Arizona State RB Eno Benjamin declares for the 2020 NFL Draft

Arizona State running back Eno Benjamin declares for the 2020 NFL Draft, joining a growing running back class.

The hype train for the running back class in the 2020 NFL Draft has been going since the summer. So many underclassmen with potential entered this season with the opportunity to declare after the season. Arizona State running back Eno Benjamin will be joining the fold and entering the draft this spring.

The 5’10”, 201 pound junior had a breakout season as a sophomore in 2018, carrying the ball 300 times for 1642 yards and 16 touchdowns. His numbers declined a little in 2019, but he still had 1,083 yards on the ground and 10 touchdowns on the season. That 4.3 yards per clip (compared to 5.5 the year prior) is something to dive deep into his tape to see what the cause was.

As a prospect, Benjamin provides plenty of intrigue. He is a tough downhill runner between the tackles, and can consistently fight off contact when he gets to the second and third level of the defense. He isn’t the most fluid runner in the draft, but Benjamin is a good athlete who can make plays when he gets into space, including the ability to move laterally.

One of the better things we see in Benjamin’s game is his ability as a pass catcher. He caught 77 passes for 610 yards in his last two seasons with the Sun Devils. That three down ability combined with his ability to make things happen in space is important in the NFL.

There are some questions to Benjamin’s game though. There are some vision question, and there are times on tape where he doesn’t trust what he sees in terms of running lanes. Another thing for him to work on will be pass protection (something most young running backs need to work on). He cuts a lot and needs to show he can square up defenders.

Testing will be important for him, and if teams see a very good athlete there will be plenty to give him a chance.