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As we all know, the New York Giants' rushing attack was anemic last season. Nay, anemic is probably too nice. How about pathetic? Does pathetic work? I think so. In any case, we all know that the offensive line was a huge part of that. It isn't the only part, though. The stable of Giant running backs is in a sad state of affairs at the moment. With David Wilson's career in jeopardy and Andre Brown an injury-prone back who couldn't break any tackles by the end of the year, the team really could use some juice at the position. The 2014 NFL Draft can help. The running back we'll be looking at in today's prospect profile is Storm Johnson out of Central Florida.
The former Miami Hurricane exploded onto the scene this season for UCF to the tune of 1,139 rushing yards, a 5.3 yards per carry average, and 14 rush touchdowns along with 30 receptions for 260 yards and an additional three touchdowns. He was named First-Team All-AAC in 2013.
Must Reads
Pros
- Big back at 6-foot-1, 216 pounds who can pick up the tough yardage inside.
- Shows patience and waits for his blocks to develop.
- Exceptional lateral agility for a player his size.
- Strong pass catcher out of the backfield. Can be a weapon in the passing game.
Cons
- Inexperienced pass protector
- Lack of explosiveness. Has a bit of a windup to get to top speed.
- Started only one year in college.
- Questionable initial vision.
Does He Fit With The Giants?
Probably. He's a downhill type runner who can move the pile. He's also an accomplished pass catcher and rarely makes mistakes. I'd say he's an ideal third-round back type prospect for the Giants with some upside. He certainly has athleticism for his size that makes him attractive.
Prospect Video
Storm Johnson vs Penn State (2013) (via Nick Page)
Big Board Rankings
Big Blue View - Not ranked in top 50
Mocking The Draft - 100
CBS Sports - 220
Draft Breakdown - Not ranked in top 150
Draft Tek - 278
Final Thoughts
Does Storm Johnson have the capability to be a starting running back in the NFL? From what I've seen of him thus far, I would say probably not. However, if he did turn out to be a good player, I wouldn't be terribly surprised. He has the tools with his size, power, and athleticism. He needs to develop better vision at times, but his patience is outstanding.
I'd compare him to Ronnie Brown, and while that isn't really a glowing recommendation, Brown in his early days was a weapon. He has a similar heavy running style. If he gains a bit of functional weight, he could be as successful as someone like Mike Tolbert. I definitely disagree with Draft Tek's ranking, as while he is likely a Day 3 pick, he's certainly a draftable player. The fifth round seems just about right for him.
