Scouting Profile: Alabama RB T.J. Yeldon
Get an in-depth look at the top prospects in this year's draft class, leading up to the NFL Draft which takes place from April 30 to May 2 in Chicago.
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T.J. Yeldon
Position: RB
School: Alabama
College Experience: Junior
Height: 6-1
Weight: 226 lbs.
Age: 21
Combine Results
| Event | Result |
|---|---|
| 40-yd Dash | 4.61 sec |
| Bench Press | 22 reps |
| Vertical Jump | 36 inches |
| Broad Jump | 117 inches |
| 3-Cone Drill | 7.19 sec |
| 20-yd Shuttle | 4.22 sec |
Strengths
- A natural runner who appears to churn up yardage and make sharp cuts with very little effort.
- Fluid hips. Freezes defenders with subtle wiggle moves.
- Displays good vision in locating cutback lanes. Ideal for one-cut zone schemes.
- Enough strength to push the pile.
- Strong receiver, particularly on swing passes. Can play all three downs.
Weaknesses
- Runs high, exposing himself to big hits.
- Arms are too loose, risking fumbles.
- Good first step but can still take too long to accelerate to top speed.
- Lacks ideal breakaway speed.
- Not a tackle-breaker. Knocked off balance too easily.
NFL player comparison: Arian Foster
The way Yeldon appears to glide through the hole and around defenders is reminiscent of Foster. Yeldon's ease finding cutback lanes and weaving around defenders makes him a great fit for a one-cut zone blocking scheme similar to the one in which Foster has excelled.
Ideal Fit: Houston Texans
Foster will be 29 when the season begins and he's taken a pounding in his career. Adding Yeldon as a backup would give the Texans a potentially dominant one-two punch in the immediate future and an ideal succession plan if Foster's production drops off.
Draft Projection: Rounds 2-3