Raiders 2020 Draft Prospect
Name: Jason Huntley
Position: Running Back
School: New Mexico State University
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 193 pounds
Stats
Run Style
Despite his size, Huntley runs with a patient gait. You would think he’d run up the back of blockers, failing to wait for the hole. Yet, he surprises many with a calm approach. Then, he explodes through the seam, leaving everything and everyone far behind. Also, watch Huntley’s stride length fluctuate. He slides in and out of cuts. and looks for positive yardage.
Speed
If Huntley sees daylight, the footrace is on. Under those circumstances, bet on Huntley. With easy acceleration, he flies by defenders in the open field, forcing smart angles and pursuit.
Agility
With his size, you’d expect a degree of wiggle. Huntley provides that in spades. How he accomplishes that task remains consistent. First, look at7 his gather cut. That is to say, after a quick move, Huntley wastes no motion in heading downfield. Plus, if you figure in his contact balance, pawing tackles and shoulder attempts will not usually bring him down.
Hands
From his first game as a sophomore in Las Cruces, the Aggies depended on Huntley to win on swing passes and intermediate routes. As a result, he rewarded them with 134 grabs and 7 touchdowns. During the natural flow of a pattern, Huntley does not break stride. Moreover, he will catch the ball away from his frame and not double-catch or bobble. At the next level, look at this trait to continue with success.
Team Fit
Josh Jacobs scored more than half of the rushing touchdowns. DeAndre Washington accounted for three. Now, Huntley may look like a copy of Richard. However, his five return touchdown and nose for the end zone beg to differ. Jon Gruden wants a timing-based offense. However, what happens when average athletes sit behind the cornerstone of the offense in Josh Jacobs? Teams know that when Jacobs subs out for a breather, the imminent threat subsides.
Why Huntley?
Despite accumulating yards, the Raiders annually show a lack of gamebreakers. Huntley gives them a home run threat with every touch of the ball. What other Raiders can race 60 yards with being touched? For the insanely low price of a Day Three/ UDFA deal, the Raiders could inject a dynamic playmaker into their offense. More importantly, Huntley immediately improves the woeful return game. With Jon Gruden’s offense predicated on rhythm and accuracy, time-consuming drives from midfield will more than likely result in points. For the longest time, the Raiders settled on average returners. Granted, Dwayne Harris housed one punt. Yet, what else can you remember special teams doing in the past five years? If you add in the value of Huntley in the backfield as well, you could see the Raiders feasting on one-on-one perimeter matchups.
