James Conner, RB
Height: 6-1 Weight: 233
Class: rJr Hometown: Erie, PA
Prospect Rank: 165
Position Rank: 15
Drafted by: Pittsburgh
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Beat cancer and persevered off the field. Ordinary athlete, but smash-mouth runner ideal for short yardage. -- NFLDraftScout.com.
2016 Key Stats
GP Att Yds Avg TDs
13 216 1092 5.1 16
2017 Combine Results
40 Vertical Broad Bench Cone
4.65 29 9'5" 20 --
Player Lowdown
Combine Results
40 Yd 20 Yd 10 Yd 225 Bench Vertical jump Broad Shuttle 3-Cone Drill
4.65 - - 20 29 - - -
Workout Results
40 Yd 20 Yd 10 Yd 225 Bench Vertical jump Broad Shuttle 3-Cone Drill
4.65 - - 20 29 9'5" - -
Player Overview
Conner entered 2015 as one of college football's most productive running backs, only to suffer a likely season-ending torn MCL in the team's opener against Youngstown State. It was then announced on Dec. 4 that Connor was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma -- the same form of cancer that plagued and was ultimately beaten by Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry, among others.
Before the announcement, Conner had been considering skipping his senior season to enter the NFL early, despite missing virtually all of this season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn MCL suffered in Pitt's opener against Youngstown State. NFL scouts contacted following Conner's announcement stated the obvious: that he'll need to beat cancer before returning to the game. They also acknowledged that the 6-foot-2, 240-pound Conner has the talent to play at the next level.
"He's a brute," one high-ranking scout told NFLDraftScout.com, speaking on the condition of anonymity. "He isn't going to outrun defenders at our level to the edges but he's an effective rusher inside with enough vision, burst and power." That power is best illustrated by his gaudy touchdown statistics. Conner ran for two scores on only eight attempts in the season opener before hurting his knee and he has rushed for 36 touchdowns and 2,641 yards over his career. Much of this came a year ago when Connor broke the legendary Tony Dorsett's single-season school mark of 24 rushing touchdowns with 26, earning both the ACC's Offensive and overall Player of the Year.
While scouts are intrigued by Conner's physical talent, they'll likely be even more impressed with the mental toughness he demonstrated in pledging his return to health and the game. "I will play football again," Conner said. "I will be at Heinz Field again. I have the best coaches and teammates in the country. I thank God I chose Pitt because now I also have the best doctors in the country and together we will win. I know this city has my back."
Conner was coming off a 1,765 rushing yard season that earned him ACC Player of the Year honors in 2014. He rushed for an ACC-record 26 touchdowns and earned First Team All-American honors, just the third Pitt running back to achieve that status (Craig ?Ironhead? Heyward ? 1987, Tony Dorsett ? 1976).
Strengths Weaknesses
STRENGTHS: A smash-mouth, physical ballcarrier, Conner does an excellent job running behind his pads and attacking the line of scrimmage with purpose. He is much more than simply a battering ram, however, quickly reading blocks and picking up momentum off his plant foot to keep his legs pumping and finish falling forward. He runs decisive and makes it a chore on tacklers to get him on the ground.
WEAKNESSES: Diagnosed with Hodkin's lymphoma, and must beat the cancer before reconsidering his football future. Torn MCL in season-opener in 2015 will require lengthy rehab and in-depth medical evaluations. Conner, who is beloved within the Pitt program for his work ethic and leadership, doesn't have the speed or twitchy moves to consistently make defenders miss and create his own yardage with elusiveness. Any loss of speed from the MCL injury will only enhance those concerns. IN OUR VIEW: NFL scouts were skeptical about his transition and role at the next level even before his season-ending injury in the team's season opener and subsequent cancer diagnosis. If he returns to the field, Conner will be a fascinating test case for the current style of the NFL because 25 years ago, he likely would be viewed as a lock first-round pick due to his bruising run power. But 250-pound running backs with 4.7-4.8 speed aren't found on many rosters in today's NFL.
--Dane Brugler (12/6/15)
LINK:
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2071585/james-conner
