One of the fascinating variables of NFL Draft is the discrepancy in how fans and teams may weigh production. Teams “overdrafting” players who fans are not familiar with is a trademark of the process. Yet, when these picks hit, they can often provide teams with immense value.
It is a good reminder that the NFL Draft is nothing more than projection, and a lack of production at the college level is not necessarily an indictment (albeit certainly still a knock). When a team drafts Ulysses Bentley IV, they will be hoping to join the lineage of squads finding a diamond in the rough through the draft. A scouting report will certainly suggest that this is a possibility when evaluating his NFL prospects.
2025 NFL Draft Early Scouting Report: Ulysses Bentley IV
Measurables
Height: 5’10’
Weight: 200 lbs
Ulysses Bentley IV Scouting Report and Player Background
Bentley IV emerged as three-star recruit in 2019. The product of Houston, Texas opted to stay close to home and join SMU for the 2019 season. After logging only seven carries in his first year with the Mustangs, Bentley IV exploded for 913 yards as a sophomore.
His tenure with SMU would last only one more year, before he transferred to Ole Miss. With the rebels, Bentley IV would never be able to top his 913 yards as a sophomore at SMU. Yet it is important to note he often shared the Ole Miss backfield with prominent draft prospects.
Henry Parrish Jr. in 2024, and Quinshon Judkins in 2023, both chipped away from Bentley IV’s carries. As such, a scouting report is bound to focus on traits over production.
Positives
The biggest allure of Bentley IV’s game is his big play ability. In three of his seasons as an NCAA athlete, Bentley IV logged an 80+ yard touchdown. His breakaway speed and decisiveness make him a weapon from any point on the field.
Bentley IV has a powerful lower half that allows him to break tackles at the line of scrimmage. The combination of these factors should be enough to entice teams with the home run ability he offers.
He also offers some upside in the passing game. A willing pass blocker, Bentley IV has some true knockout ability. He seems to possess natural hands, which coupled with his speed, should make him a threat in all aspects of the game.
Weaknesses
While willing as a pass blocker, Bentley IV does lack some of the leverage required to take on defenders head up. Whether this is a strength issue remains to be seen. There are also some technical deficiencies in Bentley IV’s game that help to explain the current lack of hype around his draft stock.
When the back gets moving east to west, some issues emerge. These weaknesses are most evident on swing passes, wide zone runs, flat routes, and anything resembling these. Bentley IV’s lateral movement appears hesitant, and there is a lack of decisiveness on when to punch his run upfield.
This often leaves meat on the bone of plays, and may help to explain why he split carries at Ole Miss. This seems to be indicative of some bigger vision issues in his game. While there may be schematic fixes that can circumvent these issues, it makes sense why there are skeptics of the back’s pro prospects.
Potential Team Fits
NFL Projection
Currently, Bentley IV is projected to an undrafted free agent according to early aggregate big boards. The most plausible outcome for Bentley IV is a complimentary back who handles a small role in an NFL offense. Yet, the fact of the matter is that he is simply too explosive of an athlete to not be getting more publicity throughout the draft process.
His big play ability should entice teams beyond some of the technical deficiencies in his game. A gap scheme could allow Bentley to capitalize on his one-cut ability and burst, and shield some of his vision and decisiveness concerns. Some of his biggest runs throughout the year came on counter looks.
Even inside zone looks seemed better for Bentley IV when they included a slice block. Bentley IV’s game may only be reaching its peak once he reaches an NFL roster. His game is reminiscent of Ty Johnson, who has begun to peak in his sixth NFL season. If Bentley IV was to follow suit, a patient team could be getting a big play threat with upside for a more prominent role as his career progresses.
Main Photo Courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck – Imagn Images
