The running backs are plentiful in the NFL right now, and it looks as if the 2015 NFL Draft will add even more talented prospects. You can count one more player in, now that Boise State’s Jay Ajayi decided to forgo his senior season. Ajayi will enter the 2015 NFL Draft.
By: Matt Harmon
The Broncos’ running back leaves school after a very productive collegiate run. Ajayi ran for at least 1,400 yards in each of the last two seasons, and scored over 50 career touchdowns. Each year, Boise State added more to his plate each season. He was a spot player as a redshirt freshman, but started almost every game as a sophomore. Ajayi often carried the Broncos offense as a junior, and had almost 100 more touches than he did in the prior season. In 2014, Jay Ajayi turned into more of a workhorse back, instead of just a flash runner.
Other than just the ability he showed to shoulder the load, Jay Ajayi has a ton of intriguing attributes. His 40-yard dash time will be an interesting one to monitor, but Ajayi has shown the playing speed to break off big runs. That is largely due to his incredible hip flexibility.
Ajayi is able to subtly dip his hips when blasting through open holes at the line. Those moments go unnoticed in live action, but it helps running backs get so much extra yardage. Ajayi is able to “get skinny”, make a slight dip of the hips and accelerate away from defenders. He also has the natural ability to keep his shoulders square, while also taking long strides to change directions. St. Louis Rams’ rookie runner, Tre Mason, does that very well too. He’s been a strong force for his new NFL team.
Another thing Ajayi does well is cycle from move-to-move within one run. It’s not uncommon to see him use several different techniques to break tackles. He’ll make defenders miss with a cut behind the line, then go from a spin right into a stiff arm in the open field. That is not easy to do, and it’s quite rare to see any running back pull it off.
Some question Jay Ajayi’s vision, but he vastly improved upon in that department as a junior. There were plenty of exciting runs on his sophomore film where he broke runs outside, or by dancing away from defenders. However, Ajayi looked more determine to run up the gut in 2014. He played within the structure of the run plays last season, and identified cut back lanes properly.
Jay Ajayi has his flaws as a player. His ball security needs some work. Too often he carries the ball in the wrong hand, and defenders can easily exploit that. He also has a tendency to get lazy with how he holds the ball in crucial situations, not using two hands to cradle.
With the way running backs are devalued in the NFL, and especially in the draft, it’s hard to project Jay Ajayi to go too high. However, if he nails the pre-draft process, including strong workout numbers, he could land in the second round. Either way, Ajayi has some intriguing natural gifts, and improved as a collegiate player. He could make some team very happy with their mid-round selection, and could thrive in a bountiful situation.
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