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Running back Marshaun Coprich would seem to be in a difficult situation with the New York Giants. He's an undrafted rookie free agent, probably the seventh guy on a seven-man depth chart. Just don't tell him the odds aren't in his favor.
"I feel no matter what I do I can find a space," Coprich said on Monday while sitting outside the Quest Diagnostics Training Center. "I feel I can produce different things than other players."
Coprich said he had inquiries from around 10 teams, but chose the Giants after they made a late offer to him.
Let's take a closer look at Coprich as we continue our look at the 90-man roster the Giants will bring to training camp this summer.
[Complete audio of Coprich interview]
2015 Season in Review
Coprich followed up a 2,274-yard 2014 season by gaining 1,967 yards on 321 carries, an average of 6.1 yards per carry. He was named Missouri Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year after both seasons.
| Career Rushing/Receiving Stats | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | G | Rush | Yds | Yd/Rush | TDs | Rec | Yds | Yd/Rec | TDs |
| 2012 | IllSt | 13 | 15 | 70 | 4.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 |
| 2013 | IllSt | 11 | 221 | 885 | 4.0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 |
| 2014 | IllSt | 15 | 370 | 2274 | 6.1 | 27 | 15 | 54 | 3.6 | 0 |
| 2015 | IllSt | 13 | 321 | 1967 | 6.1 | 23 | 18 | 179 | 9.9 | 1 |
| Career | 52 | 927 | 5196 | 5.6 | 59 | 33 | 233 | 7.1 | 1 |
2016 Season Outlook
Coprich would seem to be facing an uphill fight in an effort to make the Giants' roster. After drafting Paul Perkins in the fifth round and signing Bobby Rainey as a free agent, the Giants would already appear to have more running backs than they can use. They currently have seven on the 90-man roster, and Coprich would be seventh on the depth chart.
That, however, doesn't mean Coprich has no chance.
"I'm used to it (being the underdog). That's what brings out the savage in me," Coprich said. "That's why I play the way I do. I always play with a chip on my shoulder."
Coprich was lightly recruited coming out of high school, signing with Illinois State. After gaining more than 4,000 yards combined his last two seasons at Illinois State he was bypassed in the draft.
Coprich said he was "surprised" he wasn't drafted but that "As long as you get a chance to play at this level and show the teams what you can do" that's what matters.
Part of the reason Coprich went undrafted may have been his arrest a year ago for selling marijuana, something he doesn't believe should be an issue going forward.
"I just feel that it happened a year ago and I just move forward. It's just something that you deal with, you learn from it and you keep moving forward. You can't just sit there and dwell on it," Coprich said. "I'm not a bad kid, so I don't see myself making another mistake. I'll be fine, I just got caught up in a bad situation."
As we said earlier Coprich was twice named Offensive Player of the Year in the Missouri Valley Conferenc. That is the same conference quarterback Carson Wentz, drafted No. 2 overall by the Philadelphia Eagles, played in.
"You just watch my tape. I dominated that level," Coprich said. "You just gotta see for yourself."
Coprich caught only 33 passes during his career at Illinois State, but doesn't believe that will be an issue.
"I can play every down. My hands are great. I come out here every day and catch every pass thrown to me," he said. ""I can go inside, outside, catch, It doesn't matter. I just like having the ball in my hands."
Coprich faces an uphill climb to make the roster with five experienced backs and a drafted one ahead of him. It's obvious, though, that he doesn't lack the belief he can make it.