian McCaffrey and trying to identify weaknesses in his game. He does so many things well and has been largely productive that there isn’t much to complain about. One thing that he will need to improve is the power generated from his legs. He is a bit of a top-heavy prospect that lacks the true bulk in his legs to drive defenders back on a consistent basis. While he is a tough player, he needs the power to match. While it hasn’t hindered his talent yet, McCaffrey is a taller prospect (6’0″) and will need to continuously work on his technique, getting low and driving forward.
Final Thoughts
Despite the tremendous amount of attention that prospects like Fournette and Chubb receive, McCaffrey was arguably the better rusher in 2015 and still managed to play a major role as both a receiver and returner. If McCaffrey can build on his stellar Sophomore season and continue on the path he’s built for himself, there is no telling just how much potential he’ll have in the NFL. He’s almost a sure-fire first round pick. Head coach David Shaw describes McCaffrey, saying “He’s ultra-competitive and ultra-hard on himself because he wants to be great at everything.” Perfect words to describe one of the next great prospects to potentially enter the NFL in 2017.