The first round of every NFL Draft is spotted with players who break out for a season before going pro. Whether it was Nick Fairley this year or Mark Sanchez in the 2009 draft, some players need just a single season to become draft superstars. We're going to preview some break out candidates before the season starts.
2012 NFL Draft breakout candidates: Virginia Tech RB David Wilson
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David Wilson
5’10, 205 pounds | Running back | Virginia Tech
Why he’s poised to break out:
Wilson has shown he has a penchant for making big plays when they matter the most. Against North Carolina State last season, Wilson turned the game around with a big kickoff return for a touchdown. He won the game for Virginia Tech against Georgia Tech with another touchdown return.
An all-around talent who can run with and catch the ball. As a backup to Ryan Williams and
last season, Wilson still managed to run the ball 113 times for 619 yards and 5 touchdowns. He also pulled in15 receptions for 234 yards and 4 more touchdowns. Now that he’s the primary ball carrier, Wilson has an incredible chance to break out.
Wilson has impressive in-game speed. He’s one of the those players who seems to have an extra gear to break a big play open. When Wilson gets into the open field, he’s a threat.
Where he needs to improve:
After last season, it was clear Wilson needed to add bulk, and he did putting on 10 pounds of muscle. Now he has to learn how to put it to good use. Wilson has largely been an outside runner. If he wants to help his draft stock, getting positive yards between the tackles is a must.
Wilson also has to run with a little more patience. Like many speedy running backs, Wilson needs to start setting up his blockers better. If he can do that, Wilson can consistently generate yards instead of a big play followed by a negative one.
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