2023 NFL Draft Profile: RB Zach Charbonnet

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In this Draft Profile RB Zach Charbonnet is featured as one of the most exciting backs in the 2023 rookie class.

Film Grade

Overall, Zach Charbonnet finished 10th in my Rookie RB Film Grades. This was due to having average scores in 3 of the 4 main categories, (footwork, fluidity, balance). So more of a well rounded game then a reliance on any elite trait. In all three of those categories, he finished 16th, 14th, and 15th respectively among this year’s group of rookie running backs.

That being said, for this 2023 rookie RB class, Charbonnet finished with the 3rd best burst score (at least among the 28 running backs that I watched). His ability to hit the hole with speed is apparent. Charbonnet can also make defenders miss with his short-area burst. Something that can help him separate from his peers as they enter the next level.

Athletic Testing Metrics

The combine results confirm what I was seeing on tape. Charbonnet is one of the best athletes in this RB class. Among the 28 players I watched college game tape on, he has the 6th best Relative Athletic Score. So my observation of Charbonnet’s excellent burst makes sense. He has that ability to separate with his speed and athleticism better than most running backs in this class.

College Production

Charbonnet began his collegiate career at the University of Michigan. However, after two seasons as a backup, with limited receiving opportunities, he decided to transfer to UCLA. This change worked out for the best as Charbonnet produced back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons, including an incredible 7.0 yards per carry on 195 rushes (in only 10 games) as a senior.

Perhaps an even more important aspect to his transfer decision was the potential passing game work. In his two years at UCLA, Charbonnet put up seasons with 24 and 37 receptions. Compare that to a total of 14 catches combined in the same number of seasons at Michigan. In today’s NFL, running backs have to demonstrate some receiving ability in order to realistically get decent draft capital. So the transfer was important for Charbonnet, not just for the opportunity, but also for the style of offense that he was playing in.

Overview

Because of his balanced profile, I actually consider Zach Charbonnet to be the second-best running back in this class. Most people probably view Jahmyr Gibbs in that light. However, if you read my 2023 NFL Draft Profile of RB Jahmyr Gibbs, you will se that I have concerns with some technical aspects of his game. Looking at Charbonnet’s film score details, he is four spots higher than Gibbs in the footwork category.

However, both have a similar concern: taking too many steps in the backfield. Specifically for Charbonnet, it takes him sometimes several steps to change direction and gain yards in the desired area. Gibbs finishes behind him in the footwork category because takes too many steps before hitting the hole. While he can change direction better than Chartbonnet, he is far less decisive in the backfield.

Because of these running instincts, I have more confidence in Charbonnet’s ability to translate to the NFL as opposed to Gibbs. As a result, looking at my Pre-Draft Rookie RB Ranks, Charbonnet is at #2 while Gibbs finds himself at #5.

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