2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: J’Mari Taylor (RB – Virginia)

FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in February. Here’s a look at Virginia running back J’Mari Taylor.

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: J’Mari Taylor

J’Mari Taylor (RB – Virginia)

5’9″ – 204 lbs.

Background

North Carolina native who originally walked on to North Carolina Central, where he recorded no carries in 2021 before rotating in the following two seasons, with 89-428-7 (4.8) and 72-331-1 (4.6) in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Became the team’s starting running back in 2024, finishing with 196-1,146-15 (5.8) before transferring to Virginia and starting there en route to a line of 222-1,062-14 (4.8) this past season in the Cavaliers’ zone-heavy attack. Also caught 29-257-2 (8.9) in 2024 and 43-253-1 (5.9) in 2025.

Positives

Finished his career with two seasons of productive play as a workhorse back, grinding out a lot of his yardage on inside zone concepts this past season and showing impressive durability throughout his career. Runs with very good knee-bend and a naturally low center of gravity. Has good lateral quickness to slot into rushing lanes between the tackles, with impressive, sudden jump-cuts. Decisive, no-nonsense runner who recognizes and hits the hole in a hurry, showing excellent burst and solid long speed to rip off big runs when he finds a lane. Tough competitor after contact, with very nice contact balance/flexibility and consistent leg drive to fight for additional yardage, falling forward on a regular basis. Works the stiff arm effectively when he’s able to win the corner. Ball security is excellent, with just two career fumbles against 576 career carries. Generates a nice amount of pop on contact in blitz pickup, playing with physicality there and showing good alertness/awareness. Was well-integrated into the team’s passing game underneath, catching a high volume of targets.

Negatives

On the smaller side for a pro running back, and comes with a bit more tread on his tires as well. More physical, competitive, and balanced as a runner than he is overwhelmingly powerful. Technique can get a bit sloppy in blitz pickup; too frequently lapses into hitting opponents rather than engaging with his hands. Usage in the passing game was high-volume, but basically restricted to serving as a safety valve/checkdown option on swings and leak-outs. Hasn’t had the most reliable pair of hands in the passing game, with ten career drops, including five this past season.

Summary

A smaller back who otherwise shows everything you want as an inside-zone runner, with an impressive combination of vision, decisiveness, agility, burst, contact balance, physicality, and competitiveness which allowed him to produce as a workhorse in school. While he was heavily-integrated into the passing game, his top priorities should probably be engaging with more consistent technique as a blocker and cutting down on drops as a receiver, as third down work could offer an early path onto the field for him. I’m a big fan, but he hasn’t been getting a ton of hype, so maybe he’ll be more of a mid-round pick.

Projection: Round 4-5