Ranking the Top 15 Running Backs in the 2015 NFL Draft

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T4. Ameer Abdullah, 5’9, 205, Nebraska

It’s easy to have a bit of concern about Abdullah’s long-term viablity, as he’s an undersized back who’s already amassed a tremendous amount of carries. Of all the guys we’ve mentioned who are risky due to their college workload, Abdullah probably tops the list, as he has a ridiculous 771 carries over the past three years.

With that said, Abdullah is a highly-skilled all-around back who can contribute in a variety of different roles. He’s much more powerful than he looks, as he hits the hole quickly (perhaps too much) and aggressively, and he’s fearless, driving into defenders on every play and fighting for every last yard. He has a very good burst of speed as soon as he gets the ball in his hands, and he has strong command of his balance, which he uses to effectively fake out defenders. He can also serve in more of a third-down back role if necessary, as he possesses strong receiving skills, perhaps the best of any back in this class, and he could be a great weapon on reverses. He will need to better his pass protection skills in order to effectively play that type of role. Abdullah has also been an impactful kick returner throughout his college career and could fit into that role for an NFL team.

Besides becoming a bit more disciplined as a runner and refining his technique in pass protection, Abdullah could also stand to run more confidently on the perimeter. If possible, it would definitely help him out to become more effective when trying to break tackles.

At the very least, Abdullah will be an important asset to a team as a speciality back in the passing game. It seems likely, though, that his skill set is strong enough to allow him to be an impactful starting running back at some point.

Next: T4. Buck Allen