2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Daijun Edwards (RB – Georgia)

FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Georgia running back Daijun Edwards.

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Daijun Edwards

Daijun Edwards (RB – Georgia)

5’10” – 201 lbs.

Background:

Georgia native and four-star recruit who rotated into the lineup a little bit in his first two seasons with the Bulldogs, Daijun Edwards rushed for 37-218-1 (5.9) in 2020 and 49-215-3 (4.4) the following year. He took on a bigger role as a junior, splitting carries pretty evenly with Kenny McIntosh and finishing with 140-769-7 (5.5). Outcarried Kendall Milton 165-121 this season, finishing with 880 yards and 13 touchdowns (5.3) while adding 20-197-0 receiving.

Positives:

Has been productive when given opportunities over the past two years. Runs with a low center of gravity. One of the better athletes at the position in this year’s class. Shows good burst, quickness and suddenness out of the backfield. Has some violence to his movements, with some sharp cuts; adequate vision to identify lanes, with some impressive jump-cuts. Effective on outside zones/one-cut concepts. Can occasionally make the first man miss to avoid negative-yardage runs. Difficult to tackle once he gets to the second level, showing the ability to make defenders miss in congested areas. Shows good competitiveness to fight for additional yardage. Balance is above-average. Some ability to spin off of contact. Ball security has been very good with just two career fumbles on over 400 career touches. Appeared to make significant strides as a pass protector this year (albeit on a limited sample size), engaging from a sound base and showing above-average anchor strength and awareness.

Negatives:

Has added bulk in school but his frame is still on the smaller side. Can struggle at times to pound the rock up the middle in power/gap designs. More competitive than powerful as a runner; not a major pile-pusher and doesn’t break a ton of tackles. Not always able to fall forward at the end of his runs; forward progress can be stopped on contact at times. Usage as a receiver in the passing game was limited and has four drops against 37 career receptions.

Summary:

A quick, sudden back who runs with a sense of urgency and who can be dangerous with a lane. He’s at his most effective when he’s able to execute outside zone concepts, with good elusiveness at the second level. Doesn’t have a ton of tread on his tires and his overall awareness and technique in pass protection could also help him see the field a bit sooner than some of the other backs in the class. While he’s not the biggest or most powerful back, has the look of someone who could bring energy as a change-of-pace back in a zone-heavy offense. Warrants mid-round consideration.

Projection: Round 5