 Player Spotlight; Rashard Mendenhall Rashard Mendenhall certainly has the size and speed combination to be taken near the top of the draft board and possibly even the first round. But with a plethora of terrific backs now available with a host of underclassmen declaring it will make for a crowded running back board and workouts and combine numbers may be the tiebreaker teams are looking for. Mendenhall is the reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, a very prestigious award and one that came against a lot of top flight competition.
Rashard Mendenhall Running Back Illinois
Junior 5-11 215
Strengths: Explosion in the open field
Weaknesses: Pass receiving Statline: 1,681 yards rushing and 1,999 yards from scrimmage with 19 TD’s as the Big Ten Player of the Year for 2007. Technique: Terrific vision and works well in traffic. Able to get into the open field with ease. Has become a more patient runner and not just the “home run” hitter as was his reputation during his first two seasons at Illinois. Known Injuries: No major injuries to speak of. Mendenhall battled a few injury problems with his knee and ankle in high school but suffered no major injuries at Illinois. Combine / Workout Assessment: Coming Soon. DJ Boyer's Analysis: Rashard Mendenhall was able to prove he could be an every down, dependable back this year at Illinois while walking away with the Big Ten Player of the Year Award. Mendenhall averaged a paltry 8.2 yards per carry during 2006 when he served as the backup for current New Orleans Saint Pierre Thomas. Mendenhall also had a way of silencing a road crowd as many of his best games during 2007 came on the road and many of his best runs came at critical junctures of games. Mendenhall averaged 146 yards rushing during his six road contests and he found the end zone eight times. Won’t be the fastest player clocked in the 40-yard dash but with his 215 pound frame he will be one of the faster backs that has above average size and a frame that looks like it could hold another 10-15 pounds at the next level without affecting his speed. Questions about durability seemed to be answered this year as Mendenhall not only stayed healthy but seemed to get stronger later during games. Will need to do a better job of protecting the football at the next level and no when to switch arms or go with two hands on the football. Mendenhall seems to be an average but willing blocker and shows good instincts when trying to pick up blitz packages. Mendenhall looks like he will carry a first round grade in April and should go no lower than the middle of the second round.
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