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Vernand Morency RB Oklahoma St. 5’10 215 Jr.
By: Robert Davis

Vernand Morency was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 1998 major league baseball draft, and didn’t begin his college football career until 2002. He emerged as a playmaker as a sophomore backing up Tatum Bell, where he became a 3rd team All Big 12 pick by rushing for 918 yards and 6 touchdowns. As a junior this past season, he rushed for 1,454 and 12 touchdowns.

Vernand Morency is a big play runner. He has great speed, agility, and is a major homerun threat. He’s got a solid build and is big enough to run between the tackles. He’s a great overall athlete as he is about to embark on his second professional sports career.

With him playing baseball for three years after high school, and only starting for one at Oklahoma St, Morency needs some more experience on the field. He’s a great runner, but he still needs to prove he can carry the rock and be a workhorse. He needs to also complete his arsenal and improve his receiving and blocking skills. Morency also will be older than most rookies, as he will be 25 by the time the combine comes around.

Even though Morency is older than your typical back, he doesn’t have as much wear and tear on his body as many backs three years younger have, so I do not think that will be a big deal for his draft stock. With it being a deep back class, I think Morency will end up hearing his name called towards the end of the 2nd, possibly the 3rd round. Coming out, he has some LaDainian Tomlinson in him, although he is nowhere near the prospect and probably will not be as good a pro as Tomlinson. But the big play ability, the frame, and the questions around receiving and blitz pickup are very similar.

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