Most experts tab Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson as the top pure running back heading into this year's NFL draft. But can he scale walls like Spider-man? On April 22, 2005, California players met inside Memorial Stadium for a spring practice positional meeting. Knowing it was Marshawn Lynch's 19th birthday, his teammates tried to give him a celebratory spanking. But with one leap he eluded them, springing up a 10-foot dividing wall and pulling himself to its top ledge. "We were laughing — and amazed at the same time," teammate Justin Forsett says. "It was one of the most incredible things I've seen anybody do."
That's a statement, considering Lynch rushed for 3,230 yards and scored 35 touchdowns in three years at Cal. While Peterson might be the best runner available for the April 28 draft, Lynch (5-11, 215) is a compelling option because of his versatility. He's an excellent receiver who feels comfortable lining up in the slot position; as a runner, he can bounce off a defender or make him miss. And as a former high school quarterback, Lynch says, "I can throw about a 70-yard pass." He tossed two touchdown passes at Cal. "He's a good fit for a West Coast offense," NFLDraftScout.com analyst Derek Harper says. "I think he'll be a fine NFL pro for the next eight, 10 years. We're not talking an All-Pro here, but he might be a borderline Pro Bowler." Although Lynch rushed for more than 100 yards a school-record 17 times, he isn't one to tout himself. His mother, Delisa, says: "He's like his grandmother Shirley — shy. When he was a little boy, he was so quiet I'd forget he was in the car." But Lynch trusts his talent enough to compare himself to the likes of NFL MVP LaDainian Tomlinson of the San Diego Chargers and Reggie Bush of the New Orleans Saints. "He has the potential to be that type of guy," Golden Bears coach Jeff Tedford says. "He's proven it at this level, and he has the potential to prove it at the next level."
Some experts believe that's a stretch. "L.T. and Bush are two of the most eye-popping talents I've ever seen," NFLDraftScout.com senior analyst Rob Rang says. "But Lynch is a legit first-round pick." Some knock Lynch for being part of a two-back offense at Cal, but that could work to his advantage. It has saved wear and tear on his body, and more NFL teams are going to a two-back system. In January, Lynch had to deal with questions about his character when a woman, claiming to be his ex-girlfriend, accused him of domestic and sexual assault. But charges were never filed, and prosecutors cited a lack of evidence and inconsistencies in the accuser's allegations. "I was innocent," Lynch says, "and we got that taken care of." Rang doesn't feel the off-field questions will hurt Lynch's draft stock. "I called several teams and asked them specifically about those off-field issues," Rang says. "Every team I talked to said it wasn't a concern to them at all." Forsett says Lynch was one of Cal's most popular players and sees him excelling at the next level. Harper agrees. "I see him rushing for 1,300 to 1,500 yards," Harper says, "and catching 60 balls out of the backfield." And if a 10-foot wall must be scaled, he can do that, too.
No comments:
Post a Comment