NFL Draft 2020 Scouting Report: RB Brian Herrien, Georgia (QH)

*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.

Our Quick Hit (QH) scouting reports are a modified/shorter version of our full-scale reports. On these Quick Hits, I look at a lesser amount of tape and write a shorter amount of flowy words – these are usually designed more for sleeper prospects that I want to get more acquainted with and if something really jumps out, I’ll go deeper. It’s just me trying to get in and get out and deliver the pertinent notes to you for your consideration and for review later if they start to make waves in a year or two. 

I’ll do a chunk of these pre-Draft and then more all post-Draft going through the players that caught my attention in the draft (because of how high they were taken) or that I stumble across in training camp or the preseason that catch my eye.

Most of my notes on these Quick Hits will be short and sweet bullet points versions of our full-scale report outs. Enjoy…

============================

When watching tape of prospects for previews ahead of the Senior Bowl, one of the invitees, a backup RB at Georgia Brian Herrien caught my attention – I thought he looked better than D’Andre Swift at first blush (but, remember, I don’t think Swift is all that great). I was intrigued with this hidden, backup RB and planned to look deeper to see if we had a sleeper hiding behind the Swift-hype. So, here we are! Let’s go…

BACKGROUND…

 -- 2016/Fr. = Backup to Chubb-Michel

 -- 2017/Soph. = Backup to Chubb-Michel-Swift

 -- 2018/Jr. = Backup to Swift-Holyfield

 -- 2019/Sr. = Backup to Swift

 -- Was a 0-star rated high school prospect, discovered by Georgia and offered…then was suddenly a 2/3-star rated prospect after that fact. 

 -- Awarded the team’s ‘Toughest Player’ award post-season from 2019 season. 

GAME TAPE AND RANDOM NOTES…

 -- I was letdown here. Herrien is a good/solid enough college back, could’ve been a 1,000+ yard rusher in the SEC or maybe more at a mid-major school, I suppose…but lacks the punch (4.6+ speed) to be a real impact back for the next level. 

 -- Iffy instincts, and I think that may have been his undoing to becoming ‘always a backup’ at Georgia. He was ‘OK’ on tape, but not a take charge, force them to play me type back. 

 -- Has really good hands out of the backfield. He could be an NFL journeyman receiving back.

Brian Herrien, Through the Lens of Our RB Scouting Algorithm:

 -- Never had a 100+ yard rushing game at Georgia in 49 games.

 -- Returned some kicks in 2019 with ‘meh’ results…24.8 yards per return on six returns in 2019.

 -- 2019 was his ‘most carries’ season (103 carries) and all as a rotational backup, etc., and he posted just 4.8 yards per carry. 

 -- 277 career carries, 1 fumble, none lost.

2020 NFL Combine Data:

5’11.1”/209, 9” hands, 29 ¾” arms

4.62 40-time, 2.70 20-yard, 1.62 10-yard

4.40 shuttle, 7.12 three-cone

18 bench press reps, 38.5” vertical, 10’6” broad jump

The Historical RB Prospects to Whom Brian Herrien Most Compares Within Our System:

Nothing promising coming from this comp list for Herrien…and I fear it is ‘telling’. 

*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 the 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 = Our new 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 =  Our new formula/rating that attempts to classify and quantify an 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.

2020 NFL Draft Outlook:

Not likely to be drafted.

If I were an NFL GM…I got a lot more players/sleepers to look at ahead of Herrien, at all positions including running backs. 

NFL Outlook:   

Likely makes a practice squad and kicks around for a few years and then disappears quietly. 

4/5/2020