Overview
Position: Running back
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 211 pounds
School: Penn State Nittany Lions
Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 4.49 seconds
Bench press: 20 reps
Broad jump: 10 feet, 4 inches
Three-cone drill: 6.89 seconds (best among running backs)
20-yard shuttle: 4.19 seconds (third-best among running backs)
Miles Sanders 2019 NFL Draft Profile
2018 was always going to be a challenge for Miles Sanders expectations-wise. It’s a simple fact of life when you replace a generational talent like Saquon Barkley. But all indications were that he was more than capable of stepping in and making an impact. The Pittsburgh, PA native was a very highly touted recruit coming out of high school, rated as the top all-purpose running back by Rivals.com. That didn’t come as a surprise considering his immensely productive high school career that saw him win Pennsylvania’s Mr. Football award as a senior.
But Barkley’s presence in the Penn State backfield meant that it would take some time before Sanders had a chance to make a name for himself. Though he did play in all 13 games as a true freshman, he contributed mostly on special teams. Not much changed during his sophomore season, Barkley’s last before departing for the NFL. His stats bear this out during that period. He managed just 375 rushing yards and three touchdowns during his first two years as a Nittany Lion.
But suffice it to say he made the most out of becoming the go-to guy in 2018. Sanders was one of nine Big Ten backs to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark with his 1,274 rushing yards ranking 15th nationally. He added nine rushing touchdowns and his 5.79 yards per carry average was the eighth-best total in FBS among players who accounted for at least 200 carries. At season’s end, Sanders received second-team all-Big Ten recognition and was also named the team’s offensive MVP. Much like Barkley, he decided to forego his senior season and declare for the draft a year early.
Strengths
- well-built frame, particularly his lower body;
- laterally shifty with the ability to hop cut to avoid tacklers;
- finds cutback lanes with ease;
- seamlessly processes where space will open up ahead of him;
- able to elude defenders in space;
- exhibits patience in letting creases become available;
- maintains desirable center of gravity to create ideal contact balance;
- though production doesn’t show it, he’s functional as a pass-catcher;
- appears to have third-down value as a pass blocker;
- no medical red flags and not a lot of mileage on his legs.
Weaknesses
- doesn’t appear to have a great deal of explosiveness;
- struggles to get to the perimeter before edge pressure closes in;
- has issues consistently generating yards after initial contact;
- lacks that extra gear once he’s in the second and third level;
- needs to separate from coverage better when used in the pass game;
- tended to disappear in big games;
- dealt with fumbling issues at times.
NFL Comparison: Kerryon Johnson
Teams With Need at Position: Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins
Projection: Second round
Bottom Line
Sanders took his opportunity and ran with it in one season of high-level production with the Nittany Lions. And given the shelf life of running backs it the next level, foregoing his senior season should prove a prescient decision. He’s an intelligent, patient, and elusive runner with the downfield vision necessary to create big gains. Though his initial burst doesn’t jump out on film and he did deal with ball security issues, there’s much to suggest that Sanders can develop into a regular contributor at the next level. He should provide a reliable presence as a backup early on with a chance to become a starter as his career progresses.
