Todd Gurley Ascends Into Top 10 on Mel Kiper’s Big Board

Todd Gurley is good at football. This fact is not up for debate, but in the current world of the NFL, running backs are increasingly devalued, especially when it comes to the NFL Draft process. However, ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper has weighed in on the 2015 class with his latest big board ($), and in this installment, he lists Gurley as the number eight prospect in the upcoming draft.

Here is what Kiper had to say about Gurley, who also doubles as the top-rated running back in the country:

"Welcome back Mr. Gurley. You’ve moved up as you’ve stayed healthy over the last month. I probably rank Gurley higher than he will be drafted, given the way the NFL values running backs, but he could go in Round 1. He’s a powerful runner with the ability to run away from a defense. When Gurley gets past the line of scrimmage, watch out. He can run high, which raises durability concerns that will certainly play into his draft stock."

The 6-foot-1, 226-pound Gurley has been a wrecking ball this season, compiling 773 yards rushing in eight touchdowns in just five games of action. As noted by Kiper above, the suspension certainly did not harm Gurley’s NFL Draft prospect, and in fact, some may view it as a positive in avoiding the wear and tear associated with navigating an SEC schedule as the team’s workhorse.

In addition to Gurley, Georgia pass-rusher Leonard Floyd comes in at number 17 in the latest rankings from Kiper, but the bigger story is Gurley’s ascension. Can he be a top-10 pick? Maybe, but regardless of where Todd Gurley actually lands when his name is called on April 30, 2015 in Chicago, he should be an utter terror at the next level from the moment he steps foot on an NFL field.