Traditional power backs have slowly become a lost art in today’s age of professional football. Derrick Henry comes chiefly to mind when thinking of rough run-and-tumblers, but he represents an anomaly when it comes to primary alpha RBs.
As NFL offenses have widened their scope and relied more heavily upon lethal playmakers on the outside, the Earl Campbell’s, Mike Alstott’s and Christian Okoye’s of the world have given way to more multifaceted threats like Le’Veon Bell and Christian McCaffrey.
The more tools you can provide coming out of the backfield – be it running, receiving or blocking — the more your number will be called upon, and no attribute has become more valuable to young RB prospects than versatility.