Giovani Bernard: 5 Things You Need to Know About the North Carolina RB

Although running back isn't the premium position that it once was, an explosive back can still be an incredible weapon, and one that can push your offense to new heights. The success of running backs such as Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch and Alfred Morris as primary offensive weapons in 2013 showed how much more effective an offense can be with a top-level bruiser. 

Giovani Bernard may be able to be that next top-level running back. An extremely productive player at North Carolina, the small, silky-smooth back has been compared to Chris Johnson, Reggie Bush and Trent Richardson.

But an injury history and size bring questions to the table. When all is said and done, is Bernard truly a future elite back?

Background

Full Name: Giovani Govan Bernard (11/22/1991)

Hometown: Davie, Florida

High School: St. Thomas Aquinas High School

Major: Exercise and Sport Science

Year: Redshirt Sophomore

Bernard went to St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, where he helped the football team win two championships. Bernard was heavily recruited coming out of high school, verbally committing to Notre Dame before eventually switching to North Carolina.

He was redshirted in 2010 (freshman year) due to an ACL tear, and technically has two years of eligibility left. Despite being a possible Heisman candidate in 2013, Bernard and his family decided that entering the draft was his best option at this point.

Statistics

Rushing and Receiving

2011- 13 games, 239 attempts, 1,253 rushing yards, 5.2 ypc, 45 receptions, 362 receiving yards, 14 TDs

2012- 10 games, 184 attempts, 1,228 rushing yards, 6.7 ypc, 47 receptions, 490 receiving yards, 17 TDs

Special Teams

2012- 16 punt returns, 263 yards, 16.4 avg, 2 TDs

Bernard was incredibly productive over his two years, ranking third and first in the ACC in rushing yards, as well as first and second in touchdowns. In 2012, he was the conference leader in total yards from scrimmage, punt-return average and punt-return touchdowns.

Bernard set numerous North Carolina records and was a candidate for several ACC honors this year, including being named first-team All-ACC for the second consecutive season.

Pre-Draft Process

Measurements (NFL.com)

Height: 5’8”

Weight: 202 pounds

Arm length: 28”

Hands: 9 3/8”

Combine Results (NFL.com)

40-yard dash: 4.53 seconds 

Bench press: 19 reps

Vertical Leap: 33.5 in

Broad Jump: 122.0 in

3-Cone Drill: 6.91 seconds

20-yard shuttle: 4.12 seconds

While Bernard wasn't a record breaker at the combine, he rose in the ranks with his quickness in drills, challenging Eddie Lacy for the top spot on some scout's boards. 

Interesting Facts

Bernard was verbally committed to Notre Dame, but reconsidered after Brian Kelly was hired as the head coach. He felt like the up-tempo spread offense would not be a good fit, and chose to go to North Carolina instead. Ironically, North Carolina hired Larry Fedora prior to the 2012 season, and Bernard found himself in a no-huddle, shotgun-heavy offense anyway.

He redshirted his freshman year after tearing his ACL during his third practice. He had a full recovery and was fantastic in 2011, but experienced some knee discomfort in early 2011 that caused him to miss two games.

Although CBS Sports named Bernard their ACC Player of the Year, he lost the official award to Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd by just one vote.

Bernard was a third-team All-American in 2012, with Montee Ball, Ka’Deem Carey, Kenjon Barner and Johnathan Franklin finishing ahead of him.

With his earning of first team All-ACC honors as a redshirt freshman, Bernard joined Amos Lawrence as the only freshman running backs to earn such honors in North Carolina history.

Observations

Strengths

From NFL.com: 

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"Consistently twists or falls forward for extra yardage, two hands on the ball while going down. Short strides and quick steps allow for surprising cuts. Same strides help him get up to speed very quickly."

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From NEPatriotsDraft.com:

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"an all-purpose play-maker and is always a threat to rip off a big play. Makes big plays in the run game, as a punt returner and as a receiver out of the backfield. He gets to the line quickly and is able to find his way through the hole with speed as well. Displays good vision on film, find the hole as it opens while reading his blockers."

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From CBS.com:

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"Bernard has very good patience and feel as a runner, showing the awareness to pick through defenses and get everything out of each touch. He runs with very good pad level, natural leverage and balance to keep his feet and continue to fight forward."

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Weaknesses

From Sigmund Bloom, B/R:

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"Bernard isn't big enough to push the pile. He doesn't have true breakaway speed, and his initial burst is good, not great. He can make a tackler miss in the open field occasionally, but he doesn't have ankle-breaking quicks or sudden moves that tend to leave opponents grasping at air. In short, as a runner Bernard is good at everything, great at nothing."

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From Walter Football:

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"Durability, a little undersized, missed 2010 season, already has one surgically repaired knee, rumors of maturity concerns"

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From CBS.com:

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"He has strong durability concerns, missing two games in 2012 and parts of several other contests with various injuries including to his shoulder and lower body (also tore his ACL in 2010)."

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Bottom Line:

Bernard is a quick, shifty back whose speed and vision allow him to find holes quickly and exploit them. He has a low center of gravity that allows him to gain extra yards against defenders as he keeps his legs churning on every play.

But, Bernard is a little small to be an every-down back in the NFL, and that combined with his shaky injury history will make NFL teams hesitate to take him too early.