Positional ranking: #2

Big Board ranking: #40

 

Overview

Position: RB

College: Iowa State

Class: Junior

Age: 21

 

Measurables

Height: 5’10 1/8”

Weight: 222 lbs.

Arm length: 31 3/8”

Hand size: 9 1/4″

 

Athletic testing

40-yard dash: 4.63 sec.

Vertical jump: 28.5”

Broad jump: 121.0”

Bench press: 15 reps

3-cone drill: DNP

Short shuttle: DNP

 

Strengths

Determined runner that keeps his pad level low in a compact frame. Superb contact balance. Top-end combination of patience and vision. Quickly scans the defense and accelerates upfield. Great feet. Recognizes cutback opportunities at the line of scrimmage or on the second level. Has plenty of shake in the open field. Makes defenders miss in the hole. Powerful enough to run through would-be tacklers. Breaks arm tackles. Decisive in short-yardage situations. Natural hands. Standout pass protector. Productive despite a lack of help in front of him. Overcame adversity to be a program-changing player/person for Iowa State.

 

Weaknesses

Doesn’t possess breakaway speed to run away from people. Sub-par explosiveness based on athletic testing.

 

NFL comparison

Kareem Hunt – It’s self-explanatory, but player comparisons are based on play style, and David Montgomery compares favorably to Hunt as an all-around back that can be an offensive centerpiece at the next level.

 

Conclusion

Overall, David Montgomery is a balanced runner with limited flaws and an elite combination of balance, vision, and patience. A top-heavy defensive class and the depth at running back might push him down a bit, but I think Montgomery is worth a first-round pick.