Will D’Onta Foreman be a faster LeGarrette Blount for the Texans?

When it comes to FBS running backs, only one player gained more yards than Texas’s D’Onta Foreman in 2016, and he needed three extra games to do so. The question now for the Longhorns’ 2,000-yard man is whether he can keep that pace up in the NFL.

The uber-productive back will get his chance after being selected by the Houston Texans with the 89th pick of the 2017 NFL draft. A combination of tailback depth and concerns about versatility helped keep Foreman out of the top of the RBs list. Houston is hoping that, with a little polish, he’ll be one of this year’s biggest draft bargains.

Foreman’s quest to lead the nation in rushing yards fell short, but that had more to do with Texas’s failure to field a winning team as any personal failing. The junior ran for more than 184 yards per game, but only made 11 starts in the Longhorns’ bowl-less 5-7 season. San Diego State’s Donnel Pumphrey had 14 games to gain his 2,133, an average of 32 fewer yards per contest than Foreman.

There’s no questioning his ability to pound the ball. Foreman ate up 323 carries last fall as the only real weapon in a disappointing Longhorn offense. Despite his massive workload and the fact Big 12 defenses where predicated on stopping him, he still managed to rip off more than 6 yards per touch.

But while he was a master of one trade, the remainder of his skills left plenty to be desired. Foreman was essentially limited to running duties only in Austin. He had only 13 receptions in his three seasons. He also wasn’t asked to do much as a blocker, so when NFL opponents throw blitzes, he’ll struggle to keep his quarterback upright.

Foreman also struggled with fumbles in the FBS, coughing the ball up seven times. He also tends to shy away from contact, which is understandable given his workload, but a waste of his biggest asset as a back, his size. Without top-level acceleration, he might struggle to blast through closing holes like he did with the Longhorns.

Foreman is a massive tailback. While he measured in at 6’ and 233 pounds at the NFL Combine, his playing weight rose all the way into the 250s during his time in Austin. Though he doesn’t always use that size well, a reduced workload should better prepare him to throw his weight around in short-yardage situations.

He’s got good top level speed as well. Foreman clocked in at 4.45 seconds in the 40-yard dash at Texas’s pro day this March. No man his size has ever recorded a faster 40.

He’s capable of handling a ton of carries and has the conditioning to break defenses down in the fourth quarter. He’s elusive and runs like a much smaller back, using quick cuts and taking long angles to avoid contact and create plays. Sometimes that can be frustrating, but Foreman typically found a way to make it work.

His NFL floor is as a short-yardage monster, but he has the quick hips and vision to be much more. The easiest comparison for Foreman is LeGarrette Blount, a similarly sized back who often surprises with his agility. If the Texas runner can put together a similar career, he’ll be well worth Houston’s investment.

Foreman joins a running back stable that features Lamar Miller handling most of the duties.

He’ll make his NFL debut with a heavy heart. Foreman lost his infant son during the 2016 season, but kept his death a personal matter until the week of the draft.