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It has now been 31 years since a running back was taken first overall in the NFL Draft. That honor belongs to Ki-Jana Carter who was selected out of Penn State by the Cincinnati Bengals.
Since 1995, every single #1 overall pick that followed was either a quarterback, defensive end or offensive tackle. As the focus of the game shifted from running to passing, the '95 draft kind of stands out as the last year of a bygone era.
Carter tore a knee ligament on just his third carry of his first ever NFL preseason game. He was never the same after that, and in 1997, 1998 and 1999, he would again suffer serious injuries and this would ultimately end his career.
His final career statline reads like this: 1,144 yards rushing, 3.6 yards per carry and 20 rushing TDs. He had only one career receiving touchdown. Maybe his specific story is a cautionary tale as to why running backs don't get taken first overall these days.
The second running back off the boards was Tyrone Wheatley, who was taken 17th overall, out of Michigan, by the New York Giants. Wheatley, who never really made much of a mark in New York in four years, spent the rest of his 10-year NFL career with the Oakland Raiders, finding a decent level of success, at times, with the silver and black.
Wheatley has been a coach for the past 18, and on Monday, he was named running backs coach at the University of Illinois. He has previously held NFL running backs coach jobs with the Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Denver Broncos.
"I want to sincerely thank Coach (Bret) Bielema for his trust, belief, and invitation to join his staff," said Wheatley. "Coach Bielema has built a culture defined by toughness, discipline, and accountability.
"To coach under a leader with his experience, vision, and championship pedigree is an absolute honor. To the Illini community, alumni, players, and fans, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve. I look forward to getting to work."
Running backs were taken at the next two picks as well: Napoleon Kaufman (Washington) went 18th overall to the L.A. Raiders while James Stewart (Tennessee) was picked 19th by the Jacksonville Jaguars. They had three 1,000 yard (and five 900+ yard) rushing yards seasons between the two of them.
Colorado's Heisman Trophy winning running back, Rashaan Salaam, went 21st overall to the Chicago Bears, completing the group of five backs that were taken in the first round that April. Salaam's story is as complicated, sad and tragic as any life story of a first round draft pick. So that is another article for another time.
Having five RBs taken in the first round is an extremely rare occurrence.
Since '95, only five running backs have gone twice in the first round– 2000 and 2008.
The 2008 class rivals, and in some ways even eclipses, the 1995 class of running backs with Darren McFadden (#4 out of Arkansas to the Oakland Raiders), Jonathan Stewart (#13 out of Oregon to the Carolina Panthers), Felix Jones (#22 out of Arkansas to the Dallas Cowboys), Rashard Mendenhall (#23 out of Illinois to the Pittsburgh Steelers), and Chris Johnson (#24 out of East Carolina to the Tennessee Titans).
The all-time record for running backs getting drafted in the first round is seven, and it has happened four times, the most recent of which was 1987. It also occured in 1982, 1971 and 1967.
This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: Only two true running back drafts in the past 40 yrs- 1995 and 2008
Continue reading...
Since 1995, every single #1 overall pick that followed was either a quarterback, defensive end or offensive tackle. As the focus of the game shifted from running to passing, the '95 draft kind of stands out as the last year of a bygone era.
Carter tore a knee ligament on just his third carry of his first ever NFL preseason game. He was never the same after that, and in 1997, 1998 and 1999, he would again suffer serious injuries and this would ultimately end his career.
His final career statline reads like this: 1,144 yards rushing, 3.6 yards per carry and 20 rushing TDs. He had only one career receiving touchdown. Maybe his specific story is a cautionary tale as to why running backs don't get taken first overall these days.
The second running back off the boards was Tyrone Wheatley, who was taken 17th overall, out of Michigan, by the New York Giants. Wheatley, who never really made much of a mark in New York in four years, spent the rest of his 10-year NFL career with the Oakland Raiders, finding a decent level of success, at times, with the silver and black.
Wheatley has been a coach for the past 18, and on Monday, he was named running backs coach at the University of Illinois. He has previously held NFL running backs coach jobs with the Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Denver Broncos.
"I want to sincerely thank Coach (Bret) Bielema for his trust, belief, and invitation to join his staff," said Wheatley. "Coach Bielema has built a culture defined by toughness, discipline, and accountability.
"To coach under a leader with his experience, vision, and championship pedigree is an absolute honor. To the Illini community, alumni, players, and fans, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve. I look forward to getting to work."
Running backs were taken at the next two picks as well: Napoleon Kaufman (Washington) went 18th overall to the L.A. Raiders while James Stewart (Tennessee) was picked 19th by the Jacksonville Jaguars. They had three 1,000 yard (and five 900+ yard) rushing yards seasons between the two of them.
Colorado's Heisman Trophy winning running back, Rashaan Salaam, went 21st overall to the Chicago Bears, completing the group of five backs that were taken in the first round that April. Salaam's story is as complicated, sad and tragic as any life story of a first round draft pick. So that is another article for another time.
Having five RBs taken in the first round is an extremely rare occurrence.
Since '95, only five running backs have gone twice in the first round– 2000 and 2008.
The 2008 class rivals, and in some ways even eclipses, the 1995 class of running backs with Darren McFadden (#4 out of Arkansas to the Oakland Raiders), Jonathan Stewart (#13 out of Oregon to the Carolina Panthers), Felix Jones (#22 out of Arkansas to the Dallas Cowboys), Rashard Mendenhall (#23 out of Illinois to the Pittsburgh Steelers), and Chris Johnson (#24 out of East Carolina to the Tennessee Titans).
The all-time record for running backs getting drafted in the first round is seven, and it has happened four times, the most recent of which was 1987. It also occured in 1982, 1971 and 1967.
This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: Only two true running back drafts in the past 40 yrs- 1995 and 2008
Continue reading...
