Overview
Position: Running back
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 202 pounds
School: Michigan Wolverines
Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 4.49 seconds
Bench press: 21 reps
Vertical jump: 34.0 inches
Broad jump: 10 feet, 3 inches
Karan Higdon 2019 NFL Draft Profile
Karan Higdon was a three-star recruit coming out of high school. From his first day on campus at the University of Michigan, he made an impact. Higdon compiled a very impressive stat line over his four years as a Wolverine against some impressive defenses including Nick Bosa and the Ohio State Buckeyes. He rushed for 2,616 yards to go along with 27 career touchdowns. One aspect that NFL teams should pay attention to with Higdon is his constant improvement. He played better each year at Michigan and really burst onto the scene in his senior season where he ran for 1,178 yards 10 touchdowns.
Higdon was an explosive back in college who possessed great downhill ability. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry during his career at Michigan. Higdon is an extremely aggressive runner and doesn’t allow his relatively short stature to affect his production. He also possesses above-average agility and can make people miss and get up into the secondary. The jury is still out on Higdon as a pass catcher. However, he did do well with the few passes thrown his way and can absolutely be a solid check-down option for any team.
Strengths
- Extremely elusive player;
- Boasts solid downfield vision;
- Aggressive and physical – doesn’t shy away from contact;
- Exhibits exceptional football I.Q.;
- A patient runner who lets seams develop in front of him.
Weaknesses
- Struggles in short yardage situations;
- Needs to exhibit better balance after contact;
- Could improve as an overall blocker;
- Might not be an every-down back right off the bat;
- A tad undersized.
NFL Comparison: LeGarrette Blount
Teams With a Need at the Position: New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals
Projection: Third round
Bottom Line
Despite Higdon’s lack of physical size, he projects well in the NFL. His ability to see the play unfold in front of him and to allow the offensive line to create holes will allow Higdon to thrive in the NFL. In addition to his patience in the backfield, Higdon also has above average strength and can easily break tackles if the defenders try and arm tackle him. Higdon absolutely has the ability to become a team’s starter out of camp in 2019 if he can continue to improve all areas of his game.
Although Higdon is a solid back he does come with his share of flaws. If he wants to be a top back in the league he will need to improve his ability to pick up blocks in the backfield. Right now Higdon can be a solid option on first and second down. However, his lackluster blocking skills may hinder his playing time on third down. In addition to blocking, Higdon needs to improve his ability to produce in short yardage situations. Too often at Michigan, Higdon struggled to break through contact and stay on his feet when trying to convert in short yardage situations. However, if Higdon can improve in these areas he could be a great value pick in the third round or later for any team that has a need for a running back.
