As the NFL Draft neared its completion, the Denver Broncos used selection 203 in the sixth round on running back De’Angelo Henderson of Coastal Carolina. Another small star, Henderson sports a stocky 5’7″, 208-pound frame.
Henderson was wildly productive in college and his senior season saw him produce 1,156 yards on just 183 carries and found the endzone 16 times despite missing three games. He set an NCAA record by scoring in 35 consecutive games.
Henderson’s NFL.com scouting report reads:
Strengths
Has access to an accelerator that gets him around the corner or through the line of scrimmage quickly. Ran a verified 4.49 40 in early 2016. Runs bigger than his listed size. Unafraid to drop the pad level and get it on with would-be tackler. Powerful lower body with balanced base to maintain his feet despite a big hit from an angle. Willing worker between tackles. Runs through initial contact and makes tacklers work for it. Decisive runner. Low center of gravity with sudden, one-cut ability. Prolific at scoring touchdowns. At his best in space. Good pass catcher with long speed and open-field shiftiness to hit the big play out of the backfield. Able to adjust his body to poorly thrown balls. Adequate pass-protection skills.
Weaknesses
Needs to develop better patience between the tackles. Appears to make decisions to grind forward a little too early at times. His creativity as a runner can be a little inconsistent. Has the feet to make defenders miss but doesn’t always do it. Squared-up runner who lacks slipperiness to get through tight crevices. Needs work on consistency and technique in pass protection. Doesn’t have size to continue taking on tacklers as often as he does at next level. Outstanding production came at lower level of competition.
Bottom Line
Henderson is built low to the ground with the balance and power in his lower half to fight forward for additional yardage after contact. His courage, burst, and one-cut ability should appeal to zone-scheme teams while his pass catching and willingness to block gives him a chance to compete for a role on third downs. Henderson had prolific production throughout high school and college and plays with the mindset and confidence of a future pro. He’s undersized but has the skill to compete for a spot on an NFL roster right away.
