Recent NFL draft history has proven teams can find productive running backs in the later rounds, getting great value at a key position that can keep their offensive attack balanced. One such gem in the 2023 NFL Draft class? Harvard’s Aidan Borguet, who now departs the program for the next level after totaling 2,429 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns.

Borguet recently spoke exclusively with The Draft Network about his stunning performance at Harvard’s Pro Day, balancing academics with football, which teams have shown interest in him, and why an NFL team should take a chance on him in this year’s draft.

JM: You had a massive season in 2022. You rushed for nearly 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns. What changed for you this past season?

Aidan Borguet: I think our offensive line did a terrific job. Not that they haven’t in the past, but this group specifically had a ton of chemistry and experience. We had a ton of returning seniors. We got our feet wet as a unit in 2021. In 2022, we had those previous reps. We had built up a sense of camaraderie. It definitely helped us play as a unit.

We all prepared better as an offense. I prepared better. We knew that we needed to be better than we were in 2021. We wanted to help our defense. We prepared to be one of the best offenses in our conference.

JM: You all achieved that. You had an amazing Pro Day recently. You put up 35 reps on the bench press. That’s crazy! You also had a 36-inch vertical. Do you feel like you surprised those in attendance?

Aidan Borguet: Maybe so. I’m not too sure, but hopefully I did (laughs). I spent a lot of time training for the pro day. That’s been the focus for the past couple of months. Hopefully, I surprised some people. In all honesty, I was just trying to do the best job possible. I wanted to put my best foot forward.

.@HarvardFootball RB Aidan Borguet (@aidanborguet_) had a nice Pro Day!

5'8 205
Bench: 35 reps
Vert: 36"
Broad: 9-foot-9
40: 4.56 laser
Short shuttle: 4.26

— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) March 9, 2023

JM: Did you meet with many teams in attendance? Do you have any virtual or in-person meetings coming up?

Aidan Borguet: We’re currently sorting through my post-pro-day meeting schedule. I played in the College Gridiron Showcase. I met with a bunch of teams there. I met with the Bears, Cowboys, Steelers, Patriots, Chargers, Broncos, Packers, Saints, and 49ers to name a few. I’ve gotten those preliminary meetings out of the way. I also had virtual interviews with the Eagles and Lions.

JM: There’s a lot of interest in you and it’s easy to see why. How would you describe your playing style as a ball-carrier?

Aidan Borguet: My playing style is more of a mentality. The mentality is that you’re going to need an entire army to tackle me, and then they have to call for backup. The goal is to never let one man bring me down. I want it to take the entire defense to bring me down. I’m going to wear you down throughout the course of four quarters. Those five-yard runs in the first quarter convert into 10-15 yard runs in the fourth quarter.

It’s a mentality. I wear down defenses. Apart from that, I love to be versatile. I want to run inside and outside zone schemes. I want to run power and gap. I want to run with speed, power, and contact balance. I’m always working to get better.

JM: Having played at Harvard, some analysts are going to refer to you as a “small school” prospect and question the level of competition. How do you typically respond to those questions?

Aidan Borguet: I actually think the level of competition in the Ivy League is really good. Small school, yes, but there is residential talent here. I think that’s easily proven by the amount of talent that is grad-transferring out of The Ivy League. These guys are transferring to big-time programs. They’re being attracted by bigger schools.

We had plenty of talents on our own team that committed to Harvard out of high school that had offers from bigger programs. There’s no shortage of talent. We also have plenty of guys from Harvard that are doing well in the NFL right now.

I think maybe a little while ago, there may have been a bigger gap than there is today. We’ve done really well to close that talent gap.

What was it like balancing Harvard’s academic demands with football?

Aidan Borguet: I would say that it comes down to time management. With academics, you have to prioritize being efficient so you maximize your time doing work and getting it done so you can focus your effort on football when it comes time for practice, games, or watching film. While it’s not the easiest thing to do, I feel like balancing the two definitely helped me grow and ultimately be a person that can manage my time well.

JM: That makes a lot of sense and I love that answer. We’ve appreciated your time. Why should a team use one of their draft picks on Aidan Borguet?

Aidan Borguet: A team should draft me because they won’t find a prospect that’s willing to prepare as much as I am. I’m going to work harder than the next guy. I’m all about bettering the team. I’m selfless. I want to represent the team both on and off the field. I want to be the best player, teammate, and human being for the organization.

They’re going to get my absolute everything. The only way I know how to repay a franchise for believing in me is by operating out of gratitude. I’m always going to put my best foot forward. I always play out of gratitude. I have no choice but to give my everything during every snap at practice.

If you believe in me, it’s only right for me to squeeze every bit of my potential out of myself.