Pierre Sturdy Jr. is formally the quickest operating again within the 2022 NFL Draft. Enable me to rephrase that. The South Dakota State star was the quickest RB on the 2022 NFL Mix. As his pre-draft course of sends scouts scurrying again to South Dakota State tape, he has the potential to hitch former Jackrabbit Dallas Goedert within the NFL. Sturdy’s scouting report reveals an NFL Draft prospect with an NFL-ready ability set.
Pierre Sturdy Jr. NFL Draft Profile
- Place: Operating Again
- College: South Dakota State
- Present 12 months: Redshirt Senior
- Peak: 5’11 3/8″
- Weight: 207 kilos
- Wingspan: 75 7/8″
- Arm: 31 7/8″
- Hand: 9 1/4″
Pierre Sturdy Jr. Scouting Report
Inside current years, a number of FCS operating backs haven’t solely made their method to the NFL however have been a hit there. Illinois State’s James Robinson made a reputation for himself instantaneously for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Austin Ekeler has grow to be one of many high operating backs within the league for the Los Angeles Chargers regardless of heralding from Western Colorado.
Nevertheless, neither of these two have been truly drafted to the NFL. That is the place South Dakota State RB Sturdy is totally different as a prospect within the 2022 NFL Draft. Not solely is he extremely more likely to be chosen in April — I’m being cautious to not communicate in absolutes — however he might simply discover himself chosen loads increased than many would have thought attainable.
Sturdy’s scouting report showcases why he’s been a top-150 participant on my private NFL Draft massive board even forward of his glorious pre-draft course of. The pace that he demonstrated on the NFL Mix is clear on tape. He’s a speedy operating again prospect who has the power to tear off chunk performs with spectacular regularity.
Possessing glorious pace alone gained’t get the job accomplished on the subsequent stage, nevertheless. Fortunately, Sturdy owns additional athletic excellence. The South Dakota State RB is a shifty mover, with the lateral agility to make cuts with none discernible decline in pace. He showcases fast footwork and the power to make split-second adjustments of route.
Velocity, explosion, physicality
He’s explosive sufficient to hit the outlet and go away his opponent greedy at skinny air. This explosion, pace, and agility work in unison with Sturdy’s imaginative and prescient to benefit from each out there alternative. Whereas he shows good persistence behind the road of scrimmage, he’s able to establishing the fitting time to go north, and he does so with devastating penalties.
Whereas he isn’t the largest again within the class, Sturdy showcases physicality as a prospect in a number of methods. Firstly, he was used as a lead blocker for South Dakota State on designed quarterback runs. Secondly, he’s showcased the power to choose up free blitzers no matter measurement. Moreover, as a runner, he’s demonstrated a good stiff arm to assist prolong runs. He’s additionally proven the power to grind out yardage. This can assist elevate his inventory as somebody who has three-down potential.
A part of that three-down analysis is go catching. When tasked with being a receiving choice out of the backfield, Sturdy has displayed the power to pluck the ball out of the air with good approach. The attributes that make him such an efficient rusher be sure that he provides after the catch worth, too. This was demonstrated on the East-West Shrine Bowl.
Though not strictly a part of operating again analysis, Sturdy has one other trick up his sleeve. Throughout his time at South Dakota State, he’s been an achieved passer of the ball. Inventive NFL offensive coordinators ought to look to include Sturdy into some gadget performs to maximise their offense.
Areas for enchancment
Whereas his pace, explosion, and agility will make Sturdy an alluring prospect within the 2022 NFL Draft, some limitations and areas for enchancment might trigger issues for NFL groups. Because of this, an ascension into early-round dialog might be unlikely at this level.
Though he’s showcased some pure approach as a go catcher, there are query marks right here. South Dakota State didn’t often make the most of Sturdy as a pass-catching again. Due to this fact, he’s a projection moderately than a confirmed commodity on this respect. Certainly, there have been some drops within the video games watched whereas compiling this scouting report.
At 5’11” and 207 kilos, there’s the chance that Sturdy might be thought-about undersized by the NFL. Moreover, we’ve seen in earlier years that the NFL has undervalued FCS operating again prospects.
With a notoriously quick NFL shelf life, we’ve additionally seen that groups take note of how a lot tread is on the tires for operating again prospects. Sturdy has over 600 carries in his school profession — on a body that isn’t essentially constructed to resist a major quantity of contact.
Sturdy’s Participant Profile
After a sensational NFL Mix efficiency, Sturdy is starting to collect momentum as a real NFL expertise forward of the 2022 NFL Draft. Rewind simply six years, nevertheless, and the South Dakota State expertise wasn’t garnering wherever close to the identical stage of consideration. Unranked and under-recruited, Sturdy held only one provide and curiosity from his house state Arkansas Razorbacks as a highschool recruit out of McClellan Magnet.
That’s to not say the Little Rock native was missing in expertise. Throughout his time at McClellan, he was a three-time All-State honoree. Throughout his ultimate two highschool seasons, he tallied 4,265 dashing yards. Moreover, he discovered the top zone 57 occasions throughout his junior and senior campaigns.
As a senior, he was named the Class 5A Offensive Participant of the 12 months. Moreover, Sturdy was a finalist for the Landers Award, honoring the highest highschool participant in Arkansas. The long run South Dakota State RB was additionally named to the All-USA Arkansas Soccer Group.
But, the previous observe and subject star remained unranked. Because of this, he’d take his ability set to South Dakota State and grow to be a feared RB on the FCS stage and harmful NFL Draft prospect on the place.
Sturdy’s profession at South Dakota State
Sturdy’s South Dakota State profession obtained off to a gradual begin. He redshirted his freshman season in 2017. Even then, he earned reward throughout the program, incomes Scout Particular Groups Participant of the Week recognition forward of the Jackrabbits’ sport towards Illinois State.
The South Dakota State RB exploded onto the nationwide scene as a redshirt freshman in 2018. In his first full season of enjoying time, Sturdy rushed for 1,116 dashing yards and located the top zone 11 occasions. Via the ultimate six video games of the season, he tallied 5 100+ yard video games with a landing in all six. Subsequently, he set the Tenth-highest single-game mark for dashing yards with a 253-yard outing towards South Dakota.
Sturdy acquired a glut of awards for his performances, together with the Missouri Valley Soccer Convention Freshman of the 12 months. Proving that it wasn’t simply novices luck, Sturdy broke 1,000 yards once more in 2019, including one other 8 touchdowns to his résumé. He surpassed 200 yards in a single sport as soon as extra, with 229 yards towards Southern Illinois. Showcasing his potential towards Energy 5 opposition, the South Dakota State RB registered 159 all-purpose yards within the conflict with Minnesota.
In each the 2019 and disrupted 2021 spring season, Sturdy earned FCS All-American recognition. Regardless of splitting time with Isaiah Davis within the South Dakota State backfield, he nonetheless tallied 707 dashing yards in 9 video games. Whereas he set a dashing excessive of 124 yards towards Youngstown State, he showcased his versatility with 145 all-purpose yards that included a landing go within the FCS Playoffs towards Delaware.
Sturdy’s NFL Draft ascension
For all his early profession manufacturing at South Dakota State, Sturdy has emerged as an NFL Draft RB prospect along with his performances over the previous 12 months. He had a sensational season for South Dakota State, dashing for 1,686 yards and 18 touchdowns. In the meantime, he accomplished all 4 passing makes an attempt for 62 yards and 4 scores.
In a outstanding season, he produced NINE 100+ yard video games. Sturdy rushed for a number of touchdowns in six video games. As soon as once more exhibiting his ability towards FBS opposition, he tallied 138 yards and a couple of touchdowns towards Colorado State. Though he got here up in need of a 200+ yard sport, he generated a season-high 185 yards towards UC Davis.
The South Dakota State RB wasn’t missed at this transition level of his profession. Sturdy earned an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl, the place he scored a 65-yard receiving landing within the sport. In the course of the week of follow, he impressed Professional Soccer Community’s crew on the bottom, with Tony Pauline commenting: “He runs onerous on the within, is hard to carry down, and exhibits a whole lot of foot quickness and the power to vary route.”
That quickness was evident on the 2022 NFL Mix. Sturdy blew away the competitors in Indianapolis, logging a 4.37-second 40-yard sprint time. He additionally impressed with a ten’4″ broad leap and 36″ vertical leap. The latter is an nearly excellent metaphor for the leap Sturdy’s NFL Draft inventory has taken over the previous 12 months.
