Gary Brightwell 2021 NFL Draft Profile
Position: Running Back
Height: 5’-11”
Weight: 218 pounds
School: Arizona
Gary Brightwell 2021 NFL Draft Profile
After spending the entirety of his collegiate tenure with Arizona, running back Gary Brightwell is hoping to take his talents to the next level via the 2021 NFL Draft. The aggressive running back played well when on the field, finishing his Senior season with 400 yards and one touchdown on 87 attempts. Additionally, he also added another 12 receptions on 13 targets for 57 yards.
Brightwell initially began his collegiate tenure as a three-star recruit out of Maryland. A first-team All-State running back in high school, Brightwell received multiple offers but eventually decided to sign with Arizona. After riding the bench as a true freshman, Brightwell started to earn a larger role in 2018.
While the running back never earned a featured role during his time in college, he did record a career-high 89 carries as a sophomore. He turned these opportunities into 533 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Brightwell had a similar stat line in 2019, turning 66 attempts into 390 yards and five touchdowns.
Strengths
- Ferocious runner that loves to blow people over;
- Has the build to be a short-yardage battering ram;
- Fast out of his cuts and has the speed to make it outside;
- Quick acceleration – hits the line at full speed;
- North-south runner that doesn’t waste time in the backfield;
- Arm tackles don’t take him down.
Weaknesses
- One-speed runner – doesn’t slow down to let blocks develop;
- Lacks breakaway speed – defenders will chase him down in the open field;
- Does absolutely nothing as a receiver;
- Below-average pass blocker that could get the quarterback killed in some schemes;
- Maxed out at 89 carries in a season – coaches never trusted him with a full workload,
NFL Comparison: Ronald Jones
Teams With Need At Position: Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets
Projection: 7th Round
Bottom Line on Gary Brightwell
Gary Brightwell is a fun player to watch, but what he does well isn’t exactly in high demand at the NFL level. The Arizona product runs with an unmatched fury, and he hasn’t found a defender he’s not willing to try and run over. His impressive frame is a good match for this skill set, as is his north-south running style. Brightwell reaches his top speed in a hurry and can usually pick up an extra yard or two by shedding off the first contact.
If this were 1997, these abilities might justify a third- or fourth-round pick. However, it’s 2021, and Brightwell’s complete lack of ability in the passing game puts a major cap on his ceiling. Arizona rarely used Brightwell in the passing game and when they did, it didn’t look pretty. The running back has some of the worst hands in the draft class, and his work as a pass blocker has a long way to go. Additionally, it’s a major red flag that he didn’t even receive a full workload in college. If he couldn’t beat out the collegiate competition, then it’s hard to imagine him figuring it out at the NFL level.
Ultimately, Brightwell could stick around as a situational short-yardage runner and emergency starter. However, he’ll also need to prove his worth on special teams if he wants to justify a full-time spot on the 53-man roster.
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