Running backs who possess exceptional receiving capabilities can have long and productive careers in today’s NFL.
New Hampshire’s Dylan Laube can undoubtedly fill this type of role for an NFL offense, but does his scouting report suggest a career far beyond that of a pass-catching specialist out of the backfield entering the 2024 NFL Draft?
Dylan Laube’s Draft Profile and Measurements
- Height: 5’10”
- Weight: 206
- Length: 29 3/8”
- Hand: 9 1/4”
- Position: RB
- School: New Hampshire
- Current Year: Senior
Outstanding production on the football field has always been a calling for Laube, dating all the way back to his prep days at Westhampton High School, where he scored an absurd 101 career touchdowns.
After getting off to a slow start through the first four years of his collegiate career, Laube went on to top 1,000 yards from scrimmage in both of his final two years in college.
He ran for a career-high 1,205 yards and 15 TDs in 2022 but exploded as a pass catcher with 68 receptions for 699 yards and seven TDs in 2023.
Laube’s Scouting Report
Strengths
- Exceptional lateral agility; Able to string together multiple quick lateral moves, which help him teleport from gap or destroy pursuit angles in an instant.
- Elite start/stop ability; Top shelf foot quickness makes him a very effective reactive runner who can thrive in gap scheme concepts.
- Navigates seamlessly through tight spaces with quick and controlled feet; Choppy steps and subtle jump cuts allow him to change course in a phone booth when defenders unexpectedly flash into an intended gap.
- Receiver-type ability to run routes with soft, reliable hands who can be deployed as a mismatch weapon in the passing game; Can abuse opposing linebackers with option or angle routes with great route deception and timing; Can legitimately operate out of the slot at the NFL level.
- Low center of gravity aids in his contact balance; Can absorb contact and regularly takes a direct hit from incoming defenders; Play strength and compact build allow him to bounce off glancing blows, reset his feet quickly, and continue moving upfield after contact.
- Has the creativity and juice to take the edge when defenders penetrate rushing lanes early in the rep.
Weaknesses
- Despite quality leverage as a runner, he doesn’t possess the overwhelming power to physically impose his will against defenders at the point of attack; Could struggle to forcefully break tackling attempts when working in the trenches at the next level with a lack of size and raw power.
- Long speed falls a bit short of the elite at the position; Quicker than fast prospect.
- Had a lot of inside zone runs where he would bounce it outside a little prematurely; Could exercise a bit more patience when pressing the hole and trying to stay on script with desired play design.
- Pass protection could be a bit more consistent.
Current Draft Projection and Summary
Laube enters the NFL with an excellent third-down pass-catching specialist package and showcases some exciting traits of an effective complementary runner in the league.
We’ve seen players with Laube’s skill set and size start with a specific role to begin their careers, but they play so well that it makes it tough to get them off the field, such as James White and Austin Ekeler.
However, questions regarding his prospect profile do exist. His lack of pure power and tendency to bounce runs out to the perimeter could be an issue entering the league.
Yet, Laube is certainly an intriguing Day 3 prospect who could sneak into the end of Day 2 if a team needs a dynamic pass-catching threat out of the backfield.
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