Miami Dolphins: 5 college players to watch for the 2022 draft

Running Back: CJ Verdell (Oregon)

Myles Gaskin was the Dolphins’ top offensive player on Sunday against the Patriots, but his counterpart Salvon Ahmed did an admirable job in his complementary role. The Dolphins even had Malcolm Brown appear in some series, so it seems as though they are committed to having all three backs getting touches.

With that in mind, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Dolphins target a running back in the draft. Some of the major names include Georgia’s Zamir White and James Cook, Iowa State’s Brecce Hall, Texas A&M’s Isaiah Spiller, and Minnesota’s Mohamed Ibrahim. The one name that has stood out to me throughout two weeks of the college football season is Oregon’s CJ Verdell.

In two games Verdell has rushed for 235 yards including a 161-yard 2-touchdown performance in the upset win over the Ohio State Buckeyes.

At 5-foot-8 211-pounds, Verdell is a smaller power back that displays good speed and burst with soft hands and an ability to make players miss. His 77-yard rush on Saturday changed the dynamic of the game against Ohio State.

In a mainly run-first offense, Verdell should be able to showcase his value and skill set in his Junior season. He likely won’t surpass the other top backs due to his size, but he could be a late-round value for the Dolphins, who will rely on Gaskin and Ahmed for what would seem to be a few seasons.