2022 NFL DRAFT PROSPECT REPORT
- Name: CJ Verdell
- Position: Running Back
- School: Oregon
- Height: 5'9"
- Weight: 205lbs
Film Watched: Stanford 2020, Washington State 2020, USC 2019
Pro's:
- Short, stocky running back with a low centre of gravity
- Difficult running back to locate in the backfield; keeps pads low and rides blocks as long as possible
- Has enough pop to plant his foot and power through the gap
- Churns those feet through the line of scrimmage, riding any lower body contact
- Has a good feel for developing lanes, excelling in an outside zone scheme
- Smells an opportunity for a big play and isn’t afraid to go after it
- Demonstrates better physicality than you’d expect for his stature, initiating contact
- Productive – averaged nearly 100 all-purpose yards a game at Oregon
- Proficient receiver out of the backfield
Con's:
- Durability concerns – season ended early in both 2020 and 2021 due to injury
- Not a fluid runner – won’t juke anyone out of their cleats
- Short area agility limited; want more evasiveness in tight areas from a smaller back
- Maximises big play runs with clever angles but doesn’t possess elite speed
- Lacks the size and lower body torque to be reliable in pass protection
The Verdict:
“After his first two years at Oregon, CJ Verdell was a star in the making, racking up almost 2,700 all-purpose yards and 20 TD’s. But injury misfortunes have seemed to derail his momentum, and NFL teams will be wondering if he still has the juice to contribute at the next level. I suggest they turn on last year’s Ohio State tape to answer that one; Verdell is a big game player who’s heart is bigger than his frame. A little one-dimensional at times, he has enough savvy and speed to make a living in an NFL backfield, and his proficiency as a pass catcher will help his cause. An ideal complementary back, there’s hope Verdell can change the trajectory of his career and be the playmaker we saw in Eugene in 2018/19.”
Simon Carroll
Head Of NFL Draft Content
NFL COMPARISON: JOSHUA KELLEY
PREDICTION: 6TH ROUND PICK
Rated 5 out of 5