by J.T. Toth
Photo courtesy of UMTERPS.com.
The NFL Draft talk never ends and we here at Draft 412 will keep you ready for the next set of gridiron stars. From today until draft night 2024 we will bring you mocks, profiles, team needs, and everything else related to the 2024 NFL Draft.
Today’s Spotlight - Maryland, Running Back, Roman Hemby
Name- Roman Hemby
Pos- RB
Team- Maryland
HT/WT- 6’0” 200 lbs.
Born- 8/16/2002
Home – Baltimore, MD
Roman Hemby was a three-star recruit out of The John Carroll School, where he tallied 1,543 yards and 18 touchdowns in his 2 seasons. He selected Maryland over offers from Duke, West Virginia, Appalachian State, Vanderbilt and N.C. State.
Hemby redshirted after only appearing in 4 games and totaling 17 carries for 71 yards and 2 touchdowns. Last season he finished third among all FBS freshmen in yards from scrimmage (1,287), and his 10 touchdowns were the 2nd most ever by a Maryland freshman.
So far this season, the redshirt sophomore has 220 yards on 31 carries and has scored 2 touchdowns in his first two games.
Hemby is an efficient receiver and is able to take a screen or swing pass and get big yards out of it. He has good vision and enough burst to be a danger to the backend of defenses. He has next level cutback ability and has patience to let his linemen make their blocks before accelerating through. He runs precise routes and can be a weapon in the passing game, not just with screens and swing passes. Has been used as a run blocker in two running back sets and is willing to hit a linebacker.
However, Hemby has a tendency to try and make every run a home run instead of running north and south and taking what is given to him. He is not reliable yet in pass blocking and has a proclivity to try and cut block instead of taking a defender on squarely. He has some size but needs to add weight and muscle to be a workhorse running back in the NFL. Because of this, he can get knocked around going through holes by arm tacklers and needs to develop better contact balance.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3rd round pick in 2022 Rachaad White is a great pro comparison for Roman Hemby. White has since added some muscle since Tampa Bay drafted him and he is starting to take on the role of RB1. Hemby has the tools to do the same.
Strengths
Good vision
Patience
Pass catching
Screens and swing passes
Weaknesses
Looks for big play too often
Pass Blocking
Needs to add muscle/weight
Contact balance
Final Analysis
Roman Hemby is only a redshirt sophomore and if need be, can play more football after this season. He is rising up draft boards by getting a workload for Maryland. Draft 412 thinks he will be a later round pick and probably should think of returning in 2024.
Draft 412 Draft Prediction- 5th or 6th round- (potential to return and be a higher pick)