Darren McFadden, 2008 NFL Draft Prospect
 | Running Back 6' 2" 215 lbs. Speed: 4.39 Arkansas Junior  |
If McFadden would have been in the 2007 NFL Draft he probably would have been drafted over
McFadden has been nothing short of spectacular the last two years with the Razorbacks, as a freshman in 2005 he shattered the record books by rushing for 1,113 yards and 11 TDs. He was only the second freshman in SEC history, after Herschel Walker, to gain over 1000 yards. Last year as a sophomore (2006) he won the Doak Walker Award and finished second in the Heisman voting while rushing for 1,620 yards and 14 TDs with a 5.9 yards per carry average.
Big and fast with great hands, in high school he ran the 100 meters in 10.8 seconds. He looks to be an NFL franchise running back, a durable workhorse. Darren is very shifty and strong, he rarely goes down upon first contact. He explodes through the hole with an unprecedented burst, defenders have difficulty taking proper angles due to his world class speed. McFadden is much bigger, stronger and faster than what people think. His size/speed combination hasn't been seen before in college football since Bo Jackson.
Quarterback Mitch Mustain left the team to sit on the bench for USC just prior to the 2007 season. Future NFL Draft pick wide receiver Marcus Monk was injured in the spring, and defenses were stacked in the box all year to stop McFadden. He (McFadden) has a decent arm and has lined up at quarterback quite often in their "Wildcat" (name changed to wildhog) formation. The Razorbacks had quite the one-two punch at tail back because junior Felix Jones is also a NFL caliber ball carrier, both running backs gained over 1000 yards in 2006. In 2007 Jones averaged an amazing 9.08 yards per carry in relief of McFadden in. He (Jones) finished with 1,117 yards and 11 TDs.
But back to McFadden, he has the size and strength to provide solid pass protection and can catch the ball very well, not only out of the back field, but he can line up as a wide out and create mismatches against slower linebackers. As only a junior entering the 2007 season he has no weaknesses and is a complete back.
Reports are flooding out of the Dallas Cowboys Camp that Jerry Jones is in love with McFadden. With two first round picks in the 2008 NFL Draft I wouldn't be surprised to see Dallas make a move to land the potential hall of fame running back.
McFadden had an excellent junior year and is a lock to enter the 2008 NFL Draft. He ran for an amazing 323 yards against South Carolina, which was the greatest single game performance in SEC history. McFadden explodes through the hole faster than any back I have ever seen and he has sub 4.35 speed, which means once he breaks through the line he is gone. Here are some of his major accolades in 2007 as he prepares for the 2008 NFL Draft:
2nd in vote getting for the Heisman Trophy
Consensus first Team All American
Winner of the Walter Camp Award
Winner of the Doak Walker Award
Finished 4th in the nation in rushing with 1,725 yards
Recorded 15 touchdowns and a 5.67 yards per carry average
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