Justice Haynes has bounced between three different teams over the last three years. He will set his sights on becoming one of the best offensive players in the ACC this season. As we enter the summer portion of the 2027 NFL Draft cycle, this article will assess Haynes as a prospect ahead of his senior campaign with the Yellow Jackets.
Justice Haynes 2027 NFL Draft Early Scouting Report
Career Statistics
- 1465 Rush Yards
- 6.5 Yards Per Carry
- 46.0 Yards Per Game
- 19 Touchdowns, 1 Fumble
- 43 Missed Tackles Forced
- 801 Yards After Contact
- 81.5 Average Rushing Grade (Pro Football Focus)
- 78.7 Average Offensive Grade (Pro Football Focus)
- 57.9 Average Receiving Grade (Pro Football Focus)
Player Background
Haynes is a former highly touted prospect who piqued the interest of numerous powerhouses. He received offers from Ohio State, Georgia, and Florida before committing to the Crimson Tide. Alabama landed the former four-star recruit and added the third-best running back in the 2023 recruiting class, according to 24/7 Sports. Before the 2025 season, Haynes elected to enter the transfer portal and committed to the Michigan Wolverines, where he earned Third-Team All-Big Ten and Midseason All-American honors.
Unfortunately for fans in Ann Arbor, Haynes once again sought out another team in the transfer portal. He will spend his final season in the Atlantic Coast Conference, where he could lead all running backs in production. Georgia Tech will be gaining an explosive, powerful back with the potential to contribute on all three downs. Expect Haynes to lead the Yellow Jackets in rushing with a highly productive 2026 season.
Best Tools for Justice Haynes
- Quick jump cuts to avoid losing yardage in the backfield against defensive linemen and force missed tackles at the second level
- Burst before his ankle injury was electric; utilizes an effective one-cut move when working laterally and navigating the line of scrimmage
- Possesses a nice combination of power and explosion at 5’ 11” and 210 lbs
- More often than not, he will finish runs with his pads in the defender’s chest
- Smooth and patient when looking for his opening at the line of scrimmage, and completes long runs with breakaway speed
Justice Haynes breakaway speed pic.twitter.com/nhMNyqEOIQ
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) September 17, 2025
Tools to Improve for Justice Haynes
- Lack of experience and consistent carries; hasn’t logged more than 125 attempts to this point in his career
- Top-heavy as a pass protector; tends to beat defenders to their spot when asked to block laterally
- Durability concerns are real; he suffered a foot injury that nagged him throughout the second half of 2025, and could struggle to withstand a heavy workload
- Little exposure to advanced routes as a receiver; has been limited to swings, screens, and basic routes throughout his four seasons
Early Player Summary
Haynes is an electrifying player; there’s little doubt about that. He possesses incredible long speed and will threaten to take any run to the house. His health in 2026 will be crucial to both his long-term outlook as a prospect and to the Georgia Tech offense. If he stays healthy, Haynes could lead his conference in rushing, and the Golden Jackets could sneak their way into the College Football Playoff.
There are a plethora of high-caliber running backs in the 2027 NFL Draft, but he can avoid being lost in the depth of the class, especially if he can put together another healthy and productive season. If he can’t quiet the durability concerns, Georgia Tech will struggle to mount a running game — more importantly, a late-round selection will be all the more likely come the draft in April.
Main Photo: [Brendan Mullin] – Imagn Images
