2022 NFL Draft Notebook: Taking a look at the 2022 running back class

Breece Hall of Iowa State Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Breece Hall of Iowa State Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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2022 NFL Draft prospect and sleeper of the week Sincere McCormick Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports
2022 NFL Draft prospect and sleeper of the week Sincere McCormick Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports /

2022 NFL Draft Sleeper of the Week

A running back who has put up outstanding production the last two seasons yet is flying under the radar is Sincere McCormick of UTSA. As a true freshman in 2019, he rushed for 983 yards which was the third-highest total of any true freshman running back that season. This past season he ran for 1,467 yards and 11 touchdowns which was enough for him to be named the C-USA offensive player of the year.

As an NFL prospect, McCormick has several traits working in his favor. One of these is his outstanding balance. He routinely bounced off tacklers last season and finished second in the nation for yards after contact last season. His balance works well with his running style as well as he is more of a north and south runner and does very little dancing in the backfield.

To go along with his physical running style McCormick has been a valuable asset in the passing game. Over the last two seasons, he has recorded 44 receptions for 325 yards. While most of his receptions have been checkdowns he does possess the hands to be more of a downfield threat.

One of the reasons McCormick likely will not be drafted to the third day of the 2022 NFL Draft is his lack of elite size. Coming in at only 5-foot-9 and 200 pounds he is on the smaller side especially for a power back. His lack of size seems to really affect him when pass blocking and this is something he must improve on to see playing time in the NFL.

A few other concerns with him include the fact he possesses only average speed. While he has broken his share of long runs in college this ability might not translate to the NFL when he is playing much faster players. His lack of ball security is another issue teams might be nervous about. Over the past two seasons, he has fumbled five times and lost two of these fumbles.

Currently, McCormick curries a day three draft grades due to his lack of great measurables. However, with that being said his running style and outstanding balance could make him an ideal sixth or seventh-round selection for a team that runs a zone offense.