2020 NFL Draft: Five teams that should target RB D’Andre Swift
By John Newman
D’Andre Swift Background
Even as a high schooler, D’Andre Swift was impressing football recruiters and local media with his football exploits.
Swift came out of Philadelphia’s St. Joseph Prep as a four-star recruit. There was a lot of buzz about Swift during his senior year, as Swift was considered the number one recruit coming out of Pennsylvania in 2017 and the fourth-best running back recruit in the country, according to 247 Sports.
When you look at Swift’s high school numbers, it is easy to see why. Playing four seasons for St. Joseph’s, Swift only had one season where he scored less than ten touchdowns. In Swift’s senior year, he exploded in the statistical columns, scoring 25 touchdowns on 149 runs for 1,564 yards. He helped lead St. Josephs to a 14-0 record, culminating in a 2017 PIAA Class 6A State Title for St. Joseph’s, according to his player biography for Georgia.
Besides being a phenomenal running back, Swift also showed a deft hand when receiving the ball. Swift earned 21 passing completions his senior year for 405 yards and 9 touchdowns. When it came time for Swift to announce his choice for college, Swift released a Philly inspired video to pay homage to the city he had grown up in.
During his time in Georgia, Swift became a regular contributor on the Bulldogs offense, scoring 20 touchdowns in three seasons, including back-to-back years of more than 1,000 yards rushing. Swift averaged 6.2 yards per rushing attempt this past season, along with 216 receiving yards on 24 attempts. Whether it was rushing or receiving, Swift proved to be a valuable contributor for the Bulldogs.
There is a lot to like about Swift’s three seasons in Georgia. For starters, he has only fumbled the ball an average of 2.3 times a season for Georgia and has only lost four fumbles in his three seasons, according to CBS Sports. That is nothing to scoff at, as having sure hands running the ball is one of the best traits a young back can have. His numbers show a great playmaker, a dual-threat running back that linebackers and safeties will have to take into consideration every play.
Coming into 2019, Swift was thought to be a legitimate Heisman candidate, according to Saturday Down South. With the exodus of key receivers and tight ends in the 2019 NFL Draft, Swift was expected to be a key cog in the Bulldogs offense again going into the season.
Considering Georgia had a stable of athletic running backs in 2019 and multiple NFL-caliber wide receivers in 2018, his exploits these past two seasons are even more impressive. By playing in the SEC, Swift played against some of the best teams in the country every season. And every season, Swift stood out in a group of exceptionally talented athletes.
With the regression of Jake Fromm as quarterback this season, Georgia came up just short in the rankings and missed the playoffs. But considering Georgia finished first in the SEC East, the season can hardly be considered a failure. Swift now enters the 2020 NFL Draft with plenty of success and experience on his résumé.
His college tape indicates a tough as nails, dual-threat running back, who can burn an offense on the ground or in the air. Swift is incredibly difficult to bring down and has the speed to leave the opposing defense in the dust if he gains separation. Georgia plays a very pro-friendly, diverse run style that will help convince scouts and General Managers he is ready to take on an NFL workload.
Considering the NFL is expecting it’s running backs to do more and more to earn their keep, being a dual-threat running back in the 2020 NFL Draft will help Swift as he makes his transition to the pros. The fact he has played in a system that uses a rotational running backs system in Georgia will help convince NFL teams that he can be a day one contributor on the offense.
His college film shows a young man who is smart, athletic, fast and talented all around. He may not be an every-down type of back, but most NFL teams are moving away from that style of running back in favor of a running back by committee style anyway.
Any NFL team would be lucky to land Swift in the 2020 NFL Draft. Next, we’ll see who are the top five teams that will be targeting Swift in the upcoming draft, based on his skill sets and experience.