2016 NFL Draft prospect preview: who to watch Friday September 4th 2015
By Jon Dove
Nov 29, 2014; Corvallis, OR, USA; Oregon State Beavers running back Storm Woods (24) runs the ball against the Oregon Ducks at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports
Player: Storm Woods, Oregon State
Position: Running Back
Game Info: Oregon State vs. Weber State, Friday September 4th at 8:00pm on PAC12
Oregon State’s Storm Woods is one of my favorite running backs in this draft class. The problem is he is a smaller back who might have issues adjusting to the physical NFL game. However, there’s no doubting his talent and explosiveness.
Woods is a shifty runner who can make defenders miss and squeeze through tight spaces. His vision and ability to make quick cuts helps him avoid negative-yardage plays.
Despite his lack of size, Woods is a tough runner who can lower his head to pick up a few extra yards. He plays with tremendous balance which helps him break arm tackles and gain yards after contact. This isn’t a power runner, but he can still be effective between the tackles.
Every time Woods touches the ball he’s a threat to produce a big play. He’s a quick-twitch athlete who quickly gets up to full speed and outpaces defenders. Woods uses his quickness not only as a runner but also in the passing game.
His lack of size is the only real concern as he may deal with durability issues and struggle to hold up in pass protection. However, he has a chance to come off the board somewhere in the 4th round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
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