The 2024 running back class has been a position group that hasn’t received a ton of love during the pre-draft process in comparison to the quarterback and wide receiver positions.
Yet, Kimani Vidal out of Troy put forth an exceptional senior campaign to make a real push as a potential Day 2 pick approaching the 2024 NFL Draft. Does his scouting report suggest he is a small-school prospect flying completely under the radar entering the professional ranks?
Kimani Vidal’s Draft Profile and Measurements
- Height: 5’8″
- Weight: 213 pounds
- Position: RB
- School: Troy
- Current year: Senior
- Hand: 9 3/8″
- Arm: 30 3/8″
After winning a state title at Marietta High School in Georgia, Vidal has one of the most unique collegiate production profiles in recent memory.
Vidal was an immediate contributor to the Trojans’ offense as a true freshman, rushing for 516 yards and four scores while adding another 225 yards on 26 receptions in 2020. From that point on, Vidal just continued to get better and better.
HIMani Vidal 🔥🔥🔥
Three touchdowns for the @TroyTrojansFB running back today
— College Football Network (@CFN365) November 26, 2022
His rushing totals increased every single season he was in college, finishing with 1,661 rushing yards in his senior year — which was good for second among all FBS running backs.
He finished his collegiate career with 4,710 yards from scrimmage with 34 total TDs.
Vidal’s Scouting Report
Strengths
- Play with an exceptionally low center of gravity; strings together multiple quick jump cuts with ease.
- Contact balance is top tier; regularly sheds or dismisses the first defender with strong leg drive and play strength to maximize yards after contact.
- Hip fluidity and balance are evident when forced to bend at awkward angles with his lower half after contact.
- Physical runner who isn’t afraid to initiate contact with oncoming defenders.
- Patience as a runner is a plus; willing to let the play develop in front of him while he reads the leverage of defenders and presses the hole before shooting through small openings in traffic.
- Efficient footwork helps him maintain a strong base and reactive quickness.
- Can be a load to get to the ground in the open field with compact strength and an effective stiff arm.
- Plus-level leg drive to churn out tough yards while engaged with multiple defenders.
- Willing combatant as a pass protector; some great reps where he stonewalls incoming blitzers.
- Fluid and reliable pass catcher who can contribute as a threat out of the backfield.
- Functional lateral agility and acceleration.
- Home run speed isn’t elite but certainly has enough juice to bust open long runs.
Weaknesses
- Could be a bit more consistent when scanning for assignments in pass protection.
- Even with the context of Troy’s offensive line struggles, he still had too many negative plays that could be credited to faulty reads in 2023.
- Can get a bit too eager to bounce runs outside instead of continuing to press the hole when the designated runway doesn’t clear up early in the rep.
- Level of competition is a slight concern along with questions about whether his rushing style will project to the NFL.
Current Draft Projection and Summary
From a production profile standpoint, Vidal checks the boxes of a potential three-down back in the NFL. His pass-catching production has been consistently among the best at his position in college football, and his noteworthy improvement and ability to shoulder a big workload as a leading ball carrier is impressive.
His contact balance, elusiveness, and physical running style make him a productive runner who just happens to have some big play ability with some of his explosive testing metrics in the 40-yard dash (4.46 seconds), vertical jump (37.5”), and broad jump (10′). Another plus is his willingness to battle in pass protection, which makes it hard to find reasons to get him off the football field.
His inconsistent vision, high mileage, and lower level of competition could be factors in why his draft stock feels like it falls in the Day 3 range, but his well-rounded skill set and effectiveness as a ball carrier certainly give him a great chance to make an NFL roster.
KEEP READING: Top RBs in the 2024 NFL Draft
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