2019 NFL Draft: Valuation of positional tweeners in class
By Ryan Roberts
Running back/H-Back: Qadree Ollison, Pittsburgh
After a big-time freshman season, Qadree Ollison was regulated to a complementary role behind current Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner. A lot was expected of him after the departure of Conner, but his role seemed to change drastically. Ollison served in a new role, taking the field as a H-Back/wing with some duties as a short yardage option as a runner.
This move was a homage to Ollison’s attention to detail for the smaller aspects of his game (blocking, pass receiving, consistency). Ollison returned to a lead role as a senior, rushing for 1,213 yards and 11 touchdowns, while posting an impressive 6.3 yards per carry. Despite a very solid two years of production, Ollison is now entering the NFL with a similar question of what position might best be served by his skill set.
A taller prospect who lacks the ability to drop his pad at a desired rate, I question if Ollison is a solid enough fit as a deep back role. The little things Ollison brings to the game that do not necessarily show up in the box score, however, make him a perfect candidate as a slash offensive player.
Can he fill a role as a short yardage back? Can he do some spot duty at fullback? Can he line up as a detached tight end and run some routes? Can he even do some things as an inline blocker? Can he play some special teams? I believe the answer to all of these questions is yes. Ollison will never project to anything more than a role player, but the roles he fills will have a hand in deciding football games.
Projected Round: 5th-7th