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NFL Combine: Ezekiel Elliott, Derrick Henry clearly NFL Draft’s best backs

By Gabe Encinas

Feb 24, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Derrick Henry put on a show at the NFL Combine to help their NFL Draft stock but weren’t the only standout performers on Friday.

We knew this was a draft filled with defensive linemen, but after watching the combine results from Friday, this might be a draft class lined with running backs that have all elevated their draft stock.

Guys like Ezekiel Elliott, Derrick Henry, Kenyan Drake and Keith Marshall all had solid performances in the 40-yard dash, despite the first two listed often being labeled as “power backs” in college.

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The Crimson Tide and National Champion running backs, Henry and Drake, each ran sub 4.55 40’s. Drake finished with a 4.45 and Henry with a 4.54. Drake was one of the clear winners in the speed department, but Henry blew the competition out of the water when you compare him to almost every individual.

Henry cranked out 22 reps on the bench, holding 225lbs of weight. He had a 37-inch vertical and a 130-inch broad jump. His shuttle runs and cone drills were not nearly as impressive, and it’s hard to expect that from a power back like Henry.

Ezekiel had one of the more impressive 40 times, clocking in at 4.47 seconds. Just given his production and all his physical attributes, Elliott seems like the top back in this class. If there was a winning running back for the combine right now it has to be Elliott, who is likely a lock for the top 15.

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But the fastest time among all running backs at the combine belongs to Georgia’s Keith Marshall, who ran a 4.31 40. That performance might not elevate him drastically, but that time might perk the ears of some general managers across the league.

Georgia has been developing running backs left and right, sending them into the NFL. Given his performance, it’s hard to think of Marshall not finding a role in the NFL, despite an injury history with the Bulldogs.

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