Wendell Smallwood

ANALYSIS
A West Virginia runner listed at 5-foot-11, 201 pounds, Smallwood isn't especially widely known but is still one of the most likable running backs in the draft. Smallwood was superb for West Virginia in 2015, leading the Big 12 with 1,519 rushing yards (6.4 YPC) in 13 games, scoring nine times. Although his frame makes him appear more of a third-down back than a true starter, Smallwood offsets that with pass-catching versatility, showing adeptness as a screen target and split-wide route runner alike. Smallwood overcomes a lack of leg strength and top-level athleticism by showing standout aggressiveness as a runner, displaying the ability to fall forward through sheer effort. His size-athleticism-production profile will probably project him as a Gio Bernard/James White-type of NFL runner, making him appear a reasonable target in the fourth or fifth round.