Elijah McGuire finished his collegiate career as Louisiana-Lafayette’s all-time leading rusher, amassing 4,301 total yards and scoring 42 touchdowns in four seasons.
That was enough to earn the Jets’ No. 188 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft.
Now comes the process of finding out where he fits in their offense.
“Some of my strengths are great vision and making people miss,” McGuire said in an interview with the Jets’ website. “As a running back you have to be able to do those things. If you do those things you could be a very special player.”
Currently, Matt Forte leads the Jets’ depth chart with Bilal Powell at the No. 2 slot. Forte, who will turn 32 in December, rushed for a career-low 813 yards last season, but there’s been talk that his role will increase under new offensive coordinator John Morton.
Powell has a history of injuries, but last season amassed a career-best 5.5 yards per attempt while gaining 722 yards in total as a backup, and ran for over 100 yards in two games over the final month of the season when Forte was injured.
Still, there’s no question the Jets are scouting both backs’ younger replacement.
“I have to come out and show coach Bowles that I can consistently catch the ball,” McGuire said. “Ball security is a big thing so as a punt returner you have to be able to take care of the ball and when you catch the ball and have room to run just make something happen.”
McGuire also proved himself as a capable receiver out of the backfield, turning 130 career catches into an additional 1,394 yards through the air, and converting 10 of those plays into touchdowns. Any versatility the Jets can squeeze out of one of the league’s least-talented rosters, the better.
But for now, the rookie just wants to learn whatever he can from the veterans ahead of him.
“I can learn everything from those guys at this level,” McGuire said. “Hopefully they take me under their wings and show me everything that this organization provides.”
