With The First Pick
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2018 NFL Draft: Running backs you need to know who aren’t Saquon Barkley

By Maxwell Ogden

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Sony Michel #1 of the Georgia Bulldogs runs to the end zone for a touchdown tying the game 31-31 in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal Game at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Sony Michel #1 of the Georgia Bulldogs runs to the end zone for a touchdown tying the game 31-31 in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal Game at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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Derrius Guice, LSU Tigers

When Leonard Fournette took a step back in 2016, Derrius Guice emerged as one of the most promising running backs in the country. With the speed to break free in the open field, the strength to shed tackles, and the numbers to draw scouts’ attention, Guice became a breakout star.

After a junior season that validated the legitimacy of his stellar sophomore campaign, Guice is ready to test his luck in the NFL.

Guice ran for 1,387 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2016, but the key statistic was the insane 7.6 yards per carry he ran for. Many were quick—and fair—to point out what Fournette’s presence did to alleviate pressure, but he bounced back with another big season in 2017.

Guice ran or 1,251 yards and 11 touchdowns, and managed to go for 5.3 yards per carry in a deep SEC—made even more impressive by the fact he hauled in a career-high 18 receptions.

Guice’s appeal at the NFL level is his big play ability, as he can bounce outside and turn something into nothing. He’s also an agile runner between the tackles who does a good job of reading blocks and hitting his lanes with a burst of speed.

Guice may or may not become a star in the NFL, but with the right system, he can move the chains and break games open with his athleticism.

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