NFL Draft 400: Ranking the Top Fullbacks for 2016
The 2016 NFL draft class doesn't feature two Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks at the top like last season's did with Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be excited about this year's class. With this draft set to be dominated by defensive linemen and small-school studs, not many people know as many names as they did last offseason.
The goal of the NFL Draft 400 series is to change that.
The top 400 players were tracked, scouted, graded and ranked by me and my scouting assistants, Marshal Miller and Dan Bazal. Together, we viewed tape of a minimum of three games per player (the same standard NFL teams use). Often, we saw every play by a prospect over the last two years. That led to the fullback grades, rankings and scouting reports you see here.
Players were graded on positives and negatives, with a pro-player comparison added to match the player's style or fit in the pros. The top 400 players will be broken down position by position for easy viewing before the release of a top-400 big board prior to the draft.
In the case of a tie, players were ranked based on their overall grade in our top 400.
Matt Miller NFL Draft Grading Scale
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At the end of each scouting report, you'll see a final grade that falls somewhere between 4.00 and 9.00. This scale comes from the teaching I received from Charley Casserly, Michael Lombardi and other former and current front-office personnel in the NFL. I tweaked it this year to be more transparent. As a result, each player received a number grade as well as a ranking.
This applies to all positions across the board.
| Grade | Label |
| 9.00 | Elite—No. 1 pick |
| 8.00-8.99 | All-Pro—Rare Talent |
| 7.50-7.99 | Round 1—Pro Bowl Potential |
| 7.00-7.49 | Round 1—Top-15 Player Potential |
| 6.50-6.99 | Round 2—Rookie Impact/Future Starter |
| 6.00-6.49 | Round 3—Rookie Impact/Future Starter |
| 5.80-5.99 | Round 3-4—Future Starter |
| 5.70-5.79 | Round 4—Backup Caliber |
| 5.60-5.69 | Round 5—Backup Caliber |
| 5.50-5.59 | Round 6—Backup Caliber |
| 5.40-5.49 | Round 7—Backup Caliber |
| 5.00-5.39 | Priority Free Agent |
| 4.50-4.99 | Camp Player |
6. Soma Vainuku, USC
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| Height | Weight | 40 Time | 3-Cone | Short Shuttle |
| 5'11" | 246 lbs | 4.64s | 7.16s | 4.44s |
POSITIVES
A utility player over the course of his career at USC, Soma Vainuku has played fullback and H-back and dominated on special teams.
Vainuku shows an explosive burst out of his stance as a blocker and is able to lead up and get his pad level low on midline iso blocks. He keeps his feet driving through contact. When he is leading a run to the perimeter, Vainuku does well in executing blocks in space versus moving targets and exhibits awareness and body control to be in position to make an impactful block.
Vainuku was rarely asked to carry the ball in his last two seasons for USC, but if you go back and look at his 2013 film, there were flashes of Vainuku's ability to be a tough downhill runner between the tackles. As a single back, Vainuku showed the potential to make plays in short-yardage and inside-run situations.
NEGATIVES
Though Vainuku is effective at "J" tracking and fitting up on edge defenders, there were times where his feet went dead and defenders were able to cross his face and impact the play. You'd like to see his head to the hole and his feet drive through contact.
If there was an area for improvement in Vainuku's game, it would have to be the consistency in his pass-protection fits. Vainuku showed the mental processing to decipher his blocking assignment, but at times he tried to hard to lay a devastating block and was out of position. Other times, he didn't make a stand quickly enough and gave up some ground, allowing the quarterback to be pressured.
A lack of production in a new offensive scheme will leave questions about Vainuku's game. NFL scouts tend to red-flag players who decline in production and impact without an injury, and Vainuku falls into that category.
PRO COMPARISON: Nikita Whitlock, New York Giants
FINAL GRADE: 5.00/9.00 (Priority Free Agent)
5. Glenn Gronkowski, Kansas State
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| Height | Weight | 40 Time | 3-Cone | Short Shuttle |
| 6'2 1/8" | 239 lbs | 4.71s | 7.10s | 4.45s |
POSITIVES
The brother of NFL players Rob, Chris and Dan Gronkowski, the baby of the family decided to head to the NFL after his junior season at Kansas State. Glenn projects as a fullback, tight end or H-back with the special teams skills to help make a roster.
Gronkowski's versatility will be his calling card. He can line up at multiple positions and play on special teams. Coaches asked him to carry the ball at Kansas State, and he has some value in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
As a receiver, he's largely untested but flashes natural hands when he is included in the passing game. He's strong to fight through traffic on play-action passes and is athletic enough to run with linebackers to the flats or up the seam.
NEGATIVES
This should be obvious, but Glenn Gronkowski is not Rob Gronkowski. He's not that big or that athletic and doesn't project as an in-line tight end.
The younger Gronk was rarely used in the Kansas State offense as more than a short-yardage runner and blocker. He's not natural as a blocker despite good size and strength and lacks the pop to knock linebackers off their path in the run game.
With the ball in his hands, Gronkowski looks like a 4.7-speed player. He's a high runner with limited burst in space.
PRO COMPARISON: Bruce Miller, San Francisco 49ers
FINAL GRADE: 5.00/9.00 (Priority Free Agent)
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4. Quayvon Hicks, Georgia
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| Height | Weight | 40 Time | 3-Cone | Short Shuttle |
| 6'0 7/8" | 259 lbs | 4.8s | n/a | n/a |
POSITIVES
A throwback at the position, Quayvon Hicks is a classic lead blocker who will kick linebackers and defensive ends out of rushing lanes with brute strength. This isn't a new-age fullback who runs the ball; rather, he's a pocket-protecting, hole-opening stud.
Hicks has experience as a three-tool player, working to open rushing lanes while also protecting the quarterback and playing on special teams. He brings immediate value to the roster with his versatile skill set.
A Mack truck with a full head of steam, Hicks is strong enough to win on iso blocks up the middle and agile enough to reach outside linebackers on tosses and counters. With soft hands and good agility, Hicks can be used on swing passes out of the backfield.
NEGATIVES
Hicks' vision as a blocker can be very inconsistent. He'll struggle to pick up defensive ends on outside runs and can have issues spotting linebackers on the move outside the hashes. He's slow to locate at times, letting defenders get into the backfield before he attempts to knock them off the ball.
A knee injury suffered before the team's bowl game has limited Hicks all offseason. As of this writing, he has not performed any athletic testing despite a combine invite.
PRO COMPARISON: Jorvorskie Lane, Tamba Bay Buccaneers
FINAL GRADE: 5.00/9.00 (Priority Free Agent)
3. Derek Watt, Wisconsin
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| Height | Weight | 40 Time | 3-Cone | Short Shuttle |
| 6'2" | 236 lbs | 4.77s | N/A | 4.32s |
POSITIVES
The brother of J.J. and T.J., Derek Watt is the next in a long line of football players.
A four-down player at Wisconsin, Watt can kick out linebackers in the running game, stay on the field as a swing receiver or pass-blocker and then help as a personal protector on the punt team. He's a versatile, tough, team-first athlete.
Watt has the football IQ to spot his assignment early and seal off rushing lanes. He's agile enough to get through the line of scrimmage and match up with linebackers in space. Off the edge, Watt will chip defensive ends with success and can work to the second level to reach outside linebackers.
On third downs, Watt can stay on the field as a bigger blitz protector. He shows the footwork and strength to anchor down against free-release linebackers. He's also solid enough as a receiver, thanks to some experience at tight end, to be valued as a safety valve in the pass game.
NEGATIVES
A utility player without one great physical trait, Watt won't have high value in NFL draft rooms. To stick at fullback, he will need to continue getting stronger in his legs and hands to secure blocks against bigger defenders.
Watt's lack of explosion will limit him both as a blocker and a runner/receiver. His short-area quickness is only average for his size.
PRO COMPARISON: John Kuhn, Green Bay Packers
FINAL GRADE: 5.40/9.00 (Round 7—Backup Caliber)
2. Dan Vitale, Northwestern
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| Height | Weight | 40 Time | 3-Cone | Short Shuttle |
| 6'1" | 239 lbs | 4.60s | 7.12s | 4.12s |
POSITIVES
One of the most enjoyable players in all of college football to scout, Dan Vitale is an athletic freak. He wowed at the combine with 4.6 speed and 30 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press but then had everyone going crazy with a 38 ½-inch vertical jump. His 4.12-second short shuttle was also an eye-opener.
That type of athleticism opens doors for what Vitale can be in the NFL. He's athletic enough to run the ball in short-yardage and goal-line situations and smart enough to handle blocking assignments in the backfield or as a lead blocker in the run game.
With 135 receptions during his career at Northwestern, Vitale is a natural to be used in the passing game. He can take swing passes and turn them into big plays with the footwork, quickness and power to run over cornerbacks on the edge. He'll sell a play-action fake and make himself a big target in front of linebackers over the middle of the field.
Positional versatility will be a huge sell for Vitale, who can play in a single-back offense, at fullback and at H-back and be a star on special teams.
NEGATIVES
Vitale may be a jack-of-all-trades but a master of none. He was moved around often enough at Northwestern that he never developed a go-to skill set at any one area. As a lead blocker, he has to get stronger and add bulk to secure blocks against linebackers with strength and not just force.
With the size of a big running back but the foot speed of a fullback, Vitale may be too much of a tweener to have an active role in the pros.
PRO COMPARISON: Kyle Juszczyk, Baltimore Ravens
FINAL GRADE: 5.40/9.00 (Round 7—Backup Caliber)
1. Andy Janovich, Nebraska
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| Height | Weight | 40 Time | 3-Cone | Short Shuttle |
| 6'1" | 238 lbs | 4.81s | 7.28s | 4.32s |
POSITIVES
A former walk-on, Andy Janovich played as a true freshman at Nebraska en route to a brilliant four-year career for the Cornhuskers.
A quality fullback with lead-blocking chops, Janovich also makes big plays on special teams. He had 13 tackles on kick and punt returns in 2015 and was relentless in his pursuit of the ball.
Janovich is agile through the hole and has the speed to track down linebackers in space. His run fits are solid, and he has enough pop to roll back the pads of players he encounters. With good speed through the hole, Janovich can either lead the way on inside runs or sell play action and make himself a target in the passing game.
Coaches at Nebraska loved Janovich. He was described as a "film grunt" and "freak in the weight room" by a coach we spoke with.
NEGATIVES
Janovich lacks great bulk and already has a maxed-out frame. He's not getting much bigger and could have a hard time banging with linebackers and defensive ends at less than 240 pounds. His arm length (31 ⅝") was just average for his frame and prevents him from making contact before he's up on a defender.
With a throwback mentality and a heavy workload at Nebraska, teams have to worry that Janovich's best days have already happened. He's not had injury problems at Nebraska, but his physical style of play and his extra hours in the weight room will eventually take a toll on his body.
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