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2007 Rookie Profiles: Fullbacks
Posted:
5/07
Courtesy of the
TFY Draft Preview
Full Name: Jesse Allen School: Virginia Tech Ht: 6-0 Wt: 247 40: 4.84 Year: 5Sr
Bio: Part-time starter the past three years. Carried the ball just three times as a senior and added four receptions.
Pos: Hard-working lead blocker who uses all his assets to their maximum. Displays good vision, squares into opponents and gets after blocks. Strong, turns defenders off the ball and opens the running lanes. Picks up blitzes and squares into opponents.
Neg: Not quick off the snap, struggles to adjust and lacks playing speed. Marginally productive handling the ball.
Analysis: A hard-working blocker with solid size, Allen could back up for a team that uses a traditional fullback.
Ht: 6-2.5 Wt: 247 40: 4.72 Year: 5Sr
Bio: Three-year starter who carried the ball just one time as a senior and added three receptions. Junior pass-catching numbers were 14/147 after 17/157/2. Carried the ball only 13 times in college.
Pos: Athletic lead blocker with terrific size. Quickly gets off the snap, displays good blocking vision, and explosive at the point. Squares into opponents and removes them from the action. Shows the agility to get around tackle.
Neg: Saw his playing time reduced last season because of the system. Does not accelerate through blocks. Marginal offensive threat.
Analysis: An aggressive blocker who plays to his measurables, Anderson has starting potential in a two-back set. Offers good upside for the next level and has the ability to produce in a variety of ways.
Ht: 5-10.5 Wt: 243 40: 4.75 Year: 5Sr
Bio: Senior totals included 23/78/0 on the ground and 14/101/2 receiving. Did not play in ’05 after leaving the school with legal and personal issues. Moved into the starting unit as a junior in ‘04.
Pos: Hard-working blocker who flashes abilities handling the ball. Quick off the snap, has a burst of speed and accelerates into blocks. Jolts opponents at the point, sealing them from the action and opens holes for running backs. Fluid into pass routes.
Neg: Looks almost lean on the field and does not play like a 250-pound lead blocker. Not a natural pass-catcher.
Analysis: A solid athlete who has displayed flashes of skill at Connecticut, Anderson has the ability to develop into a lead blocker for a West Coast offense. Must sort out his personal issues, which ultimately could keep him from having a career at the next level.
Full Name: Jackie Battle School: Houston Ht: 6-2 Wt: 242 40: 4.73 Year: 5Sr
Bio: Part-time starter the past two years totaling career numbers of 184/943/15 carrying the ball as a senior. Junior totals included 408-yards rushing and five scores.
Pos: Nice-sized short-yardage runner best between tackles. Finds the running lanes, works runs on the inside and falls forward when tackled. Keeps his feet moving on contact and strong ball carrier who picks up the tough yardage. Displays vision as a ball carrier or blocker.
Neg: Straight-line runner who does not have the speed to get around the corner. Average hands out of the backfield. Not decisive nor elusive.
Analysis: A hard-pounding, short-yardage ball carrier, Battle’s best opportunity at the next level may come as a lead blocking fullback.
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 232 40: 4.91 Year: 4Sr
Bio: Sporadic starter who's primarily been a reserve the past three years. Senior rushing totals were 46/129/5, with 15/91 catching the ball. Career-best rushing numbers of 62/247/6 came as a sophomore.
Pos: Hard-working fullback who displays a good amount of versatility in his game. Tough carrying the ball on the inside, picks up the difficult yards and falls forward when tackled. Solid receiver out of the backfield who catches the ball with his hands. Displays good vision as a blocker or ball carrier.
Neg: Does not attack blocking assignments and is tentative at the point of attack. Possesses limited size as a lead blocker and marginal speed to be a feature runner.
Analysis: Productive in a reserve role at Alabama, Castille could find a home as a backup in a West Coast system if he produces on special-teams.
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 231 40: 4.82 Year: 5Sr
Bio: Starting fullback who caught four passes as a senior yet did not carry the ball. Junior pass-catching numbers were 5/43/1.
Pos: Intense lead blocker with marginal size/speed. Displays outstanding blocking vision, squares into defenders and gives effort in his all-around game. Above-average footwork in pass protection.
Neg: Not quick off the snap into blocks. Lacks the speed and agility to get around the corner and create space.
Analysis: A marginal athlete with a passion for the game, Latsko must make it on special teams to have any shot at the next level.
Ht: 5-11.5 Wt: 241 40: 4.85 Year: 5Sr
Bio: Three-year starter used as both a halfback and lead blocker. Finished his senior season with seven carries for 47 yards, also totaling 5/36/1 as a junior.
Pos: Hard-working fullback with nice size. Displays good blocking vision, attacks assignments and clears the running lanes. Aggressive and works hard to finish blocks.
Neg: Marginal athlete who does not possess the speed or agility to get around the corner and create space for ball carriers.
Analysis: A prospect with a great attitude, Lau has a chance as a fifth ball carrier kept on a squad specifically for short-yardage situations.
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 258 40: 4.94 Year: 4Sr
Bio: Started every game as a senior, totaling 11/64 on the ground and adding 20/175/3 as a receiver. Rotated in and out of the starting lineup the prior two seasons. Junior receiving totals were 18/140/2.
Pos: Well-built lead blocker who is effective as a pass-catcher. Displays power at the point of attack, anchors in pass protection and blocks down well on opponents. Quickly picks up blitzes, slides his feet and squares into opponents. Good vision as a blocker or ball carrier. Solid receiver who extends to make the reception and uses his frame to protect the pass.
Neg: Showed limited blocking intensity last season. Decelerates at the point of attack, does not give much effort to finish blocks nor does he play to his size. Limited speed and ineffective carrying the ball.
Analysis: A naturally strong lead blocker who flashes versatility in his game, McClain has enough power and talent to make it at the next level. Must first prove he is willing to do the little things and give consistent effort.
Ht: 5-11.5 Wt: 244 40: 4.93 Year: 6Sr
Bio: Three-year starter who posted just 8/59 totals on the ground as a senior in nine games. Most productive season of 146-rushing yards came as a sophomore.
Pos: Tough, hard-working lead blocker with limited potential as an offensive threat. Attacks assignments, jolts opponents at the point of attack and displays terrific vision. Seals opponents from the action and plays with leverage. Picks up blocking assignments and helps out as a safety-valve receiver.
Neg: Does not accelerate into blocks, which hampers his ability to finish off defenders. Marginally productive handling the ball.
Analysis: A high-effort player with solid size, O'Neal is a one-dimensional blocker with limited potential.
Ht: 6-2.5 Wt: 242 40: 4.85 Year: 4Sr
Bio: Former fullback who moved to tight end after his junior season. All-Conference selection last year after totaling 42/426/1.
Pos: Athletic prospect who has displayed skill handling the ball. Plays with leverage, quickly releases into pass routes and is a solid receiver. Strong at the point, blocks with good fundamentals and nicely works his hands.
Neg: Not physical and never consistently attacks blocking assignments. Does not finish, and falls off blocks. Marginal speed.
Analysis: A former fullback with no position in Oregon's new offensive system, Rosario has been out of place at tight end. Could have a home as a lead blocker in a West Coast offense if he picks up the physical nature of his game.
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 230 40: 4.79 Year: 5Sr
Bio: Three-year starter used as both a feature back and lead blocker. Led the team in rushing as a senior, posting 183/772/7 while adding 29/282 as a receiver. Junior totals included 325 yards rushing and 19 receptions.
Pos: Well-built backfield prospect with marginal upside for the next level. Aggressive carrying the ball or blocking, picks up assignments and works hard until the whistle blows. Strong at the point and removes defenders from the action at fullback, opening holes for the ball carrier. Patient runner who breaks tackles and picks up the difficult yardage.
Neg: Stiff, lumbers about the field and has difficulty cutting back against the grain. Does not possess the speed to get around the corner.
Analysis: A versatile college player, Snelling lacks the size to be a true lead blocker and the ball-handling skills to be a feature back. Offers possibilities as a short-yardage runner, and his pass-catching skills provide added value.
Full Name: Brandon Snow School: Penn State Ht: 6-1 Wt: 242 40: 4.92 Year: 4Sr
Bio: Two-year starter at fullback who also saw action as a linebacker during his sophomore campaign. Posted just 13/34 totals as a ball carrier last season, with three receptions.
Pos: Hard-working lead blocker with marginal athleticism. Attacks assignments, is strong at the point and seals defenders from the action. Flashes the ability to get around the corner. Adequate receiver out of the backfield.
Neg: Possesses marginal playing speed and does not finish blocks. Not an offensive threat.
Analysis: Offering good size as a lead blocker, Snow is a one-dimensional fullback with potential for a team with a run-first offense.
Ht: 5-10 Wt: 252 40: 4.82 Year: 5Sr
Bio: Three-year starter used mainly as a lead blocker. Carried the ball a combined 10 times for 25 yards the past three years.
Pos: Hard-working, aggressive fullback who opens running lanes. Attacks blocking assignments, is strong at the point and knocks defenders off the ball. Breaks down well, squares into opponents and is explosive at the point. Gets chips on defenders to knock them from their angle of attack in pass protection. Shows outstanding blocking vision.
Neg: Not quick off the snap, possesses marginal playing speed and struggles getting around the corner. Not an offensive threat.
Analysis: A lead blocker who does the little things well, Vercher has the attitude and ability to make it as a second fullback placed on the field during short-yardage situations.
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