NFL Draft Profile: Running Back Bucky Irving, Oregon
Strengths, weaknesses and a summary of running back Bucky Irving.
Bucky Irving
Position: Running Back
School: Oregon
Play Style: Third-Down Back
Age: 21
DOB: 8/19/2002
Height: 5'9
Weight: 192 lbs
40-Time: 4.55
FantasySP Position Ranking: 7
Round Projected: 3-4
NFL Comp: Gio Bernard
Summary
A horrific combine has driven down Irving's stock this offseason. It was absolutely terrible, but his film tells a much different story. He is the best pass-catching back in this draft and as good a pass-catching back you'll see coming out of college in a lot of years. What he did at the combine does not match what he put on film.
Irving is a ton of fun to watch too. There is no doubt he will bring something special and excitement to whatever offense he plays in. However, although he runs bigger than his actual size and is tough, odds are he will be a third-down back on the next level. The best case is probably that he becomes a third-down back who sees more carries than most third-down backs.
Strengths
- Elite pass-catching back
- Very agile and quick
- Is low to the ground so is tough to get a hold of and gets lost behind the line and in traffic
- Extremely elusive with a wide arsenal of moves and jukes and to escape would-be tacklers
- Impressive feet
- Can stop, go, and change direction with the best of them
- Incredible acceleration
- Outstanding vision and decisiveness
- Protects the ball well and rarely fumbles
- Runs hard and is willing to make contact
Weaknesses
- Doesn't have ideal RB1 size for the NFL
- Not a ton of ability to break tackles once a defender has him in his grasp
- Below average pass blocker mostly because of his size
- Durability concerns if he sees too much volume
- Occasionally gets going before his line can set the blocks in front of him
Our Take
We don't put nearly as much stock into the combine as many others do, so that's not as big of a concern for us as it is for others. The thing that is limiting him is his size. If you look at most of his weaknesses, they are related to his size. Because of that, his upside is capped because we don't expect a team to ever pencil him in as their RB1 who they are handing the ball to 15 or even 12 times a game.
However, we do believe he will be an elite pass-catching back at the next level and could have short periods of time when he does get a shot to be the RB1 and could impress people in a major way. There is no denying the talent of Irving and he will fill his role at a very high level wherever he lands.
