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Scouting Profile: Alabama RB T.J. Yeldon

John David Mercer / USA TODAY Sports

Get an in-depth look at the top prospects in this year's draft class, leading up to the NFL Draft which takes place from April 30 to May 2 in Chicago.

To view our complete list of 2015 prospect profiles, tap here.

T.J. Yeldon

Position: RB
School: Alabama
College Experience: Junior
Height: 6-1
Weight: 226 lbs.
Age: 21

Combine Results

Event Result
40-yd Dash 4.61 sec
Bench Press 22 reps
Vertical Jump 36 inches
Broad Jump 117 inches
3-Cone Drill 7.19 sec
20-yd Shuttle 4.22 sec

Strengths

  • A natural runner who appears to churn up yardage and make sharp cuts with very little effort.
  • Fluid hips. Freezes defenders with subtle wiggle moves.
  • Displays good vision in locating cutback lanes. Ideal for one-cut zone schemes.
  • Enough strength to push the pile.
  • Strong receiver, particularly on swing passes. Can play all three downs.

Weaknesses

  • Runs high, exposing himself to big hits.
  • Arms are too loose, risking fumbles.
  • Good first step but can still take too long to accelerate to top speed.
  • Lacks ideal breakaway speed.
  • Not a tackle-breaker. Knocked off balance too easily.

NFL player comparison: Arian Foster

The way Yeldon appears to glide through the hole and around defenders is reminiscent of Foster. Yeldon's ease finding cutback lanes and weaving around defenders makes him a great fit for a one-cut zone blocking scheme similar to the one in which Foster has excelled.

Ideal Fit: Houston Texans

Foster will be 29 when the season begins and he's taken a pounding in his career. Adding Yeldon as a backup would give the Texans a potentially dominant one-two punch in the immediate future and an ideal succession plan if Foster's production drops off.

Draft Projection: Rounds 2-3

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