Bo Scarbrough, Alabama: 2018 NFL Draft Scouting Report
By Jon Dove
Alabama’s Bo Scarbrough is another big-bodied running back prospect to come out of this program with tons of hype.
Bo Scarbrough is a massive individual who is extremely tough to bring down as a runner. He not only features good height but also has a thick and solid frame. This is someone defenders need to gang tackle and wrap up.
Obviously, his size and ability to pick up yards after contact are his strength. Scarbrough’s running style plays to his size in that he typically makes one cut and heads up field. He isn’t someone you want to see dancing in the offensive backfield.
Evaluating Scarbrough is a bit tricky based on his 2016 game film. He obviously wasn’t 100% to start the season and it showed. In the early games, he looked slow and sluggish unable to attack the line of scrimmage.
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His lack of short-area burst made it difficult for him to get through the open running lanes. He also lacked a second gear to break off longer runs.
However, the end of the season was a different story. He displayed better overall quickness and the ability to gain big chunks of yardage. The concern here is that Scarbrough has a history of injuries which questions his overall durability.
When healthy, he is a big time contributor who can carry the load. The guy we saw earlier in the season didn’t deserve many carries at all. It’s also important to point out that Scarbrough doesn’t feature great vision which adds to his struggle when not fully healthy.
Throughout his career, Scarbrough has received a major boost from Alabama’s dominating offensive line. This is a group that routinely opens big running lanes and creates a push off the line of scrimmage.
Scarbrough doesn’t have the makings of an every-down back in that he isn’t much of an asset on passing downs. He isn’t someone who works well in space and makes little contributions as a pass catcher. His work as a blocker is average, but he really doesn’t get much work in this area.
Overall, Scarbrough’s size and power make him an intriguing prospect. He’s someone who can dominate in short-yardage situations and contribute on early downs. However, his injury history and limited skills as a pass catcher hurt his draft stock.