Andre Ellington, Senior, Running Back, Clemson
Overview:
After his junior year, contemplating leaving school early, Andre Ellington contacted the NFL draft advisory board and was told he graded out as a third round selection. He decided to return to Clemson for his senior year in the hopes of rebounding off a somewhat nicked-up year to become a first day draft pick. Even with a foot injury and missing a game, Ellington still tallied over 1100 rushing yards in his first full year as a starter. He is very quick and racks up yardage in bursts, with a 5.3 yards per carry average last year being his career worst mark. By coming back he also claims the title of the best running back in the Atlantic Coast Conference. With the departures of Lamar Miller from Miami and David Wilson from Virginia Tech, it is Ellington’s spot to lose.
Final Projection:
Recent NFL trends have not been kind to running backs. Teams are no longer itching for that every down back. Instead, most franchises employ two or three main runners to split carries and plays. This means more running backs are needed for important roles but fewer backs are expected to be top picks and carry the ball 20+ times a game. This may favor Ellington and he could actually be coveted as a second runner who can lop off huge chunks of yardage a la former Clemson back C.J. Spiller.
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