2020 NFL Draft: Arizona State RB Eno Benjamin scouting report

Arizona State’s Eno Benjamin is one of the most polarizing running back prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft class. After watching his film, this is my final scouting report on the Sun Devils running back.

His production took a dip from 2018 to 2019, but Eno Benjamin is still the workhorse running back an NFL team could use in a committee.

Name: Eno Benjamin
Position: RB
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 205 pounds

Career Stats (34 Games): 576 rushing attempts, 2867 rushing yards, 27 rushing touchdowns, 625 receiving yards, 4 receiving touchdowns
2019 Stats (12 Games): 253 rushing attempts, 1083 rushing yards, 10 rushing touchdowns, 347 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns

Film Assessment

Games Watched: 2018: UTSA, Washington 2019: Michigan State, Oregon

Strengths: Benjamin, as a ball-carrier, doesn’t have any glaring holes. He is a reliable runner that can grind out carries. He is a fairly patient back that allows running lanes to develop and hits them with solid burst and acceleration. Benjamin can make players miss at times and can muscle up a few extra yards with good lower body strength.

Benjamin has a jump-spin move that he uses often and effectively and can typically get a couple of extra yards afterward. He always seems to fall forward and gain the extra yards needed for the first down. His ability to recognize holes well and hit the correct lane consistently is a plus. His vision overall gives him a high-floor as a prospect.

Weaknesses: Benjamin does not project well as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. He has solid hands but doesn’t have elite athleticism to threaten the defense in that regard at the next level. As a pass blocker, he is a complete liability and doesn’t have the skill-set to be a three-down running back in the NFL.

Benjamin doesn’t have elite speed or burst to threaten the big play. On one-on-one situations, he does not win enough and gets taken down by the first tackler too often. Without the ability to make players miss, he is unlikely to be thought of as a running back that can create on his own like some of the top starting running backs in the NFL.

Vision: 10/15
Long Speed: 6/10
Burst: 6/10
Patience: 7/10
Contact Balance: 6/10
Receiving Ability: 3/10
Ball Security: 7/10
Agility: 5/10
Play Strength: 7/10
Blocking: 0.5/5

Final Film Grade: 5.75 (4th Round Film Grade)

Best Film: Oregon ’19
Worst Film: Washington ’18
Best Trait: Vision
Worst Trait: Breaking Tackles

Summary: Eno Benjamin has been a workhorse running back for the Sun Devils since stepping on campus in 2017. He has had great production and has been a huge contributor to the rise of Arizona State football in the new era under Herm Edwards. Now he is one of the most prominent 2020 NFL Draft prospects.

With no glaring holes as a runner, it is easy to be enticed by Benjamin and what he can bring to the table, however, there is much to his game outside of rushing the ball that is not up to par with the expectations of running backs in today’s NFL.

As a pass-catcher, he is below average and doesn’t serve as a point of emphasis in the passing game for defenses. In addition, a big downside of his is his inability to pass-block. Benjamin doesn’t do much to impede defenders rushing the passer and typically opts to attempt to chop-block blitzing linebackers which very seldom is effective.

Eno Benjamin doesn’t have the home-run hitting ability because of his lack of open field speed and explosiveness. He also doesn’t make people miss too well, but Eno Benjamin can carry a workload very successfully on early downs in the NFL due to his vision and strength. I think he can be very productive in a committee where he sees early-down work.

For him to raise his play and find long-term success at the next level, he should really develop one facet of his game that he can really hang his hat on. With his capability to serve as a safe and solid option in the backfield early for an NFL franchise, Benjamin is undoubtedly one of the better running back prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft.