2011 NFL Scouting Combine: Running Backs

Image: Jordan Todman

The running backs were also on display Sunday (February 27th) at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine and quite honestly I wasn't very impressed. This 2011 NFL Draft won't be real strong at the running back position.

2009 Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram came in a little lighter than his playing weight of 225 pounds. He weighed in at the combine at 5' 9" 215 pounds. The weight loss didn't help him however as he ran a very mediocre 4.62 forty yard dash. Ingram is explosive though, he had an excellent 10 yard split and has never been known as a breakaway threat.

Even though he wasn't the fastest, I think the best running back at the combine was Connecticut's junior running back Jordan Todman (5' 9" 203 lbs). His 40-yard dash time of 4.40 was impressive and he also had a 38" vertical jump and a 10' 6" broad jump. Todman isn't as well known as 2009 Heisman Trophy Winner Mark Ingram, but Todman's 1,695 rushing yards last year was #2 in the nation. He also rushed for 14 touchdowns so he known what to do with the rock.

Oklahoma RB DeMarco Murray also helped himself at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine. He ran his 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds, he also recorded a 10' 4" broad jump and 4.18 in the 20 yard shuttle. Murray also had an excellent season on the field last year where he rushed the ball 282 times for 1,214 yards and 15 TDs. Todman and Murray could easily come off the board in the second or third round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

Maryland's Da Rel Scott (5' 11" 211 lbs) actually holds the record as the fastest running back at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine. He ran his 40-yard dash in a blazing 4.34 seconds. Not super productive at Maryland, but he should get drafted in the middle rounds based off his excellent size speed combination.