The character of the operating again place calls for that gamers can emerge out of anyplace, at any time. Who’re the highest breakout candidates at RB within the 2023 NFL Draft? As this record reveals, departures from the 2022 NFL Draft could have opened home windows for brand new skills to emerge, and finally, take spots within the 2023 NFL Draft down the street.
2023 NFL Draft breakout candidates at RB
Our record of 2023 NFL Draft RB breakout candidates options prospects from 4 of 5 Energy 5 conferences, together with two from separate operating again factories within the vaunted SEC.
John Emery Jr., LSU
There are particular faculties — predominantly from the SEC — the place NFL operating backs are anticipated. LSU is a type of faculties. The Tigers’ affect stems all the best way again to Joseph Addai. And in latest drafts, LSU has produced early-round choices equivalent to Leonard Fournette, Derrius Guice, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and most just lately Tyrion Davis-Worth. LSU has a line to maintain constructing on, and John Emery Jr. often is the subsequent man up.
Emery was once a highly-touted five-star recruit, who collected 1,693 yards and 26 touchdowns in his senior highschool marketing campaign. At 5’11”, 220 kilos, with a recorded 40.5″ vertical soar out of HS, Emery little question seems the half.
His collegiate profession hasn’t gone in line with plan thus far; he was a marginal producer in 2019 and 2020, and was dominated academically ineligible in 2021. However Emery has since turned it round and was given RB1 reps all through the spring. He has the expertise to dominate if given an opportunity.
King Doerue, Purdue
Purdue’s offense did plenty of injury via the air final season. However after shedding David Bell to the NFL draft, and shedding rising star Milton Wright to tutorial ineligibility, there’s an opportunity the Boilermakers put extra on operating again King Doerue’s shoulders in 2022.
Aidan O’Connell will nonetheless get loads of work within the passing sport, however Purdue may need a participant they will depend on in Doerue. He’s a really intriguing participant sort at operating again, standing round 5’10”, however is properly over 200 kilos, and brings the specified density in tight conditions.
That density typically permits Doerue to face up to contact, however he’s additionally a reputable athlete. He can levy clean lateral cuts within the open subject and has strong lengthy pace as properly. After amassing 533 yards in 2021, Doerue may very well be due for an additional uptick in statistical output.
Kenny McIntosh, Georgia
Departures at all times pave the best way open for alternatives, and the perfect college football packages at all times have gamers able to pounce on these alternatives. Georgia falls beneath that class.
Particularly at operating again, Georgia has produced constant NFL draft choices for years. From Sony Michel and Nick Chubb to D’Andre Swift, Zamir White, and James Cook dinner — naturally, a brand new again has to hold the torch in 2022.
Proper now, it seems as if that again shall be Kenny McIntosh. Within the first three years of his profession at Georgia, the previous four-star recruit solely amassed 130 carries for 753 yards and 6 touchdowns. However with White and Cook dinner each gone, McIntosh has the within observe to the lead position in 2022.
The 6’1″, 210-pound again has by no means dealt with a premier workload, however he flashes the traits to take action. McIntosh is an effervescent short-area athlete with spectacular burst and physique management, and he’s an exceptional receiving menace as properly.
Jirehl Brock, Iowa State
Very similar to McIntosh, Jirehl Brock has been ready his flip for the previous three seasons. In 2019 and 2020, Brock was buried on the depth chart behind Breece Corridor and Kene Nwangwu. In 2021, Brock nonetheless performed second fiddle to Corridor, who went on to be chosen in Spherical 2 of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Jets. Now, nevertheless, as a fourth-year junior, it seems like Brock is in line to get his likelihood.
Brock’s four-star pedigree tells of unrealized promise, however it’ll take work for Brock to achieve his peak in 2022. In a restricted pattern measurement, he’s flashed each potential and proven his flaws. As a runner, he can enhance his artistic instincts, however that ought to include time and expertise.
At 6’0″, 215 kilos, Brock is at the very least a sturdy again, and whereas he lacks elite burst, he has clean athleticism. He’s additionally a keen cross protector, offering glimpses of three-down upside.
Trey Benson, Florida State
We’re digging deep for this final NFL Draft breakout candidate on the RB place. A former 2020 recruit, he solely has six profession carries thus far. However there’s plenty of buzz round Trey Benson, who just lately transferred from Oregon to Florida State and rapidly gained traction within the RB rotation throughout spring practices.
There’s speak that Benson may very well be a breakout participant for the Seminoles. Knee accidents have set him again thus far, however now, he seems wholesome and able to go.
At 6’1″ and over 200 kilos, Benson has very fast toes, and he’s an easy accelerator upfield. He can alter his stride lengths and explode into house with bounding strides, however he additionally leans and sinks his hips on route adjustments. The pure, uncooked expertise is all there with Benson. And with good well being and alternative coalescing in 2022, he might come out of nowhere as an emergent star on the CFB stage.
