Georgia Bulldogs RB Todd Gurley listed as top-25 player in 2015 NFL Draft

The 2014 NFL Draft was recently completed (very recently), but it is never too early to look ahead to the 2015 version, especially in today’s landscape of an insatiable appetite for football. With that, ESPN has released rankings on prospects for the upcoming draft, and Georgia Bulldogs running back Todd Gurley came in as the 25th-rated player in the class.

Draft expert Mel Kiper unveiled his “big board”, and here is what he had to say about Gurley:

"This isn’t a prediction for his ultimate draft position — we’ve seen how the drafting strategy at running back has shifted — but Gurley is big, powerful and fast in space, and deserves this slot based on his talent level and production. The key will be staying healthy."

It is very important to note (before UGA fans lose their minds) that Gurley is only entering his junior season of eligibility in Athens, and this is simply a projection should he choose to leave for the NFL. The 232-pound running back was incredible as a freshman with 1,385 yards and 17 touchdowns, but he took a minor step back (thanks to injury) with only 989 yards and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore.

Still, Gurley is the only running back listed among Kiper’s top 25 (or even in the honorable mentions portion), and that is a hat tip to just how explosive he can be when he’s healthy. Ideally, Georgia would get a full schedule of games from Todd Gurley after he missed three as a sophomore, but if they do, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him bolt as a potential 1st-round pick next season.