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By Marcus Burnan

Eddie Lacy is the best running back prospect in the 2013 NFL Draft.

The former member of the Alabama Crimson Tide decided to pass his senior year after his stunning performance in the BCS National Championship Game and enter the big league of the NFL.

While Lacy will not likely follow in the footsteps of fellow Crimson Tide and running back alumni, Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson, into the first round, he is a very talented individual who could be a franchise running back

Eddie Lacy will miss the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine with a torn groin mucle.

Vitals

Height: 5'10"
Weight: 231 pounds
Position: running back
School: Alabama Crimson Tide
Class: redshirt junior

College Production/Stats

The Alabama Crimson Tide have pretty good history of producing elite NFL-caliber running backs.  Before Eddie Lacy came along, the starter was Trent Richardson, who was drafted with the 3rd overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. 

Before Richardson came, it was Mark Ingram, who was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 2011.  So, Eddie Lacy had some big shoes to fill.

And he didn't disappoint.

After red-shirting in his first year with the Tide, Lacy saw limited action as a backup to Richardson.  In the two years he backed up the future 4th overall pick, Lacy rushed for 1,080 yards on 151 carries and scored 13 touchdowns.

After Trent Richardson moved to the NFL in 2012, Lacy became the starter. And he exploded. In his 2012 campaign, Lacy rushed for 1,322 yards on only 204 carries, which is an incredible 6.5 yards per carry in what is a very tough defensive conference. He scored 17 rushing touchdowns.


Strengths

Standing at 5'10" and weighing 231 pounds, Eddie Lacy is the perfect build for a power back in the NFL. This means he can power through the defense while being very hard to bring down due to his lower center of gravity. Lacy also possesses quick feet which allows him make adjustments to his running.

Lacy is a patient runner who allows his blockers to get into position before he hits the hole they create. When he is eventually brought down, Lacy has the habit of falling forward which can squeak out some extra yards. Lacy is also a decent receiver out of the backfield - he has 35 receptions for 335 yards and 2 receiving touchdowns during his time at Alabama.

Lacy does not have a history of major injuries, he's a pretty healthy back considering he's a power running back who doesn't shy away from contact.

Weaknesses

Eddie Lacy is not the best pass blocker in the world. It is something he will have to work on in the NFL. He often makes the wrong decisions and misses openings but that is something every running back does from time to time.

While not an actual weakness, it will be interesting to see if Eddie Lacy can continue to produce at the next level without the superior run blocking offensive line that the Crimson Tide use - a line that has three elite talents in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Trent Richardson struggled mightily in his rookie year with the Browns and only rushed for 950 yards and a 3.6 yards per carry average which isn't great for a top 5 pick.

 

 

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