Offensive Prospect of the Week: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama

My previous two prospects of the week, AJ Green and Andrew Luck, are the top prospects at the wide receiver and quarterback positions respectively, so it is time to preview the top running back prospect, Mark Ingram. Mark Ingram, the defending Heisman Trophy winner and star running back for the Alabama Crimson Tide, is a dominant college football player. Last year he rushed 271 times for 1658 yards, good for a 6.1 yards per carry average. He also scored 17 times. This year he has 56 carries for 396 yards (7.1 ypc) and 6 touchdowns. He has received less carries due to injury and the emergence of Trent Richardson, Alabama's other running back, but he has been very dominant when he has received carries. He checks in at 5'10, 215 lbs., but he looks and plays more like 225. He is a bull when he runs the ball and he rarely goes down after first contact. His vision and instinct are elite, and his balance is very impressive also. His strength is also unmatched at the running back position, and he is a load to bring down. The only thing preventing Ingram from being a once-in-a-lifetime prospect is his speed.  He lacks elite top-end speed, but will probably still run in the 4.45-4.50 range. This speed does not hurt him, but it is not elite like his other traits. Ingram, a junior, will be drafted in the first round if he declares, and he could sneak into the top 10 if a team covets a running back. The only thing that could knock Ingram down in the draft is if he runs in the 4.6 range and begins to draw comparison to Ron Dayne.

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Denard Robinson-The Birth of a Legend

Denard Robinson. Before the 2010 season of college football began, the name was known only to loyal Michigan Wolverine fans and the residents of Deerfield Beach, FL, his hometown. Now, entering week six of the season, Denard Robinson has become a household name. He has electrified the college football world, using his phenomenal speed, vision, and quickness to dominate opposing defenses. He is averaging an amazing 181 yards rushing per game and 383 total yards per game. He is completing nearly 70% of his passes (69.8) and has thrown for over 1,000 yards, but it is his ability in the running game that makes him stand out. Through five games he has recorded 905 yards on only 98 carries for an unheard of 9.2 ypc. He also has 15 touchdowns (8 rushing, 7 passing). Robinson has come out of nowhere, and he is now the leading candidate for the coveted Heisman trophy. This sudden emergence begs the questions, where did Denard Robinson come from?

Robinson attended high school at Deerfield Beach High School. He threw for 4,784 yards in high school and 44 touchdowns, while rushing for 1,132 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was rated as only a four-star prospect by rivals and scout prep rankings, due to his lack of a true position, but he was rated very highly on his pure athleticism. He was the 8th rated athlete by Scout.com and ESPN, while Rivals rated him 14th. Everyone knew Robinson possessed great athletic skill, but Rich Rodriguez must have seen something in the 6'0, 193 pound Robinson that he thought he could mold into a star quarterback. Denard has become just that, a star quarterback. He has instantly transformed the Michigan offense into a big-play, multi-threat unit. He still has a few things to work on, such as his throwing accuracy and ability to read coverage, but his raw talent is unmatched.

Denard has proved his merit in college football this year but can he succeed in the NFL in a few years? Robinson will run into the same problem transitioning from college to the NFL as he did high school to college: position. Robinson, at 6 feet tall, is on the short side for an NFL quarterback, and his pass accuracy is not up to NFL standards. He has two years to improve, but his best chance of succeeding in the NFL may be at running back. If Denard can add 15 pounds of muscle in his last two years at Michigan, he could be a first-round pick at running back. He has amazing speed (4.32 40 yard dash), and his vision and quickness are nearly unmatched. An athlete like Mr. Robinson has a spot in the NFL, but as of now, it remains to be seen where it will be. For now, let's enjoy the show that Denard is giving us.