Eagles add FBS’s leading rusher by drafting SDSU’s Donnel Pumphrey

Donnel Pumphrey ran for more than 5,600 yards his final three seasons at San Diego State, but his slight frame — 5’8, 176 pounds — kept him from making a lasting impact on pro scouts. The Philadelphia Eagles are hoping he can cast doubts about his size aside and be even a fraction as productive after selecting him with the 132nd pick of the 2017 NFL draft.

With the Eagles, he can attempt to follow in the footsteps of Darren Sproles — the model of success for undersized running backs.

Only two players in FBS history have run for more yards than Pumphrey, leaving him in the shadows of only Ron Dayne and Tony Dorsett. He’s also a useful receiver, having caught 99 passes over his four-year career. Even so, a lackluster combine showing and the idea a tailback like Pumphrey, on paper at least, can’t work in the NFL, dropped him to the fourth round of this year’s draft.

Pumphrey isn’t just a tiny guy with explosive speed. The Aztec tailback carved out his place in NCAA history thanks to an innate feel for the running game, allowing time for his blockers to clear space and understanding which angles make him the toughest to tackle downfield. Once a crease opens, he uses afterburner acceleration to blast across the line of scrimmage and into the open field, where he’s a nightmare to corral.

His waterbug reflexes are his biggest asset. Pumphrey’s jittery hips give him the ability to shed tacklers in a phone booth. He can cut at near 90 degree angles and has tremendous balance, making his best runs look like magic tricks.

On top of that, he’s an effective receiver who can light up defenses in mismatches. Toss Pumphrey into a wheel route or clear space for him to cut across the middle of the field, and he’ll create big yardage out of limited opportunities.

Pumphrey is a tiny tailback in a league where he doesn’t really have an apt comparison point. Sproles is the gold standard for diminutive runners, and even he is 20 pounds heavier than the San Diego State back. At less than 180 pounds, he lacks the power to charge through arm tackles, which will limit his effectiveness at the next level.

For such an elusive back, he didn’t grade out well at the combine. He ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash time and didn’t participate in the shuttle runs and cone drills that would have really shown off his explosiveness. That didn’t help him stand out in a draft class loaded with running back talent.

He still has plenty to prove — and with an almost unprecedented frame, it’s easy to see why he lasted until the 132nd pick.