* (Editor's Note: Heading into the upcoming NFL Draft, held April 30-May 2, DallasCowboys.com will take a closer look at the prospects, including some that could be potential fits with the Cowboys. Today's featured player is Georgia running back Todd Gurley).*
Name:Todd Gurley
Position:Running Back
College: Georgia
Height/Weight:6-0 / 222
Age:20
Honors: After earning All-SEC honors each of his first two seasons, along with a freshman All-American honor, Gurley's junior season was cut short to just six games. However, with 911 rushing yards, he was still named Georgia's Offensive MVP by his coaches and teammates.
Key stat:Gurley finished school as the second-leading rusher in Georgia history with 3,285 yards, trailing only Herschel Walker (5,749). His 6.44 average per rush is a Georgia school record and he's second in school history in 100-yard games with 18.
Where He's Projected:Gurley's draft slot is hard to gauge for a pair of reasons, mainly because of his health concerns after suffering a torn ACL last season after just six games. Don't forget, running backs haven't gone in the first round either of the last two years and the last tailback to go high in the first round was Trent Richardson, who has been traded and then released in his first three seasons. Gurley is currently being projected to go somewhere in the middle of the first round and probably won't be around when the Cowboys pick at No. 27.
How He Helps the Cowboys:If somehow Gurley were to fall to the Cowboys, or if they were to trade up a few spots, the former Georgia star would help the offense immediately. Even though the Cowboys signed Darren McFadden and have Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbar, a talented player like Gurley would give the offense a boost it lost when DeMarco Murray signed with the Eagles. Gurley has not only breakaway speed but toughness to pick up yards in the trenches. He's a complete back with game-breaking ability.
Scout's Take: Gurley has a rare combination of power and athletic ability. He'll see the hole then explode through. Physical runner. Lines up deep in the "I" and takes the ball downhill. Can make the first man miss. Can run thru tackles. Don't see much extended speed. There are snaps where you see him run down from behind. In the open field he can set defenders up to miss. Defenders feel like they have a shot at him, then he makes a cut and is gone. Has lower body power. Not afraid to cut the ball back. Always going forward. Productive between the tackles. Shows balance through traffic. Will use a stiff arm to keep tacklers off him. Can start into the hole then back up to get out of trouble. Aware player -- late in the Clemson game, he got the first down, than stayed in bounds to keep the clock running. Will catch the ball on the check down. Does a nice job of setting up the screen. Will turn the ball up the field. Threw a pass out of "Wild-Cat" to the tight end with his left hand. Will finish runs. Catches plenty of swing passes and screens. Will work man out wide in pass protection. Really nice effort to stay with man. Aware to help on the outside. Will step up and take on. Had a couple of snaps where they asked him to block defensive linemen and he went low. Overall not afraid to stick his nose in the action. Protects the ball. Did not have a fumble during the 2014 season and only three in his entire Georgia career. Had surgery on his left knee in November and is expecting a full recovery. NFL teams will have the opportunity to test the knee in Indianapolis on April 18th for a medical recheck. -- Bryan Broaddus
