The importance of versatility for Habibi-Likio
Habibi-Likio’s football journey has carried him through a number of roles. He was a goal-line back and stalwart pass protector at Oregon. But with the Broncos, Habibi-Likio checked a major box — one he’d circled for himself heading in. He wanted to become a receiver out of the backfield — the last Infinity Stone on his versatility gauntlet.
“The league is shifting towards the Christian McCaffreys, the Alvin Kamaras. You’ve got to be able to motion out to the slot and create a mismatch,” Habibi-Likio said. “I’ve been working on routes a lot. I’ve never had a problem catching. It’s just natural. And I think you can kind of see who’s a natural catcher and who’s not, the way the ball sticks to the hands. Some people flinch at it. Some people attack it. I’ve always felt pretty comfortable.”
That route work shows up on tape with Habibi-Likio. He’s not just going through the motions. He’s pressing upfield to the stem, using head fakes, and sinking his hips. There’s an understanding from Habibi-Likio that if he wants to make it, he has to do everything at a high level. That extends to all phases — goal-line work, pass protection, even special teams.
“You’ve got to play special teams,” Habibi-Likio emphasized. “[When I got to Boise], I had a bigger role, but I still had to play special teams, no matter what. On special teams, you can’t be selfish at all. It’s a team thing, and I love it.”
A particular fondness for pass protection
The modern running back has to be able to do everything. But for Habibi-Likio, pass protection has always been one of his favorite phases. He even mentions OL-DL battles as source material for him to draw knowledge from when hand-fighting. But he also says the 1-on-1 element is what he craves most.
“There’s something about pass pro that I love,” he exclaimed. “It’s almost like a mind game. Like, ‘Hey, the first play, I’m going to run and chop you.’ You chop the linebacker, and now he’s hesitant when he comes to the hole. Now he thinks I’m gonna chop him, but I’m coming straight for his chin. Or maybe on the first play, come for his chin and set the tone. Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth, right? There’s so many different things you can do and all the different checks. To me, it’s just an art.”
Inside the mind of a running back
Versatility is very much valuable at running back. But at the end of the day, running the ball is still a central part of the position. True to form, Habibi-Likio has a detailed thought process in that phase as well. Especially on the goal line, where things move quicker and the field is more condensed, the fundamentals are always at the front of his mind.
“I always try to make sure, no matter what, that my footwork is right. Your footwork is always going to set you up to the right hole. It also helps you if the hole closes, being able to cut back. If I’m too narrow, leaning too far this way, or putting too much pressure on one foot, then if that hole closes, I can’t go all the way back. So I always make sure, no matter what, I gotta have good footwork.”
Habibi-Likio mentions needing to read the last hand down the line of scrimmage to determine whether defenders are getting pushed outside or inside, thus dictating the runner’s path. But Habibi-Likio also emphasizes how instinctive the RB position is. At times, you have to operate on the fly. Having sound footwork sets you up to succeed in those situations.
“It’s just staying square and keeping your shoulders to the line of scrimmage. Because if your shoulders are tilted to the right, you’re cutting everything off on the left. That’s why Saquon Barkley is so great at jump cuts. He’s square all the time. It’s so much easier to make somebody miss when you’re square and your footing is correct.
“Every time I get the ball, I’ll jump into that square position. Even that little step can throw off a linebacker. Sometimes I just give a little hop and hit the hole.”
Piecing together the RB role
Going beyond footwork, Habibi-Likio understands how to establish tendencies in order to manipulate defenders. Even something as simple as taking a carry out of the backfield can have layers of strategy to it. And that strategy can ebb and flow over the course of a game.
“The first couple of times, I’ll run to the hole and hit it,” Habibi-Likio explained. “I’ll just keep hitting that hole. The linebackers will start flowing to it because they’re used to me just hitting it. And then, they’ll overflow, and the cutback is right there.”
Unsurprisingly, Habibi-Likio draws knowledge from NFL running backs. He likes to pick and pull from different players and add various elements to his game. He mentions McCaffrey’s discipline and versatility, Le’Veon Bell’s patience, and James Conner’s toughness and underdog mentality.
But his final running back to emulate is a surprising one: Latavius Murray. Habibi-Likio cites Murray’s ability to thrive and stay in the league for 10 years. That dependability and longevity is something he aims to bring himself.
Facing the 2022 NFL Draft
For Habibi-Likio, the pre-draft process has been hectic. Building muscle endurance, meal prep, and honing his football IQ have all been vital parts of the journey. Habibi-Likio showed up to the Boise State Pro Day at 219 pounds. He also went to the local 49ers Pro Day later on and managed to show off his receiving ability in front of more scouts.
During the process, the days feel long. But now, Habibi-Likio is already here, at the foot of the 2022 NFL Draft. It’s a time to reflect back, to see how far he’s come. Going all the way back to eighth grade, Habibi-Likio says football has given him so much.
But it’s also a time to look forward and imagine the possibilities.
Habibi-Likio’s goals as he ventures on
Every prospect has a different set of goals as they approach the 2022 NFL Draft. Some are specific and technical. Some are ambitious and driven. What stands out about Habibi-Likio’s goals is that none are centered on himself.
When he stops playing, Habibi-Likio wants to be a sports agent. He wants to start his own agency and become the first half-Persian, half-Polynesian agent. He says his diverse background can help him relate to people. And he wants to be there for athletes no matter what and give them a guiding hand through the process.
Habibi-Likio also has fatherhood in his sights. He makes a point to hold himself to a high standard, aiming to be the best father he can be when that time comes. He wants to provide what his family provided for him. And finally, Habibi-Likio wants to make an impact off the field.
“I’ve always been doing charity events since Oregon. I love giving back. On my dad’s side, we didn’t have much growing up. So if a D1 football player came up to me and gave me some stuff or spent extra time with me, it would have meant the world to me. I know how it is. So being able to provide that for people in need is huge for me.”
That selflessness tracks with Habibi-Likio’s play on the field. Whether it’s special teams, pass protection, charity work, pass catching, or player representation, Habibi-Likio is willing to do whatever it takes to help his team — giving his all and giving back all at once.