Durability will be a concern for Todd Gurley but he has all the tools to excel at the Pro level.

Important NFL Combine Numbers
40-Yard Dash: DNP
Vertical Jump: DNP
Broad Jump: DNP
20-Yard Shuttle: DNP
3-Cone: DNP

Background (College Stats)
Gurley joined Bulldog legend Herschel Walker as only the second freshman in school history to run for 1,000 yards in 2012, which was incidentally the only season the North Carolina native topped that mark in his three-year career at Georgia. Although he rushed for at least 900 yards in each of his final two seasons, the 20-year-old missed three games as a sophomore with an ankle injury and parts of two others with ankle and hip injuries. As a junior, he was suspended four games for accepting $3,000 to autograph memorabilia for multiple dealers over a two-year span only to return and suffer a torn left ACL against Auburn in his first game back. Gurley has also excelled in track; he competed for Team USA in the 110-meter hurdles at the 2011 World Youth Championships in Athletics before starting college and, in 2013, he joined the Bulldogs’ track team and competed in the 60-meter hurdles, recording the seventh-fastest time in school history at 8.12 seconds.

NFL Player Comp(s): Steven Jackson

Best Scheme Fit: Universal. Should excel in zone- or man-blocking system. His decisiveness and remarkable acceleration make him a better fit for the former, but his power, balance and vision will be beneficial in the latter as well.

Strengths

• Lethal combination of power and speed; consistently punishes the first defender and breaks the first tackle attempt; amassed 61.9 percent of his rushing yardage after contact in 2014.
  
• Three-down back with superb balance and burst; built for heavy workload.
  
• Rarely gets caught from behind once he breaks loose and made a habit of outrunning defensive backs, even when they had an angle on him downfield.
  
• Downhill runner who doesn’t dance and hits the hole hard; has enough elusiveness to avoid defenders at the second level.
  
• Possesses the vision to exploit and senses cutback lanes – skills that are also readily on display when he returns kicks.
  
• Displays natural hands and can adjust to the ball in the air as a receiver.
  
• Possesses rare combination of the ability to fight for extra yards and excellent ball security (three fumbles – two lost – on 575 career touches).

Weaknesses

• November 2014 ACL injury leaves him as a question mark to recover in time for 2015 training camp.
  
• Hasn’t shown a great deal of durability throughout his career, even before his knee injury.
  
• Runs upright and doesn’t always lower his pads as quickly as he should, sometimes leaving him open to absorb as much punishment as he dishes out.
  
• Shows above-average awareness and possesses necessary size to be solid in pass pro, but is inconsistent with his aggressiveness and ability to sustain blocks.
  
• Infrequently used as anything more than a dump-off option or in the screen game, although his usage as a receiver appears to be much more a function of Georgia’s conservative offensive attack than due to any shortcomings he has in the passing game.

Bottom Line
Gurley has all the necessary physical tools to become a regular Pro Bowler, which is why he will likely be the first back taken off the board in April despite the fact he is still recovering from a serious knee injury. There are parts of Corey Dillon, Jamal Lewis, Marshawn Lynch and Jackson to his game, so it should come as no surprise that I believe he possesses the best size/speed/power combination of any back to come out in the draft in the last five years and perhaps since Adrian Peterson in 2007. Gurley runs as if every yard means something to him, which can sometimes be a blessing and a curse. He does not come without red flags: his four-game suspension in 2014 and injury history provide enough ammunition for his detractors. His college coaches have been quick to praise his personal and football character, however, suggesting his durability is his only real concern entering the league. Barring a situation in which he lands on a team dead-set on using a committee backfield approach or with a porous offensive line, Gurley should be considered a very good bet to win a rushing title at some point in his NFL career if he can stay healthy. In a draft filled with potential future starters at his position, the ex-Bulldog is the crown jewel of his class.