NFL Draft 2023 Scouting Report: RB Emanuel Wilson, Fort Valley State (Reprint)

--Originally published April 2023, pre-NFL Draft--

*Our RB grades can and will change as more information comes in from Pro Day workouts, leaked Wonderlic test results, etc. We will update ratings as new info becomes available.

*We use the term "Power RB" to separate physically bigger, more between-the-tackles–capable RBs from our "Speed RBs" group. "Speed RBs" are physically smaller, but much faster/quicker, and less likely to flourish between the tackles.

Combing through Pro Day workout numbers and watching some quick tape of the prospects who were not invited to the Combine but are prospects who look interesting strictly on workout info, their output data and a quick glimpse of tape is an arduous, lengthy process that takes about a month+ (mid-March to mid/late-April) to go through all these Pro Days. I've been going through Pro Day prospects for weeks now, and the first time that I watched one of these small school Pro Day potentials and had them really catch my attention was with Fort Valley State RB Emanuel Wilson.

The Pro Day numbers were solid, his college output quite strong, but what really made me stop and look a little deeper was that Wilson had an instant 'look' of a legit NFL RB. The very first piece of tape I saw on him was a one play short off YouTube: https://youtu.be/AlbdsAD2YvI

A long, untouched TD run at the lower levels of college is not the 'catch my attention' thing from that one play. It was watching his movement at his size, the fluid motion…and watching him just pull away from the pack with little running effort -- I had to see more.

Before I watched actual game tape, I had seen his Pro Day results: 5'10"+, 226 pounds and ran a 4.57 40-time with a 1.58 10-yd split. That's an NFL size-speed combo.

After seeing the Pro Day workout numbers, I went to go see if the guy had any real results on the field…and that clip was from his opening game of the 2022 season, where Wilson ran the ball 20 times for 262 yards and 2 TDs…the beginning of a 1,371-yard rushing season with 19 total TDs and conference MVP and Offensive Player of the Year award wins. He definitely produced in college to go with the size-speed…even though it's a small school level -- you want an NFL hopeful prospect to dominate that level, and he did.

Wilson began his college career at Johnson C. Smith college and was the CIAA conference Rookie of the Year, rushing for 1,040 yards (6.5 ypc) and 13 TDs as a freshman.

Wilson lost 2020, to COVID and transferred to a bigger school (from his prior) in the HBCU at Fort Valley State. At FVSU, he rushed for 119.3 yards and 1.0 TDs per game in his debut season there (7 games). In 2022, he played a full season (10 games) and ran for 137.1 yards and 1.7 TDs per game…adding 2.4 rec., 23.9 rec. yds, and a rec. TD.

All total, at both of his schools/for his career -- Wilson ran for 120.2 yards per game and scored 40 total TDs in 27 games.

Watching Wilson's tape from 2019 to 2021 to 2022, I saw a maturing runner…dominating not only athletically but starting to dominate with patience and vision as a runner…he was just better than everyone else. He looks kinda like Latavius Murray as a runner…upright, but fast with natural instincts but he also gives off a minor David Johnson vibe. I am not saying he's the next David Johnson…if I ever apply that label to another RB prospect you should sell everything you possess and go buy stock in the player. Wilson just has some DJ movement skills at a 'plus' size and has a frame that could see even more muscle put on and then really be an NFL hopeful. He already sports a big, sturdy frame and muscular definition but he could do what/develop like Johnson did in the pros -- and just become like one big 225-230 pounds of muscle out of the backfield.

Wilson can catch the ball pretty well out of the backfield and downfield too, but not like David Johnson…more like Latavius Murray in his heyday.

What I liked about Wilson's tape is watching the progression of his running skills from 2019 to 2022. He was super raw in 2019…and became a more complete back into 2022. He seemingly improved, got more patient/aware with each game in 2022.

Wilson brings an NFL sized body/frame with NFL movement skills to the table…but he is dragged down by only having experience at a lower level of college play. However, Wilson did attend the NFLPA Bowl and was deemed the starter for his team (the National team). Watch his first carry of the NFLPA game here to get a little taste of his skillset against better defenders: https://youtu.be/kaXizKNDZJI?t=392

There's 'something here' with Wilson. I don't have much information on his backstory or why he went to lower-level schools. He sounds serious and smart enough in interviews. He was highly productive wherever he played. His tape just has that 'look' of a legit NFL prospect. There's definitely something here to work with/find out more about.

Emanuel Wilson, Through the Lens of Our RB Scouting Algorithm:

 -- 2019 CIAA Rookie of the Year

 -- 2022 SIAC MVP and Offensive Player of the Year

 -- Seven of 10 games played in 2022 with 100+ yards rushing.

 -- 15 rushing TDs, 17 total TDs in his final 7 college games

 -- 3.7 catches for 39.2 rec. yards per game as he added the receiving game more and more to his arsenal.

2023 Pro Day and HBCU Combine Measurables:

5'10.4"/226

9" hands, 33.25" arms, a huge 80" wingspan

4.57 40-time, 2.68 20-yd, 1.58 10-yd

4.34 shuttle, 7.23 three-cone

36" vertical, 10'0" broad jump

The Historical RB Prospects to Whom Emanuel Wilson Most Compares Within Our System:

The Julius Chestnut comp is an intriguing one…a small school UDFA gem last year who showed he was NFL legit and forced his way onto the Titans' 53-man roster opening week. However, Chestnut is athletic but more of a bully runner. Wilson is more a vision and evasive runner with power as well -- more in the Joe Mixon style, perhaps. 

*A score of 8.50+ is where we see a stronger correlation of RBs going on to become NFL good/great/elite. A score of 10.00+ is more rarefied air in our system and indicates a greater probability of becoming an elite NFL RB.

All of the RB ratings are based on a 0-10 scale, but a player can score negative, or above a 10.0 in certain instances.

Overall rating/score = A combination of several on-field performance measures, including refinement for strength of opponents faced, mixed with all the physical measurement metrics—then compared/rated historically within our database and formulas. More of a traditional three-down search—runner, blocker, and receiver.

*RB-Re score = New/testing starting in 2015. Our formula/rating that attempts to identify and quantify a prospect's receiving skills even deeper than in our original formulas. RB prospects can now make it/thrive in the NFL strictly based on their receiving skills—it is an individual attribute sought out for the NFL, and no longer dismissed or overlooked. Our rating combines a study of their receiving numbers in college in relation to their offense and opponents, as well as profiling size-speed-agility along with hand-size measurables, etc.

*RB-Ru score = New/testing starting in 2015. Our formula/rating that attempts to classify and quantify a RB prospect's ability strictly as a runner of the ball. Our rating combines a study of their rushing numbers in college in relation to their offense and strength of opponents, as well as profiling size-speed-agility along with various size measurables, etc.

Raw Speed Metric = A combination of several speed and size measurements from the NFL Combine, judged along with physical size profile, and then compared/rated historically within our database and scouting formulas. This is a rating strictly for RBs of a similar/bigger size profile.

Agility Metric = A combination of several speed and agility measurements from the NFL Combine, judged along with physical size profile, and then compared/rated historically within our database and scouting formulas. This is a rating strictly for RBs of a similar/bigger size profile.

2023 NFL Draft Outlook:

Wilson is tracking way off the grid, a UDFA projection. I'll assume he'll be a UDFA…but there is hope he's a 7th-round flier for an NFL team due to his size/speed but more so the big production tallies to go with it.

If I were an NFL GM, I would have Wilson on the 7th-round/priority UDFA watch list for sure.

NFL Outlook:  

Keep the Julius Chestnut discussion comps coming…Wilson is likely to be a UDFA who has to fight and scrap in the preseason to show he belongs, but then is just kept on the sidelines more than given a push -- it will take both Chestnut and Wilson time (and luck) to get integrated and get a real chance in the NFL…but they have some #1 back/three-down back looks/skills/metrics to bring to the table. Getting the chance, overcoming their draft stock/status will be their real obstacle.