Matt Forte RB 6'1 217 Tulane 4.46

Forte has been a very productive back in his career. As a freshman he ran for 624 yards and four touchdowns, adding 180 yards and two TD’s on 18 receptions. As a sophomore, he ran for 655 yards and four scores, while catching 23 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown. As a junior last season, he ran for 859 yards and eight touchdowns in nine games before a season ending knee injury. Forte had an amazing senior season for the Green Wave. He ran for 2,127 yards and 23 touchdowns on the ground, but still hauled in 32 passes for 282 yards.

Forte has excellent size for a running back, and is a force between the tackles. He has very good strength and runs hard, picking up yardage after contact. He can be a workhorse that wears down a defense deep into the football game. He also shows the ability to make the first defender miss and get into the secondary. For a player his size, he has solid straightline speed once he gets moving. Forte has also been a factor as a receiver, showing good hands out of the backfield.

Forte does not great quickness and probably will not be a big play threat. He is a back that needs to get moving in a straight line to pick up his speed. When he needs to change direction, he loses momentum and the defenders close on him.

Forte may be one of the better big backs available for the draft. His interior running skills and ability to catch the ball out of the backfield will make him an attractive option. Many offenses are going with a tandem backfield, and Forte would be a nice fit in that system. He can tote it between the tackles, while a shiftier back gets to the outside and makes plays.