Darren McFadden: All He's Cracked Up to Be?

Folks, we're less than two months away from draft day. In the wake of the combine, it's safe to say that the long-held perception of this year's draft class as "weak" has been affirmed.

Between marked deficiencies at certain key positions, and a myriad of questions, both medical- and character-related, surrounding some of the draft's few "elite" talents, this year's draft class is far from perfect.

Needless to say, any discussion of this year's elite prospects invariably includes analysis of former Hog superstar Darren McFadden, a prospect who has been "under the microscope" in the past month, to say the least.

I've long touted "DMac" as one of the best draft prospects in recent memory, regardless of position, and I won't be rescinding that claim.

There is, however, an accumulation of opinion among some "experts" that McFadden might not be quite the prospect he previously was cracked up to be.

First, there are "character" concerns. Talk about a timely topic, given the troubles of numerous high-profile NFL players of late. McFadden has been involved in two scuffles outside and around bars over the course of his career and also has children from two different women due this summer.

To be frank, I think the paternity issues are non-issues. They're personal matters, and they don't seem to bear any relevance as to whether McFadden is worth a lucrative contract.

The issue of late-night altercations outside of bars, though, is where things get hazy.

On the one hand, the burgeoning paranoia of NFL clubs relating to "character issues" and late night incidents is justified. Every time a player finds himself in trouble, many times it's a late-night altercation or incident, often times at or around a night club or bar.

On the other hand, evaluating the significance of such incidents is not a cut-and-dry task. It's difficult to sift through a prospect's past and determine whether said encounters indicate "character issues" or just instances of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

In my opinion, though, both of McFadden's "incidents" merit consideration in making determinations of his off-the-field makeup, but neither one seems to be serious or indicate a "character" problem.

This lack of "character" problem with McFadden is further corroborated by his humble, down-to-earth demeanor in interviews.

In my opinion, it's easy to see this guy isn't the second coming of Pacman Jones—a player whose surly, cocksure attitude that reflects his troubled past makes itself evident in just about every interview he conducts.

Anyway, enough about McFadden's character, and on to discussion of his "game."

I watched McFadden dominate the nation's toughest conference for three consecutive years. During his sophomore season, when he vaulted himself into Heisman discussion after a phenomenal November, he established himself as the nation's most respected and feared player.

He entered the 2007 season the epitome of a "marked man" and responded by collecting his second consecutive Doak Walker Award after putting up even gaudier numbers than in years past.

When one considers the context of his tremendous 2007 season—that is, the health issues he faced, the inconsistency of Arkansas' passing game, and the lengths that opposing teams went to stop him—his performance borders on the unthinkable.

Looking at McFadden, it's easy to see beyond just an impressive stat line, though. He's proven himself to be a transcendent athlete.

He hits a hole with more authority and speed than any back I've ever watched, and his ability to destroy defensive pursuit angles is unparalled in recent college football history. He's also got exceptionally light feet, which gives him a rare capacity to lose minimal momentum when he cuts.

In addition to this, the responsibility McFadden took on in the Arkansas offense and the efficiency and excellence with which he carried out his variety of roles highlights the rare breed of innate athleticism he has.

Consider, perhaps, any of the other top running back prospects (specifically Jonathan Stewart and Rashard Mendehall), trying to summon the athleticism to bear the athletic responsibility that McFadden did in Arkansas' offense.

I watched, with a great degree of admiration, McFadden's gliding, effortless athletic talents shine over the course of his career at Arkansas in the variety of roles he played.

And frankly, I'm hard pressed, in fact, unable, to see other top prospects such as Mendenhall and Stewart having the athletic versatility and natural football skills to be up to the task. In essence, position-specific skills aside, McFadden's innate athletic ability is what distinguishes him as an elite talent who is a cut above his peers-particularly the aforementioned running backs.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?