Ht – 6’0” Wt – 214lb Class – SR
Career Statistics
2021 Stats – 182 Att, 1000 RuYds (5.5 YPC), 15 TD, 43 Rec, 456 RecYds (11 Games Played)
Career Stats – 224 Att, 1420 RuYds (6.3 YPC), 20 TD, 51 Rec, 607 RecYds (15 Games Played)
Attribute Breakdown
Vision – Very good vision and patience. Rachaad White is a smooth runner behind the line, slowly (but not too slowly) shifting to create space and then slipping right through the hole.
Elusiveness – Doesn’t possess elite shiftiness, but his quick feet helped him get past tackler in a phone booth many times. He also deploys a good spin move and has a great feel for hurdles. White brings a large elusiveness package, and while none of his moves are dominant, he is great at them all.
Contact Balance – Phenomenal contact balance. Bringing him down on the first hit is nearly impossible, as he always manages to squirt through tackles to gain the extra few yards. He even bounced off many tackles and had to be brought down by multiple defenders. His leg drive is elite, as he had instances of carrying piles of defenders on his back.
Blocking – Very good and reliable blocker. He had instances of failed blocks and poor form, but he usually squares up properly. He also showed the ability to take on the full force of pass rushers and hold his ground.
Burst – Inconsistent. This is the first time I’ve classified burst as inconsistent, as it’s a natural trait (like speed). With White, he had some instances of explosion through the line, and some instances of just cutting up-field through the hole. It’s clear he has the burst, I’d just like to see him use it more often once he spots the hole.
Receiving – Outstanding receiver. He is an elite route runner for a tailback, and he lined up as a receiver on many occasions. He is shifty and quick and was tasked with many different routes. His hands are very reliable, and he’ll catch any pass that comes his way.
Football IQ – Rachaad White has a clear understanding and feel for the game of football. He is a natural player, and at times it seemed like he sensed the defenders around him, even without seeing them.
Explosiveness – Surprisingly an explosive home-run hitter, despite having very limited play speed. Once he breaks free and gets to the second level he is determined to score, and he often does. He is elusive in open space, and he understands the nuances of angling himself to keep as much distance from defenders for as long as possible.
Combine – Although he isn’t discussed as one of the Combine winners, I think White had a phenomenal Combine. He came in heavier than expected, but also much faster and more explosive than expected. A 4.48 40 is blazing fast for a Running Back, and a 38″ Vert with a 10’5″ Broad are outstanding.
Overall
Rachaad White is a non-impressive CFB Running Back, with average stats. That being said, he is a stud in the making and reminds me a lot of superstar Alvin Kamara.
The similarities are unavoidable. Both are other-worldly receivers out of the backfield, both lack ideal long speed, but have great burst. Both have great elusiveness with lots of moves but aren’t elite at any one move. They both also have a phenomenal feel for the game and fantastic contact balance.
What’s even more astonishing, both split carries while at their respective colleges, and both served as the receiving back rather than the bruiser. To make matters even crazier, both split carries with a running back wearing jersey number 1. Weird.
With hardly any tread on his tires, White has very fresh legs, which is very enticing for NFL teams.
At the Combine, White showed off elite athleticism, speed, and explosiveness.
Rachaad White is a phenomenal talent, and while I think it’s premature to say he’ll turn out like Kamara, I think he has the potential to be that good.
See Rachaad White’s overall ranking among other players on my Big Board.
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