jradMIT
Veteran
NY Giants select RB Donnel Pumphrey San Diego State
Name: Donnel Pumphrey
School: San Diego State
Position fit: Running back
Stats to know: Broke the FBS all-time leading rushing yards mark in 2016. Only player to eclipse 200 missed tackles forced as a runner over the past three seasons combined.
What he does best:
Among the reasons that Dunn was so successful was his ability to run inside despite his small stature. Pumphrey shows many of the same skills that Dunn possessed: great vision, quick change of direction, and finding his way through tight areas.
Bottom line: Pumphrey is the ultimate production player who became FBS’s all-time leading rusher in his senior season. He did so in a San Diego State offense that is heavily a pro-style, under-center offense while being far on the small end of the spectrum of running back size. He’s never going to be a player that moves piles and there will be times where he gets very little yardage after contact. However, the yards that he won’t gain through contact due to his size will be more than offset by his ability to get through holes that others simply cannot. He has proven to be an effective inside runner because of his ability to find and get through those tight creases, or sometimes through the first level when holes are seemingly non-existent. Coupled with a quick burst that allows him to beat defenders to spots, he’s more than capable of being an inside runner. He does even better when in space and can be utilized as a receiver both out of the backfield and lined up in the slot. Pumphrey could be used as a change-of-pace back, a third-down back, or a chess piece to move around the offense to create mismatches. Regardless of the exact role, he is capable of being an impactful player at the next level.
Pumphrey and Ron Dayne are now the top two rushers in FBS history, even though San Diego State's small and quick runner (listed at 5-foot-9, 180 pounds) couldn't be any different in style than the brutish former Heisman Trophy winner. Pumphrey beat the record in his final game, finishing off an All-American season where he led with nation with 2,133 rushing yards on 349 carries (tied for most in FBS) and 17 scores (along with 27-231 receiving). He won the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year this fall, repeating the honor he was given in 2015 for covering 1,653 yards and scoring 17 touchdowns on 309 carries. He also led the Aztecs with 28 receptions, accumulating 416 yards and three scores. Pumphrey set a school record with 1,867 yards while scoring 20 times as a sophomore, earning the first of three first-team All-Mountain West accolades. As a freshman, he only started one game but still had 256 totes for 1,244 yards and 15 touchdowns (with 22-234, two TD receiving).
ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
Produced at high levels. Patient but decisive when he sees it. Accesses instant turbo burst. Rarely loses races to and around the edge. Plus vision creates ability to navigate shifting run creases like a seasoned veteran. Slaloms through traffic from side to side with seamless, tight jump cuts. Keeps tight track through the gaps, maintaining distance from defensive linemen. Able to string moves together. Razor-sharp cutbacks at challenging angles are his thing. Made a rare 90-degree cut out of a downhill run against South Alabama. Excels in outside zone but has courage to stick it between tackles. Extremely elusive in open field after catch. Used as matchup weapon out of backfield. Good route runner who creates necessary separation.
WEAKNESSES
Undersized. Lacks the leg thickness and overall physical strength desired out of an NFL running back. Spirit is willing but flesh is weak. Arm tackles are able to end his journey. Willing to accelerate into defender, but doesn't have the pop to break tackles or fall forward after contact. Quicker than fast. Will get caught from behind. Body catcher with average hands that lead to double catches. Too small to protect against NFL blitzers as third-down back.
SOURCES TELL US
"I don't care how big he is, he's a good player. Look, he's tiny so you can't take him too early because there's risk in putting a skinny runner out there. You have to have an offense that makes sense for him but everyone I talk to on the road likes the talent. The size is going to be the only concern." -- AFC West scout
NFL COMPARISON
Tyler Ervin
BOTTOM LINE
Pumphrey is an efficient, natural back who runs with outstanding tempo and vision. Has outstanding agility and ability to disappear and leave tacklers grasping at air in open field. While he has good burst and quickness, he does lack the home-run speed expected from such small running backs. He won't even be an option for teams married to physical minimums, but there is a place on the roster for his talent provided he can become a return man or viable receiving option as well.
Name: Donnel Pumphrey
School: San Diego State
Position fit: Running back
Stats to know: Broke the FBS all-time leading rushing yards mark in 2016. Only player to eclipse 200 missed tackles forced as a runner over the past three seasons combined.
What he does best:
- Elite quickness on cuts and change of direction.
- Excellent vision at both the first level to find a crease, and to find cut back lanes in the second level and beyond.
- Small size and quick burst allow him to get through tight holes, and even creases that barely exist. Does well “hiding” behind the offensive line.
- Decisiveness and quickness to and through the line of scrimmage can beat defenders to spots, even on times when defensive linemen win into the point of attack.
- Possesses very good balance, and can spin off contact to stay upright.
- An effective receiver in space, who can also be moved into the slot to create personnel mismatches.
- From 2014 to 2016, he had 19-plus touches in 38 of his 41 games and averaged 24.8 touches per game. Had over 1,150 career touches, showing that durability should not be a concern.
- Played against a slightly lesser level of competition in the Mountain West Conference. Had only a handful of games against Power-5 teams in his career, and faced some questionable defenses there, too.
- While he’s shown to be capable of overcoming bad blocks and murky reads, he did run behind a pretty good offensive line that helped him get into open space a little more often than some other players.
- Not strong or big enough to take on pass rushers up high. Does a good job with cut blocks but may not be as effective with those against better athletes in the NFL.
- Will the large college workload catch up to him at some point, or shorten his pro career?
Among the reasons that Dunn was so successful was his ability to run inside despite his small stature. Pumphrey shows many of the same skills that Dunn possessed: great vision, quick change of direction, and finding his way through tight areas.
Bottom line: Pumphrey is the ultimate production player who became FBS’s all-time leading rusher in his senior season. He did so in a San Diego State offense that is heavily a pro-style, under-center offense while being far on the small end of the spectrum of running back size. He’s never going to be a player that moves piles and there will be times where he gets very little yardage after contact. However, the yards that he won’t gain through contact due to his size will be more than offset by his ability to get through holes that others simply cannot. He has proven to be an effective inside runner because of his ability to find and get through those tight creases, or sometimes through the first level when holes are seemingly non-existent. Coupled with a quick burst that allows him to beat defenders to spots, he’s more than capable of being an inside runner. He does even better when in space and can be utilized as a receiver both out of the backfield and lined up in the slot. Pumphrey could be used as a change-of-pace back, a third-down back, or a chess piece to move around the offense to create mismatches. Regardless of the exact role, he is capable of being an impactful player at the next level.
- 4.48 SEC 40
- 5 REPS bp
- 33.5 INCH vert
- 117.0 INCH bj
- 5'8"HEIGHT
- 29"ARM LENGTH
- 176LBS.WEIGHT
- 8 1/2"HANDS
Pumphrey and Ron Dayne are now the top two rushers in FBS history, even though San Diego State's small and quick runner (listed at 5-foot-9, 180 pounds) couldn't be any different in style than the brutish former Heisman Trophy winner. Pumphrey beat the record in his final game, finishing off an All-American season where he led with nation with 2,133 rushing yards on 349 carries (tied for most in FBS) and 17 scores (along with 27-231 receiving). He won the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year this fall, repeating the honor he was given in 2015 for covering 1,653 yards and scoring 17 touchdowns on 309 carries. He also led the Aztecs with 28 receptions, accumulating 416 yards and three scores. Pumphrey set a school record with 1,867 yards while scoring 20 times as a sophomore, earning the first of three first-team All-Mountain West accolades. As a freshman, he only started one game but still had 256 totes for 1,244 yards and 15 touchdowns (with 22-234, two TD receiving).
ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
Produced at high levels. Patient but decisive when he sees it. Accesses instant turbo burst. Rarely loses races to and around the edge. Plus vision creates ability to navigate shifting run creases like a seasoned veteran. Slaloms through traffic from side to side with seamless, tight jump cuts. Keeps tight track through the gaps, maintaining distance from defensive linemen. Able to string moves together. Razor-sharp cutbacks at challenging angles are his thing. Made a rare 90-degree cut out of a downhill run against South Alabama. Excels in outside zone but has courage to stick it between tackles. Extremely elusive in open field after catch. Used as matchup weapon out of backfield. Good route runner who creates necessary separation.
WEAKNESSES
Undersized. Lacks the leg thickness and overall physical strength desired out of an NFL running back. Spirit is willing but flesh is weak. Arm tackles are able to end his journey. Willing to accelerate into defender, but doesn't have the pop to break tackles or fall forward after contact. Quicker than fast. Will get caught from behind. Body catcher with average hands that lead to double catches. Too small to protect against NFL blitzers as third-down back.
SOURCES TELL US
"I don't care how big he is, he's a good player. Look, he's tiny so you can't take him too early because there's risk in putting a skinny runner out there. You have to have an offense that makes sense for him but everyone I talk to on the road likes the talent. The size is going to be the only concern." -- AFC West scout
NFL COMPARISON
Tyler Ervin
BOTTOM LINE
Pumphrey is an efficient, natural back who runs with outstanding tempo and vision. Has outstanding agility and ability to disappear and leave tacklers grasping at air in open field. While he has good burst and quickness, he does lack the home-run speed expected from such small running backs. He won't even be an option for teams married to physical minimums, but there is a place on the roster for his talent provided he can become a return man or viable receiving option as well.
