Sincere McCormick, UTSA RB | NFL Draft Scouting Report

From Judson High School to the verge of the NFL Draft, Sincere McCormick has been insanely productive his entire football career. Yet, somehow, the UTSA Roadrunners running back has remained relatively underrated. As his scouting report reveals, we’re sincere when we say McCormick is one of the top running backs in the 2022 NFL Draft class.

Sincere McCormick NFL Draft Profile

• Position: Running Back
• School: UTSA
• Current Year: Junior
• Height: 5’9″
• Weight: 205 pounds

Sincere McCormick Scouting Report

Who are the top running backs in the 2022 NFL Draft class? It’s a simple question. And one that typically solicits similar answers while accounting for individual taste. Isaiah Spiller and Breece Hall have long been the de facto RB1s of the class. This season, sensational performances for Michigan State have seen Kenneth Walker III shoot up draft boards as the year has progressed. He might even be RB1 for some people. 

Just 22 rushing yards behind Hall sits UTSA running back Sincere McCormick. However, you’d assume that the gap between the two junior running backs was as wide as the exits on the I-10 in West Texas based on publicity alone. Nevertheless, McCormick’s scouting report reveals that he should be in this 2022 NFL Draft class conversation.

Ironically, McCormick often gets overlooked because of his size. At 5’9″, he’s somewhat of a diminutive back. But what he lacks in height, he makes up for in physicality. The UTSA RB plays the game with a mean streak. He’s able to grind out yardage and can drive his legs in goal-line situations. Furthermore, he routinely lowers his pads and initiates contact with his shoulders. 

Contact balance, footwork, and lateral agility 

Speaking of contact, contact balance separates the good from the great at the running back position. McCormick can often be found playing the role of a pinball, rebounding off tackles.

He does an excellent job of absorbing contact and keeping his feet, especially when near the goal line. McCormick also does an excellent job of routinely falling forward when taken down, ensuring that he maximizes every available yard. 

Additionally, the UTSA RB possesses excellent footwork. He demonstrates beautiful cut-ability, leaving defenders grasping at thin air on multiple occasions per game. This is the result of impressive lateral agility, allowing him to dance behind the line of scrimmage while he patiently waits for a hole to appear.

As modern football requires running backs to do more than just run, there are two additional elements to evaluation that have to be considered. Blocking and receiving are two critical assets that NFL Draft prospects at the position have to demonstrate. While he isn’t used extensively as a receiver by UTSA, McCormick has shown he can be reliable as a catcher. Furthermore, his physicality ensures he’s a willing blocker.

Areas for improvement 

McCormick should be receiving more respect in this 2022 NFL Draft class, as the first part of his scouting report attests to. His abilities reach beyond the impressive production he’s attained at UTSA. Nevertheless, there are areas in McCormick’s scouting report that need attention and others that could potentially limit his stock. 

Although he’s shown that he can play above his size limitations at the college level, the UTSA RB’s diminutive stature may cause concern at the next level. He’s proven to be physical, but how will his 5’9″ and 205-pound frame hold up in the NFL, especially as a blocker?

While McCormick ran a 4.5-second 40-yard dash in high school, he doesn’t appear to possess next-level long speed. Will he be able to rip off chunk plays at the next level?

Finally, with at least two games left of his junior season, McCormick has plenty of miles on the clock. Will the 657 carries (and counting) prove to be a concern for NFL teams? This has historically been a consideration, especially at a position that has a relatively small shelf life. That said, Jonathan Taylor left Wisconsin with over 900 carries and seems to be doing alright for himself in the NFL. 

Sincere McCormick Player Profile

2,000 miles down the I-40E and I-81N separates Malden, Massachusetts (the birthplace of the Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star basketball shoe), from the place that shares its name with the legendary shoemaking company, Converse, TX.

Yet, Converse has its own All-Star in McCormick. The diminutive running back made a name for himself at Judson High School, a public school in the city’s heart. McCormick made his debut as a sophomore, tallying 641 yards and 8 touchdowns.

Junior year explosion was a sign of things to come

However, his talent became apparent with a hefty rise in production as a junior. He was named the 2017 District 27-6A Offensive Player of the Year following a season where he tallied 1,211 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. Despite the performances, he wasn’t nationally recognized. A three-star recruit in the 2019 class, McCormick was only the 102nd running back and 1,636th player nationally.

As a result, he only received 11 college offers. Although they included Power Five offers from Syracuse and Colorado, McCormick opted to stay close to home. He’d attended a junior camp at UTSA in February 2018 and committed to the Roadrunners before his senior campaign.

Spurned teams had to watch as McCormick engineered a sensational senior year. During his 2018 high school season, he helped lead Judson to a 13-1 record and a district championship.

After registering eight 100+ yard games, McCormick finished the season with 1,489 rushing yards at a ridiculous 10.3 yards per carry. Furthermore, he added 22 touchdowns to end his Judson career with 47 rushing scores.

McCormick’s career at UTSA

The phrase “immediate impact” is often overused. Yet, in the case of McCormick, there is no better phrase to use. During his first season at UTSA, the running back exceeded even the most outlandish expectations.

From his first game, a 74-yard performance against Incarnate Word, it was apparent that the Roadrunners had found a talented RB. In just his second game, McCormick found the end zone twice against Baylor. It wasn’t simply a case of trampling FCS and Group of Five competition; the UTSA product could mix it with Power Five competition as well.

2019 was a record-setting year for McCormick. He set new UTSA freshman records in every conceivable RB metric. Additionally, he broke the program record for single-season all-purpose yardage and single-game yardage (189 yards vs. UTEP). As a result, he was named a Freshman All-American by FWAA in addition to Conference USA Freshman of the Year.

The records that he’d set as a freshman didn’t last long. In the 2020 season opener against Texas State, McCormick set a new standard with 197 rushing yards. The Roadrunners RB subsequently broke that record with a 251-yard performance against North Texas. Those performances, alongside a total of seven 100+ yard games (five of which went over 150 yards), ensured that McCormick broke his all-purpose yardage record with 1,598 total yards.

Sensational sophomore season gives way to thrilling third year

McCormick was named a second-team All-American, Conference USA Player of the Year, and a finalist for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award and Doak Walker Award. Moreover, he was named the Texas College Player of the Year by the prestigious Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine.

It seemed inconceivable that McCormick could improve on these performances in his junior year. But UTSA has emerged as a Group of Five giant this season, with their running back powering their unbeaten record. Of the 10 games played at the time of writing, McCormick has rushed for over 100 yards in seven of them. Having had multiple games with 3 touchdowns, he needs just 1 score in their final two games to set a new single-season high.

Long story short, McCormick has once again proven that he’s one of the best running backs in the nation. While college production doesn’t guarantee NFL success, there’s every reason to believe he can be one of the top RBs in the 2022 NFL Draft. Of that, we’re being sincere.

Tony Pauline’s scouting report for Sincere McCormick

Positives: Hard-working ball carrier who gets the most from his ability. Patiently waits for blocks to develop, consistently turns it upfield, and keeps his feet moving. Does not go down without a fight and falls forward when tackled. Runs with excellent lean and behind his pads. Displays good short-area quickness, burst through the hole, and the agility necessary to turn the corner. Catches the ball well when it’s thrown in his direction.

Negatives: Not a pile-driver who projects as a short-yardage ball carrier. Not a truly creative runner. Lacks perimeter speed.

Analysis: McCormick comes off a terrific junior season and is a hard-running ball carrier who gets the most from his ability. Though he was not used much in the passing game at UTSA, he displayed that ability when given opportunities, which will be necessary for him to make it out of camp this summer.