Georgia has no shortage of RB talent production in the NFL over the years, and with his 2023 NFL Draft scouting report, Kenny McIntosh could be next in line. After a strong 2022 campaign, what grade does McIntosh earn, and what can he provide NFL teams?
Kenny McIntosh NFL Draft Profile
- Position: Running Back
- School: Georgia
- Current Year: Senior
- Height/Weight: 6’1″, 210 pounds
Sometimes, in the Georgia backfield, you just have to wait your turn. That’s the hard truth for a lot of players. But it’s a truth they accept, after seeing the track record that Bulldogs ball carriers have in the NFL.
In the past decade alone, Georgia has developed a number of future NFL starters and standouts at RB, among them Todd Gurley, Nick Chubb, D’Andre Swift, and Sony Michel. And in the 2022 NFL Draft, both Zamir White and James Cook were selected in the middle rounds.
Georgia is near the top of the list when it comes to RB factories. And in the 2023 NFL Draft, McIntosh may keep the reputation alive.
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McIntosh arrived in Athens as a four-star recruit but didn’t take on a premier workload until his senior season. From 2019 to 2021, McIntosh combined for 130 carries for 753 yards and six touchdowns. He surpassed all of those totals in 2022 alone.
Ahead of the national championship showcase, McIntosh accumulated 141 carries for 779 yards and 10 touchdowns, while adding 42 catches for 506 yards and two touchdowns through the air.
All told, McIntosh brought in over 1,200 yards from scrimmage and found the end zone a dozen times — an impressive feat in a Georgia offense with plenty of mouths to feed. McIntosh is coming into his own, and in the process, he’s showing us what kind of impact he can have at the professional level.
Kenny McIntosh Scouting Report
Strengths
- Explosive athlete and a brisk long-striding accelerator who can breach lanes quickly.
- Offers smooth mobility and finesse in tight spaces, stacking cuts with ease.
- Fleet-footed lateral mover who can offset defenders, keep churning, and create space.
- Has the hip flexibility and twitch to swerve through lanes while sustaining acceleration.
- Adept at using stride variations to aid cuts before exploding into available space.
- Has enough balance through contact to step through arm tackles and recollect feet.
- Flashes excellent anticipation of angles and creative instincts in close quarters.
- High-level receiving threat with a varied route tree, tracking skills, and RAC ability.
- Willing to lower his shoulder, fight through contact, and use stiff-arms to pry free.
- Able to chip pass rushers before flowing into the flats as a receiving weapon.
Areas for Improvement
- Lacks high-end mass and doesn’t have the leg drive to plow through contact.
- Vision, while good, is not elite, as chances to bounce outside can go unnoticed.
- Lacks elite contact balance and is easily slowed by direct resistance.
- Sometimes runs too tall and too upright, making him easier to stall.
- Experiences occasional lags in processing speed and can be a tick late to identify lanes.
- Can be a bit leggy on initial cuts and will waste motion without pressuring laterally.
- Prone to occasional fumbles when attempting to create at the second level.
- Could do a better job of squaring up as a blocker in pass protection.
Georgia RB Kenny McIntosh Current Draft Projection
McIntosh grades out as a safe Day 2 prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft and a potential top-75 pick. Despite his lack of elite volume as a college back, McIntosh has a bevy of translatable NFL traits and is also an incredibly versatile offensive threat, built for the modern NFL.
When he has opportunities in both phases, McIntosh makes the most of them. As a runner, he has solid initial vision and flashes impressive creative instincts. He’s a supremely explosive back with dangerous long-strider acceleration. He can also vary his strides, levy quick cuts, and stack moves to make defenders miss in tight areas.
In the receiving phase, meanwhile, McIntosh has one of the highest ceilings in the 2023 NFL Draft RB group. His brand of explosiveness, agility, and leg churn translates well after the catch, but he’s also a nuanced route runner with a diverse route tree and alignment flexibility, deliberate technique, and high-end ball-tracking ability downfield.
MORE: 2023 NFL Draft Big Board
McIntosh’s non-elite mass does limit his downfield drive at times, especially when he defers to congested interior lanes. He’s also not an elite pass protector, as his technique could be more consistent. But when asked to receive on passing downs, McIntosh is a true threat for a defense, and his running ability translates to a larger volume as well.
Particularly in offensive systems that can feasibly maximize McIntosh’s two-phase play-making ability, the Georgia RB provides plenty of upside in the mid-Day 2 range. He could easily go on to exceed his collegiate production and find a place as a dynamic modern weapon out of the backfield.