2014 NFL Supplemental Draft Preview

Oct 19, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs running back Traylon Shead (34) carries the ball against Memphis Tigers during the fourth quarter at Liberty Bowl Memorial. Southern Methodist Mustangs defeats Memphis Tigers 34 – 29. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

RB Traylon Shead, Southern Methodist University

The last guy on this list comes out of college not attaining many stats at all. Out of SMU, Shead rushed for 197 yards on 51 carries (3.9 ypc) with three rushing touchdowns and 26 yards receiving. Although Shead may not have the collegiate stats at SMU to prove his worth, he sure does have the high school and junior college stats to prove it. According to the SMU website, “the Cayuga, Texas, native rushed for team highs in yardage (1,194) and touchdowns (17) for Navarro JC in 2012, earning honorable-mention NJCAA All-America honors. He led Navarro to a final ranking of No. 4 nationally and a 10-2 record. “He was a great high school player and had a great year at Navarro as well.” Shead signed with Texas out of high school and spent the 2010 and 2011 seasons in Austin. He redshirted in 2010 and then played for UT against Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Rice and Texas Tech in 2011. As a prep, Shead was ranked as a four-star prospect and the nation’s No. 16 running back in the 2010 class. He was an All-American and a three-time First-Team All-State and three-time First-Team All-District selection, earning PARADE All-America honors as a senior. He played in the 2010 U.S. Army All-American Bowl and finished his career as the state’s all-time leader in career TDs (141) and second all-time in rushing yards (10,291 yards). In addition to being named the two-time Texas 1A Offensive Player of the Year, Shead was also an all-state performer and four-year letterman in basketball and a four-year letterman in track and field, placing eighth in the 100m dash at the state meet as a junior.” Now with stats and experience such as that, it is definitely hard not to consider Shead as a legitimate running threat.

According to NBC Dallas-Fort Worth, “joining the Cowboys at the [Shead] workout were the Texans, Colts, Lions, Packers, Dolphins, Seahawks and Bears.” With said interest from big name teams, many may start to reconsider Shead on their teams. I think that both the Packers and the Bears could be in the Shead sweepstakes.

I expect 2014 to be a great season for Bears’ starter Matt Forte as well as rookie DaKeem Carey who is coming off of an extremely productive career at Arizona. In 12 games for the Wildcats in 2013, Carey was able to rush for an astonishing 1,885 yards and 19 touchdowns while catching 26 passes for 173 yards and another touchdown. What was truly amazing about Carey’s season was not the fact that he was able to rush for 1,885 yards, but rather the fact that he was able to rush for 157.08 yards per game, almost 8.25 more yards per game than in 2012. Amazingly in literally every single game for Carey in 2013, the 5-9, 207-pound back rushed for 100 yards or more. When looking at Carey from the outside looking in, he is a small back, however he is pretty strong for his height. For instance, Carey was able to bench press 19 reps at this year’s Scouting Combine. But that isn’t the only reason why he is suddenly tough. This season in particular, Carey has drastically changed his running technique, not being afraid to lower his shoulder pads and bowl through defenders. Not only is Da’Keem strong, but he has great control of his body and repertoire of spin moves, jukes and subtly head bobs and fakes that can catch any safety or corner off guard in the open field. For the Bears though, they still need a fourth string back to back up Carey. I don’t think Shead will be a first string-let alone- a second string running back in the NFL in 2014. I do believe though that he does have a chance to be a third stringer on some NFL team. The Bears do have former LSU back Michael Ford, however I think Shead has as much of a right as any to take Ford’s spot on the roster.

As for the Packers and Aaron Rodgers, last season was different from recent seasons in that he actually had a solid running game. Rookie Alabama RB Eddie Lacy was phenomenal for the Packers, rushing for 1,178 yards and 11 touchdowns. Him and James Starks (493 yards and a 5.5 yards per carry average) allowed Rodgers to not have to rely so heavily on the passing game to achieve success on offense. 2014 could be yet another great year for the Packers as both Starks and Lacy will be returning along with the majority of their offensive line. The current third stringer on the Packers’ depth chart is DuJuan Harris out of Troy who was himself undrafted. Harris does have starting time over Shead’s head, however Shead could still make a difference. Being the number two rusher in all of Texas football history takes one special player. To see Shead’s talent go unnoticed would definitely come as a shock to not only Texas, but to football in general.