Big Board ranking: #37

Positional ranking: #4

 

Overview

Position: RB

College: Ohio State

Class: Junior

Age: 21

 

Measurables

Height: 5’9 1/2”

Weight: 209 lbs.

Arm length: 29 3/4”

Hand size: 9 1/2”

 

Athletic testing

40-yard dash: N/A

Vertical jump: N/A

Broad jump: N/A

Bench press: 23 reps

3-cone drill: N/A

Short shuttle: N/A

 

Strengths

Very decisive and explosive. Compact build. Great acceleration through the hole and on the perimeter. Excellent feet with an effective side step. Superb contact balance and overall strength. Phenomenal vision. Able to read and set up second-level blocks. Gets upfield and doesn’t dance. Combination of burst and wiggle makes him tough to square up. Drives forward after initial contact. Recognizes cutback opportunities on outside runs. Great feel for pushing down the line before cutting back. Powerful stiff arm. Efficient short-yardage runner. Has a nose for the end zone. Very determined to maximize yardage. Good hands and natural receiving skills. Shows promise in pass protection. A+ ball security. Zero fumbles on 796 career touches. Dominant regardless of competition.

 

Weaknesses

Average speed in the open field. Wasn’t used to run complex routes at Ohio State. Needs to be much more consistent as a pass protector despite flashes.

 

NFL comparison

Ray Rice

 

Conclusion

Overall, Dobbins is a decisive one-cut runner with exceptional vision, strength, and burst inside a compact, tough-to-tackle frame. He is a perfect fit for a zone-blocking scheme and should draw consideration late on Day 1 or very early on Day 2.