Benny

Snell Jr.

Snell (5’10/224) went pro as a true junior after making 26 starts for the Wildcats, logging a career 737/3,873/48 (5.3 YPC) rushing line with 29/216/0 (7.4 YPR) receiving and leading all SEC running backs in missed tackles forced (45) in 2018. Snell’s yards after contact per carry declined each season at UK (4.04 > 3.36 > 3.23), however, and he bombed the Combine with a 4.66 forty and 29 ½-inch vertical as part of lowly ninth-percentile SPARQ results. Neither a high-level athlete nor a proven pass catcher, Snell’s odds are long to carve out more than a big-back committee role.

“Try-hard running back who can wear down defenses,” an area scout told Zierlein. “He had a role at Kentucky and filled it.” Snell was a star for the Wildcats in his three years, and Zierlein writes that the 5-foot-11, 223-pound tailback has “Subtleties in footwork [that] increase efficiency as a runner.” He projects Snell to go in the 5th-to-6th round, but it wouldn’t be a huge shock if he went higher if someone falls in love with his production.

Both Snell (5'11/223) and Scarlett (5'11/208) didn’t test well at the NFL Scouting Combine, but Barnes was a 99th-percentile SPARQ athlete. However, Barnes excelled in drills that aren’t correlated to NFL success and was average in the drills that are semi-correlated, and that average athleticism was evident on tape according to Miller. This third tier of runners aren’t generating much positive buzz.

That’s a pretty slow time, even for a running back who weighs 224 pounds, but that was expected. Snell was an effective, workhorse running back at Kentucky, but his advanced on-field measurables show a running back with less juice than your typical NFL runner. However, Snell still could find a role in the NFL as a short-yardage or early-down runner. Snell will likely be selected near the Day 2/3 turn.

That’s basically the same height/weight that Snell was listed at when he was at Kentucky (5'11/223). The Kentucky star also measured in with 9 3/8-inch hands, and 31-inch arm length. The measurements were never a concern with Snell; the questions come with his straight-line speed. He’s currently viewed by most analysts as an early Day 3 selection; meaning the fourth or fifth round.

This is towards the back end of Snell’s (5'11/223) projected draft position but possible nonetheless. RB Mark Ingram is set to be a free agent and the Saints will likely draft or acquire another runner to complement Alvin Kamara if they don’t retain Ingram. Sikkema believes “Snell’s talent, style of running and personality would fit great in New Orleans and with Kamara.” Snell is shaping up to be a fringe Day 2 selection.

Snell (5'11/223) is teetering on the Day 2/3 borderline, and we’ll have a better feel for his landing spot after the 2019 NFL Combine. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has his worries about Snell’s athleticism despite a ton of rushing production. Snell enters the combine with three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, but he already has 737 carries under his belt.

Snell (5'11/223) was a monster this season, rushing for 1,449 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior. He isn’t currently being viewed as a top back in the draft though as the Athletic’s Dane Brugler has him ranked as the No. 7 running back in this draft class. Despite putting up a lot of counting stats in college, Brugler is largely concerned about his athleticism. Snell will likely be selected sometime on Day 2.

Snell was sensational in his time with Kentucky, and his 1,449 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior helped the Wildcats win 10 games that includes a Citrus Bowl victory over Penn State. Brugler notes that Snell has quality vision along with prototypical size for the position (5'11/223), and that he “runs with attitude and determination.” His concerns for Snell come from his athleticism -- or possibly lack thereof -- and that he doesn’t have great “burst.” Brugler believes he would be drafted higher in the “1995" version of the NFL, but his ability to take a hit and stay durable still makes him a valuable NFL draft prospect.

Snell (5'11/223) grinded out a victory for the Wildcats, and it’s another productive game for the NFL prospect. As a junior, Snell rushed for a career-high 1,449 yards (5.0 YPC) along with 16 touchdowns. The Day 2 prospect exits as Kentucky’s all-time career rushing leader, and he’s got an electric personality that elevates his teammates. His physicality and willingness as a pass-blocker give him an outside chance at earning a late first-round pick. Let’s see how he does at the NFL Combine.