4 day-two NFL Draft prospects who could make an immediate impact

Dameon Pierce, Running Back Florida

Florida’s Dameon Pierce is one of the more intriguing running back prospects in this year’s class. Pierce, a senior, racked up just 329 rushing attempts over the past four seasons. This total is nearly 100 less than, and only half of some of the other top prospects in this year’s rushing class.

For comparison, Iowa State’s Breece Hall recorded 718 attempts in the last three seasons. Some of the other top prospects in this year’s class, such as Notre Dame’s Kyren Williams, Michigan States Kenneth Walker, and BYU’s Tyler Allgeier, all recorded over 410 attempts.

But with that said, Pierce has been one of the more productive running backs in the country when the ball is in his hands.  On his 329 attempts, he has recorded 1806 rushing yards and averaged nearly 5.5 yards per carrying. He also racked up 23 touchdowns on the ground, with 13 of them coming last season.

Pierce has also been effective in the receiving game. He has recorded 45 receptions for 422 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged over nine yards per reception.

Pierce has big-play ability whenever he touches the ball. On his 100 attempts last season, nine of them went for more than 15 yards. He also recorded 39 broken tackles and 365 yards after contact.

At 5-10 and 215 pounds, Pierce isn’t the tallest back but he is strong. His strength has helped elevate all areas of his game. He is a threat in pass blocking, which is something that nearly any team values in a running back.

Pierce hasn’t proven that he can handle the workload of an RB1, but there’s no reason to believe that he can’t. He is an effective runner who is effective when he touches the ball. Whether a team is looking for a running back to split carries, or someone to step in for their RB1, Pierce should be able to do the job. He plays a style of football that is transferable to the NFL. He is the type of player that should be able to find success early at the next level.