PROSPECT SUMMARY – RHAMONDRE STEVENSON

Rhamondre Stevenson originally started his career at Cerritos Junior College (California) where he became one of the top JUCO recruits in the country. A main contributor during his first season in the Sooners offense, he proved to be a viable option. Facing some adversity to finish the 2019 season, he was suspended by the NCAA for the Peach Bowl and that suspension carried over five games into the 2020 season. Returning after his exile, he managed to collect 665 yards and seven touchdowns on only 101 rushing attempts. Also tallying 211 yards on 18 catches out of the backfield, he showed his versatility in multiple spots. At 6-foot and 245 pounds, Stevenson is a bigger back that fits well in a gap scheme. Exhibiting patience and the most comfort behind pullers, he’s a rusher that is an aggressive tempo-setter. He can switch up his approach as a rusher. He can show off his physicality with stiff arms, but also has the nimbleness in short areas to make tacklers miss.

Ideal Role: No. 2 RB in committee.

Scheme Fit: Downhill rusher in a gap/man/power blocking scheme.

FILM EVALUATION

Written by Jordan Reid

Games watched: Florida (2020), Iowa State (2020), Texas Tech (2020), Oklahoma State (2020), Baylor (2020)

Best Game Studied: Florida (2020)

Worst Game Studied: Baylor (2020)

Vision: As he continued to gain more reps in a bigger role following his return, Stevenson only improved. Best served as a runner in a gap scheme, he does better when he’s provided the answers to the upcoming test than when he has to solve them himself by making his own moves at the first level. Once blockers gain a body on a body, Stevenson is decisive and slippery for a rusher of his size.

Footwork: He's light on his feet for a bigger back and can accelerate once creases become apparent. Stevenson has gained a lot of experience behind pullers, which has led to him understanding how to read and react to back placement of players in front of him. His feet remain patient and he doesn’t run up the backside of those pullers. Stevenson allows them to get around and secure their blocks prior to him reacting off of their placement after engaging.

Contact Balance: Stevenson strikes fear in many defenders that come into contact with him. He makes tacklers pay for trying to tackle him high with a strong stiff arm that he utilizes as his go-to move. A strong upper body complements a sturdy lower half as he’s able to shake off tacklers with ease, but he also can change up his approach by running vertically at them as well. An easy tackle-breaker, it’s a full-time job for defenders to tackle him throughout the entire duration of a game.

Durability: As he enters the NFL, Stevenson has minimal wear and tear on his body overall. Yet to suffer any notable injury to date, he has plenty of miles available. Considering that, he could be ready to handle a more prominent role on the next level as a result. He missed the first five games of the season due to a suspension from the NCAA (wasn’t injury related).

Explosiveness: A downhill momentum runner, he has the speed necessary to gain the edge, but not quite turn the corner to circle the defense. His best runs have come on gap blocking scheme plays where the blocks of pullers reveal where holes are located. Stevenson runs continuously through the first level. A hard runner, second- and third-level defenders are cautious about their ball pursuit speed when No. 29 is carrying the ball.

Versatility: Not asked to perform many outlandish routes in the passing game, he’s consistent with running shallows, check-downs, and quick wheels tagged in mesh concepts. Stevenson is capable of doing more, but his value lies in the running game. He can be involved as a passing threat, but he’s a target that’s most comfortable running common routes.

Elusiveness: Stevenson isn’t a runner who will demonstrate hard plants or cuts in the ground prior to running in alternate directions. He’s a stutter cutter in that he takes lots of short choppy steps in order to redirect his body. He also turns his body to slither through holes while also using his off hand as a guide through tight spaces.

Ball Security: Overall, he’s had minimal problems with hanging onto the ball. With a lot of cushion in his upper half, he’s able to secure the ball cleanly and defenders are hardly ever able to get a clean shot at him. When the opposition attacks his upper body, he’s aggressive with stiff arms with either hand and lowering his pads to shield them away from causing any type of danger to his frame.

Passing Down Skills: Even though he’s not used as a main option in the passing game, Stevenson has soft hands that enable him to bring the ball in routinely. He’s a running back that can fit into a team's passing game on the next level, but not an RB that play-callers will design concept specific routes for when faced with advantageous coverages or matchups. His biggest improvement will need to come as a pass protector as he’s a head-first blocker that simply lunges full force into blocks in hopes that his body frame can shock and sustain on blocks. The use of his hands is non-existent during blocking attempts.

Discipline: Stevenson is a complete on-schedule runner and it is hard to affect his path. He doesn’t let little creases or early contact knock him off of where runs are designed to end up. Staying on course and behind his blockers is a big reason why he projects best in a blocking scheme that’s centered around gap or power blocking principles.

Prospect Comparison: Late-career LeGarrette Blount