Byron Cardwell Jr. RB California | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Byron Cardwell Jr. RB California
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Work-Horse Back | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 03/20/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.50 seconds (70%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 22.4 DOB: 01/25/2003 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Work-Horse Back | |
| Last Updated: 03/20/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| 40 time: 4.50 seconds (70%*) | |
| Age: 22.4 DOB: 01/25/2003 | |
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| Overall Rating: | 74.0 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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77% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Rushing: |
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64% |
| Break Tackles: |
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55% |
| Receiving/Hands: |
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48% |
| Pass Blocking: |
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26% |
| Run Blocking: |
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52% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#422
Position rank:
#30
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| College Games: 20 College Snaps: 195 | ||
ESPN RATING: 83/100
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 92/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Deneric Prince - Tulsa |
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82% |
| Khalan Laborn - Marshall |
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56% |
| Hassan Hall - Louisville |
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55% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Byron Cardwell from Morse High School was rated a 4-star recruit by ESPN and handed a 4-star grade by 247 Sports. Following high school, Cardwell joined Oregon.In 2021 as a freshman Cardwell saw action in 11 games for the Ducks as he ran for 417 yards on 61 attempts for an elite 6.8 yards per carry, with 3 TDs, with no fumbles. As a receiver he made only 4 receptions for 3 yards.
As a sophomore in 2022 he played just 2 games. and rushed for only 76 yards on 11 carries for an elite 6.9 ypc, with one TD, with no fumbles. In the passing game he pulled in only 4 receptions for 34 yards.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- He’s patient, letting blocks develop then accelerating. Cardwell runs with a good forward lean and consistently falls forward.
- Flashes initial burst and good lateral quickness to sidestep defenders or bounce runs outside with very good foot quickness. Displays very good feel as an inside and outside runner with above average vision to make sharp cuts - good patience· and footwork to pick through defenses.
- Has the feet and feel running between the tackles and in the open field. Cardwell has very good vision and patience to pick through defenses.
- His stop-start ability in traffic, exceptional balance, lateral agility and body control allow him to squeeze out chunks of yardage when it appears that nothing is there.
- He’s not a burner, and Cardwell is more of a block-what’s-given runner than a guy who is going to create.
- He’s at his best working in space, showing the quickness and vision of a return specialist. His stop-start ability allows him to create initial separation.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Cardwell can sometimes be impatient, not allowing his blocks to set up, a nuance required for backs to last a decade-plus.
- His playing speed is less than elite. He won’t run past defenders like Cardwell did at the college level.
- Cardwell sometimes get too upright and fails to run behind his pads.
Byron Cardwell Jr. percentiles vs other Running Backs (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Byron Cardwell Jr. (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
545.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
52.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.