Zamir White NFL Draft Scouting Report
Position: Running Back
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 215 lbs
School: Georgia
NFL Combine Data:
40 Yard Dash: 4.4
Vertical Jump: 33.5
Broad Jump: 128
Zamir White NFL Draft Profile
White was one of the four running backs that heavily featured in the Bulldogs’ committee backfield in 2021. Nicknamed Zeus, he was the number-one nationally ranked running back in the 2017 recruiting class by multiple outlets and a five-star recruit by Rivals, 247, and PrepStar Magazine. Like so many Georgia running backs, White was redshirted as a freshman. However, his redshirting came about because White injured his knee during pre-season practice. It was his second major knee injury since tearing his ACL his senior year of high school. White said at the NFL combine he only felt back to normal in the middle of his junior year at Georgia. While he worked out of a timeshare every year in Athens, White was still able to pile up 1,635 rushing yards, 22 touchdowns, and an average of 5.4 yards per carry over his final two seasons. The running back was named a permanent team captain by his teammates in his final season with the Bulldogs.
White shows a lot of positives when watching him power through opposing tacklers. He has a great lower half that allows him to stay up-right through contact and power up the middle for extra yardage. His willingness to take on tacklers head-on is apparent and he never waivers throughout the duration of the game. White does not hit home runs; yet he is incredibly patient when hitting his gaps. He takes long strides in-space to break away from defenders in the second level. The factors that play against White are somewhat out of his control. Due to Georgia’s committee approach, White was rarely featured on passing downs. He had just 15 receptions his entire Georgia career. There will also always be questions about White’s injury history — especially considering the severity of tearing both ACLs.
Strengths
- Built like a five-star athlete with five-star power
- Strong legs make it easy for him to bounce off players and break out of weaker tackles
- Violent and powerful runner between the tackles
- Could be the kind of runner that gets more valuable as the game winds down
- Weight-room warrior who lives for improving his physique
- Long strides show his track background and give him a second gear of speed
Weaknesses
- Multiple ACL tears leave big questions about his overall health and sustainability as a pro
- Can hit gaps with more power than precision
- Looks slower before making his first cut than his 4.4 speed would indicate
- Almost never featured on passing downs as a member of the Georgia committee
NFL Comparison: DeMarco Murray with bigger injury concerns
Team with need at the position: Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks
Projection: Late fourth-fifth round
Bottom line on Zamir White
White is going to be a buyer-beware product in the NFL draft and likely an early-down back as a rookie. His smash-mouth running style mixed with his patient and silky footwork make him one of the best performing running backs in the class. However, there will be a lot of concerns about White’s injury history. It is not an uncommon take that White has already lost some burst since his second ACL tear and NFL running back is already an incredibly volatile position.
Where he falls in the draft will likely be determined by which team is willing to take a chance on a potentially injury-prone player that plays as violent a brand of football as White. He will likely be a day three pick but White could offer a tremendous ROI if he stays healthy early in his career. There are very few running backs in the draft that can deliver the combination of power and speed that White does.
Games watched: Clemson (2021), Arkansas (2021), Florida (2021), Alabama (NCG 2021), Missouri (2020), Alabama (2020)
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