Detroit Lions mock draft 2018: A running back for every round

Round 3

If Bob Quinn fancies himself a gambler, he could forgo a running back in the second round to instead bank on the depth of the class to leave an attractive option available in round three.

Penny is solidly in the mix as one of the backs in the top pack of this draft. That’s no surprise as the FBS leading rusher last season. But what might knock him down a notch or two from his peers is that his running style is more upright and less dynamic compared to others in this running back class. It was enough to more than get the job done in the Mountain West but could be an issue for him as his NFL career gets underway.

He was a home run threat at San Diego State, but as those highlights show, the big plays were more often than not more about Penny having a lot of room to run than because of something special he did on the play. There is something to be said about having the ability to hit a hole and take it to the house, but there isn’t as much about Penny that jumps out as special compared to some other top running back prospects.

The good news is that he shows patience at the line of scrimmage for the hole to develop. When he sees it, defender can quickly be looking at his back as he races to the end zone. It takes a good wrap up for a defender to bring him down and he doesn’t shy away from contact.

Penny also brings value on special teams where he performed well in his college career as a kick returner.