Isaiah Spiller NFL Draft Profile
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Isaiah Spiller Scouting ReportAt 6’1″ and 225 pounds, the Aggies running back has the ideal stature to play the position in the NFL. He is thick-built, which allows him to be physical in several ways. Spiller isn’t easy to take down, using his size to grind out extra yardage on contact. Additionally, he routinely falls forward when tackled, ensuring no wasted yardage. His physicality is well-demonstrated as a blocker. The running back picks up blitzes well, and there are multiple examples of him buying his quarterback time in the pocket. Furthermore, he displays the ability to block in the open field, helping to extend run plays where he isn’t the ball carrier. This will be particularly important as Spiller looks to separate himself from other running backs in the 2022 NFL Draft class. |
Areas for ImprovementAlthough Spiller’s physicality makes him a competent blocker, there are technical improvements to be made. He often relies on being physical and willing. While he has demonstrated some understanding of hand placement as a blocker, he could become elite in that area if he can refine his technique. Pass protection and pass catching separate the great from the exceptional at the NFL level. While Spiller has demonstrated an ability to be a pass catcher out of the backfield — a career-high 6 catches for 60 yards against Tennessee — he has been under-utilized in this regard. This makes an accurate evaluation of his pass-catching ability difficult. That’s not to say he can’t, more that we need to see more of a sample size. The issue most likely to impact Spiller’s NFL Draft stock is an apparent lack of long speed. He recorded a 4.58 40-yard dash in high school, and while that isn’t pedestrian, it isn’t speedy either. Although he has enough speed to get around the edge, the ability to break off huge chunk plays by pulling away from defenders wasn’t there in the games studied for this scouting report. |
Isaiah Spiller Career at Texas A&MIt didn’t take long for Spiller to show the Aggies faithful what he’d got either. On his debut against Texas State, the true freshman running back lit up the Bobcats to the tune of 106 yards. Two games later, against Lamar, Spiller secured his first career touchdown. Like buses, when you wait for ages for one, two come at once, and the Lamar game would be the first of two multi-touchdown games in his freshman campaign. The second came in a breakout performance against UTSA. Ironically, against a team nicknamed the Roadrunners, Spiller trampled all over the program. With 217 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns, he matched Texas A&M’s record for freshman yards in a game while earning SEC Freshman of the Week honors. It was the first of multiple accolades for the young running back in 2019. The Texas A&M coaches named him the team’s Offensive Top Newcomer after leading the team with 946 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. SEC coaches recognized Spiller with a place on the SEC All-Freshman team. |
Isaiah Spiller NFL Draft Player ProfileAs you’d expect from a physical back, he does his best work between the tackles. He is a dangerous threat as a ball carrier in short-yardage and goal-line situations. However, his inside wins are not purely a result of his physicality. Spiller has an unparalleled combination of exceptional vision and rapid footwork. His footwork gives him a nice bit of wiggle to escape through holes. See gap, hit the gap, gain yardage, repeat. Although he does his best work between the tackles, don’t discount Spiller’s athletic ability to play outside. He has excellent short-area burst and sufficient speed to get around the edge. |
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