An in-Depth Look at the Jaguars' Most Intriguing Selection, T.J. Yeldon

When the Jacksonville Jaguars announced they had selected Alabama Crimson Tide running back T.J. Yeldon as their 36th overall pick, it was a surprise. There were multiple backs on the board who were considered better talents, but the Jaguars went with Yeldon, instead.

The selection of Yeldon can be seen as a reach, but the Jaguars were consistent in their decision process this draft, and they picked the guy they thought would fit the best. Whether their decision was the right one is yet to be seen, but the front office seemed confident in his abilities.

The two-time SEC champion and one-time BCS national champion was born in Belle Glade, Florida, less than five hours south of Jacksonville. However, Yeldon moved to Daphne, Alabama, and played his high school football there at Daphne High School.

Yeldon was a star from early on in Tuscaloosa with the Crimson Tide, and his impressive 2012 season of 1,108 yards and 12 touchdowns as a backup to Eddie Lacy gave him a lot of exposure. Yeldon didn't disappoint with a 1,235-yard season in 2013, leading him to a first-team All-SEC selection.

Yeldon's 2014 season saw him banged up and out of sorts, but he still managed 979 yards and 11 TDs. Yeldon had a fantastic college career and is another star in a line of incredible backs from Alabama.

He'll now leave the pedigree and the accolades behind. He faces a new challenge with the Jaguars and will most likely be the starter come Week 1.

Is he ready for that?

Yeldon's initial stats say that he is. He's consistent, and in his worst season in college, he still averaged five yards a carry. If that's the worst he can do in college, that becomes a plus, not a detractor. 

The 6'1", 226-pound back has the very unusual characteristic of polish and experience. Alabama and its head coach Nick Saban are famous for putting out NFL-ready players, and Yeldon is no different.

He's not afraid to run up the middle and to the outside and block or catch passes out of the backfield. He's not completely polished at everything, specifically blocking, but he's competent, and this completeness gives the Jaguars a great foundation to work with.

Now, let's look at some film.

At the 25-second mark, Yeldon shows that while he's not as flashy as other backs, he's got the ability to make big plays. After bursting through the hole, he makes a quick step right and follows up with a spin move to embarrass Ole Miss Rebels safety Cody Prewitt.

You see less of a flashy style from Yeldon, but he's electric when making big plays at the goal line. This is most apparent at the 1:03 mark and the 1:33 mark. He makes incredible goal-line dives, and his awareness of the situation and nose for the goal line is top class.

The final thing to address from this video is his ability to get yards after contact. Like the backs that came before him, Yeldon doesn't seem to go down unless he's falling forward for an extra two yards. 

For example, at the 2:08 mark, he shrugs off multiple players in the backfield before pushing the ball into a mess of players and falling forward for a score. That aspect of his game should be appreciated more often, and scores like that make the difference.

However, there are some errors that Yeldon makes that you won't find in this video. When dealing with contact, it's that he's elusive, not strong, but he doesn't have the speed to take it to the house after contact.

Another flaw is his concern to hit the big play. He will tiptoe on occasion in the backfield instead of taking a 4-yard gain, and that typically results in a loss of yards, rather than a big play. 

Finally, there is the issue with fumbles. Ten fumbles in his past 576 carries is higher than one wants out of a complete back. If he brings that to the NFL, he won't be a starter for long.

Luckily for the Jaguars, Yeldon is still showing signs that he can improve and play smarter. He's in the big time now, and I think he realizes that. He's got the mentality to succeed, but the Jaguars have to stay on him to make sure he reaches his full potential.

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Yeldon can do a lot more well than a lot of his competitors, but he's not flawless. He's got some issues to sort out, and one of them—the fumbles—needs to be sorted out sooner rather than later.

However, Yeldon has been groomed for this and will continue putting in the work he put in for the Crimson Tide. His vision and understanding of the game may be the best in the class, and I think we'll see that this season.

The Jaguars and Yeldon can both improve through each other, and I think Yeldon's versatility is going to open up the offense more than people think. He will be his own player, but I think the addition of the Yeldon makes everyone better on the offense, especially quarterback Blake Bortles.

It's unfair to say whether he will or will not succeed, but the talent and polish is there. He's as NFL-ready as you're going to find, and the Jaguars took him because of that.

Yeldon's future isn't certain, but the Jaguars made the right choice by selecting him. He can flourish now, and he's still going to get better, as well. Nothing is concrete in football, but Yeldon has a bright future all the same.

What do you think of Yeldon? Does he explode into the NFL, or does he struggle? Answer the poll and comment below!

All stats were provided by ESPN.com, unless otherwise stated.

Evan Reier is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report covering the Jacksonville Jaguars. Follow Evan on Twitter at @evanreier.