Positional ranking: #3
Big Board ranking: #37
Overview
Position: RB
College: Ohio State
Class: Senior
Age: 22
Measurables
Height: 6’0 3/8”
Weight: 215 lbs.
Arm length: 33 3/8″
Hand size: 9 3/8″
Athletic testing
40-yard dash: 4.61 sec.
Vertical jump: 37.0″
Broad jump: 125.0″
Bench press: N/A
3-cone drill: 6.84 sec.
Short shuttle: 4.30 sec.
Strengths
Very balanced with a solid build. Decisive one-cut runner behind the line of scrimmage. Great acceleration through the hole. Keeps his shoulders square while making moves/cuts. Quickly gets back to top speed after moving feet laterally. Exceptional anticipatory vision to see a path and take it. Plus power and contact balance. Will lower his shoulder to finish runs. Quick stiff arm and often pushed would-be tacklers off him. Strength allows him to shrug off high contact and keep moving. Good ability to weave through blocks. Takes advantage of cutback opportunities. Has hurdled defenders in space (including short hop move to make a low tackler miss). Soft hands. Reliable out of the backfield. Holds the ball high and tight. Excellent pass blocker. Has a wide base and squares up defenders. Showed well as a run blocker at Oklahoma. Had monster games in the biggest spots.
Weaknesses
Average twitchiness/explosiveness. Effective gather cuts/jukes but limited for sudden moves. Vision can be thrown off by quick penetration.
NFL comparison
Todd Gurley
Conclusion
Overall, Sermon is a well-rounded running back that should fit in a variety of blocking schemes due to a natural feel, high functional traits, and underrated power for the position. Teams might value others as “better” prospects on Day 2, but Sermon should quickly get on the field wherever he lands because he does all the little things well.
Sermon be preachin on the field
GREAT RUNNER
Gurley, not bad.