2021 NFL Draft: Oregon RB CJ Verdell early scouting report

Early 2021 NFL Draft scouting report on Oregon running back CJ Verdell.

CJ Verdell returns to Oregon for his redshirt junior season as one of the best running backs in college football. Verdell has rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of the last two seasons and was an All-Pac-12 second-team selection for his play in 2019. Verdell was also named Pac-12 Championship Game MVP for his incredible performance against a stout Utah defense. In that game, Verdell rushed for 208 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries.

Verdell is an exciting prospect who needs to be in any 2021 NFL Draft discussion about the position. Let’s learn more about his game.

Name: CJ Verdell
Position: RB
School: Oregon
Height: 5-foot-9
Weight: 205 pounds

Height and Weight come via GoDucks.com.

2018 Stats: 202 carries for 1,018 yards and 10 touchdowns (5.0 YPC average). 27 receptions for 315 yards and two touchdowns.
2019 Stats: 197 carries for 1,220 yards and eight touchdowns (6.2 YPC average). 14 receptions for 125 yards.

CJ Verdell is small in stature, but he does use his size to his advantage at times. Verdell does a nice job of hiding behind his offensive linemen when possible, then quickly shooting to his gaps and exploding through for a chunk play.

He shows impressive ball carrier vision in the zone game and impressive patience when the play calls for it. Verdell has impressive natural instincts with the ball in his hands, quickly finding holes and maneuvering his body into a position to create yardage.

I love watching Verdell on quick downhill runs for short yardage. If the play is blocked well, this guy gets north and south quickly and finds his way past the chains. He has a nose for the first down marker and will do everything that he can to get there.

Verdell also shows great burst through the line of scrimmage. When this guy sees the hole, he gets to and through it in an instant, consistently putting pressure on the defense. While watching Verdell, there were many times where opposing linebackers and box safeties seemed ready to meet Verdell in the hole and poof, he was gone. He legitimately challenges the angles of second-level defenders.

I also loved watching this 2021 NFL Draft prospect finish runs. He consistently finishes as the aggressor, putting his head down and picking up as much yardage as he possibly can. He is a tough and physical runner who is always falling forward. There are even a few times where Verdell completely stones the defender on impact, shaking him off with ease and getting back up to speed quickly.

In the passing game, Verdell shows soft hands, consistently catching the ball away from his body. He also does a nice job of getting upfield quickly and making plays after the catch. Verdell did not show the most expansive route-running ability, but he does do a solid job of finding the soft zones in the defense as a security blanket.

As a pass protector, Verdell shows the ability to locate the blitz and understand who he is supposed to block. He is also an extremely willing pass blocker who is not afraid to put his body on the line against any opposing defender. There are times where his lack of size and actual functional strength cause him issues in this department, but Verdell’s combination of mental processing and competitive toughness allows him to be a solid pass protector.

While Verdell consistently finishes runs hard, there are plenty of times where he does not have the power to really make much of an impact at the point of attack. He is always trying to fall forward and create a couple of extra yards, but there is only so much a back of his size can do.

I also question Verdell’s mental processing as a runner at times. When he sees the hole quickly, he is an absolute rocket through the line of scrimmage. He also creates well with the ball in his hands when he allows his natural instincts to take over. However, there are times where Verdell seems to overthink his options and hesitate on his way to the hole.

Personally, I am extremely excited to see what Verdell can do during the 2020 season and that will obviously have a lot to do with his final 2021 NFL Draft evaluation. Oregon will be replacing five key players on their offensive line this season, with only Penei Sewell returning from the 2019 starting offensive line. Sewell is the best offensive lineman in the country and will likely be a top-five pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, but this offensive line will still likely take a step back in 2020.

I am interested to see how Verdell can produce behind this new offensive line. Throughout most of his tape evaluation, there were a ton of massive holes for him to run through. That is unlikely to be the case in 2020. Can Verdell continue to show off his explosive burst with more narrow running lanes? Will his seemingly minor mental processing lapses be exposed more behind a less experienced offensive line? Only time will tell.

Overall, with a strong combination of burst through the hole, short-area quickness and finishing ability, there is a lot to like about Verdell as a 2021 NFL Draft prospect. Verdell is best suited for a zone scheme at the next level, but he can get downhill quickly and make plays in a gap based scheme as well.

He is clearly a talented prospect who also shows next-level ball carrier vision at times. If he can find those holes on a more consistent basis and prove himself more as a pass-catcher out of the backfield, Verdell should easily find himself as a Day 2 selection in the 2021 NFL Draft.