RB Dreamius Smith
College: West Virginia
Class: Senior
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 223 pounds
Career Stats:
2014 season: 80 carries, 451 yards, 5 TDs, 11 receptions, 41 yards, 0 touchdowns
2013 Season: 103 carries, 494 yards, 5 TDs, 2 receptions, 11 yards, 0 touchdowns
NFL Scouting Combine Results
Did Not Receive Invite
Pro Day Results
40-yard Dash: 4.48
10-yd Split: 1.59
3 Cone Drill: 6.90
Shuttle Run: 4.05
Vertical Jump: 35”
Broad Jump: 10’4”
Bench Press (225 lbs): 21 reps
Strengths:
Nothing major to report.
Overview:
As a football talent evaluator, after watching all the tape, I would bet against Smith having an impact at the next-level. However, there were enough positive items I witnessed that would make me want to take a cheap shot on him—to see if we could fix what 'needs fixing' in his game.
At times, Smith looks like one of the five best RBs in this class. He has high-end speed and agility. He has a terrific/perfect NFL-size. He can outrun most defenders. Occasionally, he will flash a power-runner capability. He’ll take hits, stay balanced and keep rolling. There are moments that are very encouraging—NFL-quality moments.
However, for all the ‘flashes’ of good-great, there are more letdowns. Smith gets caught in the backfield too often, as he dances indecisively into traffic. He looks like he is sleepwalking on the field at times—disinterested or confused as a blocker. Falls down upon the slightest of contact.
If you don’t take my word for it, let West Virginia’s coaches weigh in…Smith was not their top choice to run the ball for WVU, nor was he their second. He was always a third-wheel, while arguably the most physically gifted of their RB stable.
In Smith’s very last game of his career, in their bowl games vs. Texas A&M, Smith rushed once for -3 yards. In their second to last game, Smith carried the ball one-time vs. Iowa State. That might tell us all we need to know about Smith behind the scenes.
NFL Comparison:
A few years ago, The NY Giants drafted the talented enigma RB Da’Rel Scott (Maryland) in the 7th-round. There were times in college, and in NFL preseasons, where Scott looked like a future star. He never did get a real, sustained push from the Giants, or from Maryland in his football career. Smith may be headed down that same path, and reminds me of Scott as a talent: NFL-speed, shows flashes of brilliance, but leaves everyone wanting in the end.
Smith could be a shock producer for an NFL team in 2015, or never takes a touch in his NFL career…neither scenario would surprise me. The potential that something ‘could’ be here, means you have to take a look if an NFL team can do so low cost/low commitment.
Projection: 7th Round/Undrafted
Ceiling: Starting NFL RB
Floor: Free Agent
-- R.C. Fischer is an NFL Draft analyst for College Football Metrics.com, and a football projections analyst for Fantasy Football Metrics.com. College Football Metrics.com will statistically scout and rate over 500+ college prospects in 2015, and file full scouting reports on 125+ top prospects and sleepers for NFL and CFL personnel departments, agents, and NFL Draft aficionados.
College: West Virginia
Class: Senior
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 223 pounds
Career Stats:
2014 season: 80 carries, 451 yards, 5 TDs, 11 receptions, 41 yards, 0 touchdowns
2013 Season: 103 carries, 494 yards, 5 TDs, 2 receptions, 11 yards, 0 touchdowns
NFL Scouting Combine Results
Did Not Receive Invite
Pro Day Results
40-yard Dash: 4.48
10-yd Split: 1.59
3 Cone Drill: 6.90
Shuttle Run: 4.05
Vertical Jump: 35”
Broad Jump: 10’4”
Bench Press (225 lbs): 21 reps
Strengths:
- NFL athleticism forces you to take him seriously for the next-level—a 4.48 runner with a 6.90 three-cone. He has better speed-agility measurements than most all RB prospects in this draft, including Melvin Gordon.
- Fantastic acceleration in the open-field. When Smith clears the first-level, and breaks into the open, he is one of the best runners/accelerators in the 2015 NFL Draft. He has the 4.48 speed, but also clocked an impressive 1.58 10-yard split. When Smith hits daylight--he picks up the pace, and leaves defenders in the dust. A little like a Tevin Coleman.
- Very good hands in the passing game. Receives the ball naturally and smooth, and quickly speeds away after the catch. Caught mostly swing and screen passes out of the backfield.
- Shows signs of being a decent power runner at times. With his 223-pound frame, he has the body to play physical. Smith runs with more 'finesse' as his primary style, but will lower his shoulder on occasion and ram for extra yards. He has a nice stiff-arm he can deploy as well.
- NFL strength: 21 reps on the bench press with his 5’11”/223 frame…a great size-strength and speed combo for the NFL.
- Very tentative runner. You would hope a 220+ pound runner would run straight into and over would-be college tacklers, but Smith is not a power runner by nature. He seeks the sidelines and goes down quickly when anyone lays a hand on him.
- Indecisive runner, lacks quality RB instincts. Too many times I would see Smith caught in the backfield. It wasn’t the blocker’s fault either. It was Smith slowing down if a hole was not obvious. He dances and almost crawls to a stop looking for an escape, and it leads to far too many zero or negative runs.
- Inexperienced, poor instinct pass blocker. Has trouble identifying who he should pick up, and appears slow moving towards a block. Does not square up and aggressively handle pass rushers, but more times tries to push them away with a half-hearted lunge.
- Could have a ball security issue. Three fumbles in 80 carries last year, and a few more squirted loose as he hit the ground (and were not rules fumbles).
Nothing major to report.
Overview:
As a football talent evaluator, after watching all the tape, I would bet against Smith having an impact at the next-level. However, there were enough positive items I witnessed that would make me want to take a cheap shot on him—to see if we could fix what 'needs fixing' in his game.
At times, Smith looks like one of the five best RBs in this class. He has high-end speed and agility. He has a terrific/perfect NFL-size. He can outrun most defenders. Occasionally, he will flash a power-runner capability. He’ll take hits, stay balanced and keep rolling. There are moments that are very encouraging—NFL-quality moments.
However, for all the ‘flashes’ of good-great, there are more letdowns. Smith gets caught in the backfield too often, as he dances indecisively into traffic. He looks like he is sleepwalking on the field at times—disinterested or confused as a blocker. Falls down upon the slightest of contact.
If you don’t take my word for it, let West Virginia’s coaches weigh in…Smith was not their top choice to run the ball for WVU, nor was he their second. He was always a third-wheel, while arguably the most physically gifted of their RB stable.
In Smith’s very last game of his career, in their bowl games vs. Texas A&M, Smith rushed once for -3 yards. In their second to last game, Smith carried the ball one-time vs. Iowa State. That might tell us all we need to know about Smith behind the scenes.
NFL Comparison:
A few years ago, The NY Giants drafted the talented enigma RB Da’Rel Scott (Maryland) in the 7th-round. There were times in college, and in NFL preseasons, where Scott looked like a future star. He never did get a real, sustained push from the Giants, or from Maryland in his football career. Smith may be headed down that same path, and reminds me of Scott as a talent: NFL-speed, shows flashes of brilliance, but leaves everyone wanting in the end.
Smith could be a shock producer for an NFL team in 2015, or never takes a touch in his NFL career…neither scenario would surprise me. The potential that something ‘could’ be here, means you have to take a look if an NFL team can do so low cost/low commitment.
Projection: 7th Round/Undrafted
Ceiling: Starting NFL RB
Floor: Free Agent
-- R.C. Fischer is an NFL Draft analyst for College Football Metrics.com, and a football projections analyst for Fantasy Football Metrics.com. College Football Metrics.com will statistically scout and rate over 500+ college prospects in 2015, and file full scouting reports on 125+ top prospects and sleepers for NFL and CFL personnel departments, agents, and NFL Draft aficionados.
