There are many spots Alabama running back Bo Scarbrough could go in the 2018 NFL Draft. Will he find himself selected on the first day?
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During this time of the year, every news and sports outlet likes to predict the NFL Draft. One of the more inconsistent selections found in these projections is Alabama Crimson Tide running back Bo Scarbrough.
From first round to seventh round, there is no certainty as to where the 6-foot-2, 250-pound running back will land. Who was once the talk of the Alabama program following his sophomore year, Scarbrough produced a more quiet, yet efficient junior campaign in 2017.
Strengths
Understandably, Scarbrough will be seen as an asset in the NFL thanks to his large physique and power-style running ability. At 250 pounds, Scarbrough has shown he has the strength to break off wimpy tackles and move piles for extra yardage. During his sophomore year in 2016, Scarbrough averaged nearly seven yards per carry and while his number reduced to around five in 2017, he still managed to put up eight touchdowns- proving his worth in the red zone and short-yardage situations.
Scarbrough also has deceptive speed that could be quite useful at the professional level. Of course, with his size and power-minded running style it can be easy to assume there is not much of speed or agility there. He has proven to be an effective outside zone runner during his time at Alabama and is someone who can get one-on-one matchups with defensive backs with his ability to bounce outside.
Once Scarbrough gets into the next level on defense, he is hard to stop and will be a great multi-use back for some NFL team.
Weaknesses
Nagging injuries is certainly a downside for Scarbrough’s stock as he has suffered several during his football playing career so far. A lot of this has to do with the way he runs. A good chunk of the time Scarbrough can be seen running upright rather than getting lower to the ground, making him very susceptible to easy hits that could cause unwanted injuries. Being that he was much bigger than a lot of people in college he was able to get away with it at times, but with a much faster and stronger game in the NFL, this is something that will need to be fixed.
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Draft Expectations
For now, it is hard to see Scarbrough blossoming as a No. 1 guy in a team’s rotation and because of that teams will likely pass over him until they need someone who serves as more of a situational role. Scarbrough is too talented and valuable to drop as far as the last round, but do not expect him to come up on the first day either.
Prediction: Late third – early fourth round