New York Giants 10 Potential Running Back Options

Jan 24, 2015; Mobile, AL, USA; South squad running back David Johnson of Northern Iowa (7) carries the ball against the North squad in the first quarter of the Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Andrews-USA TODAY Sports

David Johnson

Johnson is a relative unknown to anyone that isn’t a hardcore college fan, as he is coming out of Northern Iowa, but he is beginning to make a name for himself.

Johnson had an excellent showing in the Senior Bowl, which started to get him notice and shoot him up some boards. He has the body and size to survive a bellcow role, which he was with Northern Iowa, and combines that with above average speed. That combination will help him translate to the NFL, even though he wasn’t playing against a conference like the SEC week in and week out.

Importantly for a team like the Giants, he has shown the ability to be a great receiver from the running back position. Johnson caught at least 30 passes each of his four seasons at Northern Iowa, and his size enables him to be a good blocker in pass protection. Pass protection is what is imperative to get on the field with the Giants, and if he can come into the NFL already have the tools to do it, Tom Coughlin and his staff can help him hone it and find a role for him right away.

Last season Williams came into the NFL with all of 10 catches in his college career, but improved along the way and ended the season with 18 receptions his rookie season. If they can get that kind of improvement from a stone-handed player like Williams, imagine what they could do with a rookie that already has the tools in place to be a successful player in the passing game.

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