Vai Taua of Nevada ~ 5.9/210
"A solidly built athlete with a thick trunk and strong-looking lower half. Runs hard and possesses an average first step when asked to press the hole. However, is tight in the hips, is a very linear athlete and lacks ideal pad level when asked to run inside.
Does a better job lowering his pad level into contact, but runs too high inside, exposes too much of his frame and gets even higher when trying to side step a defender or make a man miss. Possesses little stop and start ability and it takes him awhile to find his first gear again out of his breaks. Simply lacks the fluidity to make anyone miss consistently in space or in a phone booth and runs too high inside.
Will catch the football well out of the backfield and turns his head around and gets north to south quickly. However, doesn't possess very good straight-line speed, isn't going to outrun angles and is just a below average athlete in my view.
Impression: Possesses good natural size and power, but runs high inside, lacks wiggle and isn't the kind of athlete needed to make an NFL roster."
Does a better job lowering his pad level into contact, but runs too high inside, exposes too much of his frame and gets even higher when trying to side step a defender or make a man miss. Possesses little stop and start ability and it takes him awhile to find his first gear again out of his breaks. Simply lacks the fluidity to make anyone miss consistently in space or in a phone booth and runs too high inside.
Will catch the football well out of the backfield and turns his head around and gets north to south quickly. However, doesn't possess very good straight-line speed, isn't going to outrun angles and is just a below average athlete in my view.
Impression: Possesses good natural size and power, but runs high inside, lacks wiggle and isn't the kind of athlete needed to make an NFL roster."
"Bio: Three-year starter awarded all-Conference honors since his sophomore campaign. Rushing totals last season included 284/1610/19 with 18/226/3 as a receiver. Junior numbers on the ground were 172/1345/10 with 12/99/3 as a receiver. Finished his sophomore campaign with 1521 yards on the ground.
Positive: Compact ball carrier who displays skill running between the tackles. Possesses good vision, finds the cutback lanes, and slides through the small creases of the defense. Quickly gets through the hole, runs low to the ground, and does not go down without a fight. Keeps his feet moving on contact, runs through arm tackles, and falls forward when brought to the ground. Always keeps the play inbounds, working to pick up positive yardage. Possesses some short-area quickness and has a darting style with the ability to elude defenders. Cognizant of ball security.
Negative: Does not have long speed and cannot beat defenders into the open field. Loses momentum when he must quickly change direction. Does not always run with good balance.
Analysis: Taua has been a productive runner on the college level since his sophomore campaign and has shown versatility. He's a small back who plays big and has enough ability to be used as a rotational ball carrier."
Positive: Compact ball carrier who displays skill running between the tackles. Possesses good vision, finds the cutback lanes, and slides through the small creases of the defense. Quickly gets through the hole, runs low to the ground, and does not go down without a fight. Keeps his feet moving on contact, runs through arm tackles, and falls forward when brought to the ground. Always keeps the play inbounds, working to pick up positive yardage. Possesses some short-area quickness and has a darting style with the ability to elude defenders. Cognizant of ball security.
Negative: Does not have long speed and cannot beat defenders into the open field. Loses momentum when he must quickly change direction. Does not always run with good balance.
Analysis: Taua has been a productive runner on the college level since his sophomore campaign and has shown versatility. He's a small back who plays big and has enough ability to be used as a rotational ball carrier."
"Overview: Named 1st Team All-WAC for 3 consecutive seasons; 3rd Team All-America in 2010 and Doak Walker Award watchlist; ran for 1534 yards with 19 TDs and caught 15 balls for 216 yards and 3 TDs. Scored 53 career TDs 2009 - ran for 1345 and 10 TDs with 12 catches for 99 yards (122.3 yards per game and 7.8 yards per rush); missed final Hawai'i Bowl game due to academic ineligibility. Shrine Bowl invitee.
Strengths: Powerful, competitive runner who is extremely productive and consistent. Hard runner who is very difficult to tackle one-on-one since he keeps his pads square and center of gravity low - looks for and finds the cut-back lanes. Adequate hands out of the backfield and makes his cuts quickly upfield. Solid and aggressive blocker in pass protection.
Weaknesses: 2009 academic issues let team down going into bowl. Could use 5 more pounds. Tends to catch passes on his body. Top end speed good but not elite. Sometimes impatient and hits hole too soon.
Projection: 7th round."
Strengths: Powerful, competitive runner who is extremely productive and consistent. Hard runner who is very difficult to tackle one-on-one since he keeps his pads square and center of gravity low - looks for and finds the cut-back lanes. Adequate hands out of the backfield and makes his cuts quickly upfield. Solid and aggressive blocker in pass protection.
Weaknesses: 2009 academic issues let team down going into bowl. Could use 5 more pounds. Tends to catch passes on his body. Top end speed good but not elite. Sometimes impatient and hits hole too soon.
Projection: 7th round."
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