NFL Draft: Standout offensive players from the 2017 Senior Bowl

Ralph’s Standout Running Backs

Kareem Hunt, Toledo: Toledo’s all-time leading rusher turned heads all week with his varied skill set to run inside, outside and makes catches out of the backfield.

The 21-year-old made one of the more spectacular receptions of the week by spinning around and using his soft hands to haul in an underthrown pass at full speed.

Hunt dazzled onlookers with his stop-and-go quickness and ability to make people miss on misdirection tosses and plays to get him in space, but he also has enough size to pound it in between the tackles.

The dynamic back was arguably the best player on the field during the actual game by leading all rushers with 118 yards on 15 carries.

Hunt used his extraordinary balance in gaining about eight yards on a 2-and-5 play in the first quarter by staying on his feet despite Montravius Adams getting a hand on him on the penetration.

That balance is no doubt a product of a very sturdy lower body.

The former Rocket authored back-to-back big runs in the third quarter. His second carry saw him quickly dart through a hole and explode for a 43-yard scamper demonstrating electric burst once he gets passed the front seven.

The one concern with Hunt is what weight will he show up at once he’s drafted? After playing at 225 pounds at Toldeo, the future pro is now listed at 208.

From the looks of things, it doesn’t seem as if he’s lost any power.

The one area where Hunt will need to improve in is his pass blocking, as he was easily beaten on an outside rush by Haasson Reddick in Thursday’s practice with an arm-over move.

Corey Clement, Wisconsin: While some anonymous scouts have already pegged the Big-Ten product as an “ordinary” back, his film and week of practice indicate that he has all the traits of a complete ball carrier that could start for several teams in the NFL.

At 5-foot-10 ½”, 221 pounds, Clement is a well-built athlete that made significant strides in his blocking technique as the week wore on. The former Badger, in fact, was seen reanchoring and sinking his hips versus a variety of defenders, including 238-pound linebacker Jordan Herdman, who was driven into the ground by the New Jersey native.

Clement, moreover, put forth a solid effort catching the ball out of the backfield from Tuesday through Thursday (see well-executed corner route versus Connor Harris in Tuesday’s practice).

The fact that he carried the ball only three times on Saturday might have been attributed to how hard he went down on his knee at the end of his first run of the contest.

On those three carries, though, No. 6 ran inside the tackle box with a purpose.

During the previously-referenced initial tote, Clement ran through contact for about eight yards and later followed that up with a 10-yard advance in which he ran right through Rayshawn Jenkins’ attempt to ankle tackle him.

Clement is a classic downhill runner that also has enough agility to cut laterally and accelerate downfield.

Dan’s Standout Running Backs

Jamaal Williams, BYU: Williams recorded a modest 29 rushing yards and nine receiving yards on 10 touches in Saturday’s game, but the former Cougar running back was one of the standout players of Senior Bowl week.

At 6-feet and 211 pounds, Williams is a powerful downhill runner with good breakaway speed. However, Williams really showcased his ability as a receiver out of the backfield and his ability to pick up blitzes in pass protection. According to Draft Analysts’ Tony Pauline, Williams “was the best of all the backs in blocking drills” and “terrific catching the ball all week.”

Williams showcased a complete game down in Mobile, and while some have concerns about his injury history, the former BYU back proved that he can hold up well in every phase of the game.

Going into the week, I viewed Williams as a solid Day 2 running back with immediate starting potential in the NFL, and his performance down in Mobile seems to reaffirm this notion.

Matt Dayes, NC State: Dayes looked explosive and decisive in the running game during Saturday’s game. He broke free several nice runs and was one of the most impressive players on the South squad.

After fumbling on his first carry in the game, Dayes recovered and strung together several nice runs, finishing the day with 66 yards on the ground on seven carries (9.4 avg) and a rushing touchdown. On a 17-yard run in the first quarter, Dayes showed excellent agility by juking safety John Johnson in the open field.

Dayes also broke free a 15-yard run late in the third quarter to set up his 2-yard touchdown run on the next play and a 24-yard rush in the fourth quarter where he showed excellent acceleration through the hole to break through the second level of the defense.

Anyone watching Dayes Tuesday through Thursday wouldn’t be surprised by his Saturday performance. Dayes broke off several long runs during team periods in practice throughout the week. He’s a quick, dynamic runner, and at 5-foot-7 and 205 pounds, he could be a very good change-of-pace back in the NFL.

He definitely solidified himself as a mid-round halfback in the NFL Draft.