2022 Chiefs Draft Prospect: Sincere McCormick

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NAME: Sincere McCormick

POSITION: Running Back

SCHOOL: UTSA

HEIGHT: 5’9”

WEIGHT: 205 pounds

CAREER BACKGROUND

A native of Converse, Texas, Sincere McCormick attended Judson High School. He received significant playing time for three seasons during his high school football career. Over the course of those few seasons, McCormick racked up 3,391 rushing yards and 43 rushing touchdowns. He notably rushed for over 1,200 yards in both his junior and senior seasons. After his junior campaign, McCormick was named 2017 District 27-6A Offensive Player of the Year. He also earned a first-team All-District 26-6A selection as a senior. Eventually, the running back decided to play college football in San Antonio for the UTSA Roadrunners.

Immediate Impact

After joining the UTSA program, McCormick immediately became a featured component. He finished with 983 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 177 carries (5.6 yards per carry) as a freshman in 2019. McCormick would also go on to establish UTSA freshman records in categories like carries, rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, yards per carry and rushing yards per game. Furthermore, he posted new school records for single-season all-purpose yards (1,177) and single-game rushing yards (189). Both of those have been broken since, however. McCormick was named Conference USA Freshman of the Year for 2019.

During McCormick’s sophomore season in 2020, he not only continued to set new standards at UTSA, but he also was near the top of most categories across the entire NCAA field. On the ground, he compiled 1,467 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on 249 carries (5.9 yards per carry). The rusher again topped his all-purpose yardage best, finishing with 1,598 all-purpose yards.

McCormick became the school’s all-time leader in career rushing yards during the bowl game after the season. He set a new UTSA single-season mark in rushing yards per game (133.4), which ranked sixth in the nation. Finally, McCormick ranked best in Conference USA and second best in the FBS in rushing yards that season. The running back was named the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year, and he was also a first-team All-Conference USA selection.

Constant Rise

As impressive as his first two seasons were, McCormick continued to top personal and school records as a junior in 2021. He rushed for 1,479 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on 298 carries (4.9 yards per carry). All three of those marks (rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, carries) were new single-season UTSA records. More impressively, McCormick once again broke his own school record for all-purpose yards (1,663).

His efforts and a high-octane Roadrunners offense helped lead the school to their first ever Conference USA title win. In that game, McCormick rushed for 204 yards and three touchdowns, en route to being named Conference USA Championship Game MVP. He was named the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year for the second straight season, and received a first-team All-Conference USA selection for the second straight season. Lastly, McCormick was recognized as a third-team All-American by The Associated Press for 2021. He decided to skip his senior season and enter the 2022 NFL Draft.

SCOUTING REPORT

Instead of listing positives and negatives for traits, this year we will be listing the best trait of each prospect and work our way down to the biggest area of improvement/absent trait(s), from top to bottom.

Vision

There are many areas of McCormick’s game that are above average. However, he makes most of his money in this area and is arguably elite when it comes to vision. His spatial awareness is noticeable in many areas of the field. For example, McCormick is quick to read tricks or stunts that the opposing defensive line may have up their sleeve. He recognizes that just as he receives the handoff. Many times, McCormick sifted through traffic urgently and picked up extra yardage by squeezing through small creases. He would still find a way to get to the defense’s second level, even if it looked like he was corralled. Overall, McCormick has a solid combination of feeling blocks, realizing where his cutback lanes are and is seemingly always prepared for incoming tacklers.

Balance

There is a tremendous amount of confidence that McCormick displays when facing contact. He can bounce off of it in a number of ways. The stiff-arm and leading with his shoulder appear to do the most damage to opposing tacklers. Elsewhere, McCormick has many moments where he hops through tight spaces or muddied up areas of the field. Opponents must bring extra force when looking to bring him down. If not, McCormick will show how efficiently he recovers from facing contact, by regaining his footing in a swift fashion.

Competitiveness

As his UTSA career went on, there were many moments where McCormick could be seen carrying opposing tacklers down field with him for extra yards. He will use his lower center of gravity to battle against contact. With this, McCormick is able to work hard and tries to find hidden yards, if he is originally bottled up. Coaches will love how aggressive and confident he is when originally facing contact. Finally, McCormick noticeably increases his power forcefully at the point of attack, if he receives a second effort attempt.

Change Of Direction Skills

In space, McCormick would not be categorized as an explosive cutter. He can certainly shoot out of a cannon and attack short areas once seeing the opening, though. That quick jolt can be hit or miss. When in close quarters, McCormick possesses a nice mix of patience and decisiveness. The way in which he makes defenders miss in space should not be discredited. On top of that, he has many ways in which he makes missed tackles appear on the opposing team’s box score.

Football IQ

Many coaches will appreciate his knack for not dancing too often in the open field. At the same time, McCormick does the same thing if he is bottled up behind the line of scrimmage. He noticeably uses extra protection on the football when contact is starting to near. During these instances, the running back keeps the ball close to his vest and not in harm’s way. In fact, McCormick did not fumble once in 2021 and has not put one on the ground since September of 2020. The aforementioned vision and feel for blocks should also suit him well early on at the NFL level.

Speed/Burst

There are moments where McCormick suddenly covers ample amounts of ground quickly. This is largely due to his short area quickness, however. That sudden burst can also be inconsistent throughout various points of games. On the other hand, McCormick is not a running back who is going to blow defenders away with long speed. Opponents have been able to recover and catch him from behind in many instances. His anticipation skills and ability to make people miss will still do wonders for his production. Nevertheless, winning footraces is not something a team should expect when drafting McCormick.

Passing Down Skills

Out of all of the areas during passing downs, pass catching is probably where McCormick shines the most. Clearly, he is not elite as a receiver and will likely not garner many pass catching opportunities. Taking care of the little things is where McCormick impressed, though. He is quick to turn and find the football, while also wasting no time in getting north after securing the catch. Often times, running backs are too focused on being nuanced route runners in those moments.

As a pass blocker, there are inconsistencies with McCormick when it comes to aggression and technique. He is not always square to the pass rusher. Or, McCormick can be late to find his blocking assignment. He will make contact with the pass rusher. Yet, it does not always come with a lot of tenacity.

Versatility

Entering the NFL, McCormick will ideally be suited as a running back who is part of a committee. There is more appeal to him joining a rushing attack that focuses on zone concepts. The power running game could minimize his chances to utilize his better traits. We would be remiss to not mention how often UTSA ushered in a RPO look to their offensive gameplan. Kansas City has obviously used that style a fair bit themselves. Above all else, McCormick is likely not going to be asked to be a major part of the passing game.

CHIEFS FIT

As we sit just about two weeks before free agency starts, the Kansas City Chiefs have two running backs that are due to be unrestricted free agents. That would be Darrel Williams and Jerick McKinnon. It would not be surprising to see both of those two leave. Williams just compiled his first career season with at least 1,000 scrimmage yards. Meanwhile, McKinnon’s skillset is completely different than anything the Chiefs have had in a while, and he was ultra-effective in the postseason.

If at least one of those two are gone, the need to add another piece to the running back room may loom larger than most think. Clyde Edwards-Helaire has enjoyed some bright spots throughout his first two seasons. But, durability concerns and attributes like vision and pass catching have been up and down. He simply needs someone else to help shoulder the load with him. With Sincere McCormick, the Chiefs could add a change of pace, compared to what they are getting from CEH. His top traits are just as good, if not better than where Edwards-Helaire is at entering year three of the Chiefs program.

Be on the lookout for more FPC Chiefs draft prospect profiles throughout this winter and spring. For more great sports and NFL content, stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.

– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.