Darius Taylor RB Minnesota | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Darius Taylor RB Minnesota
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: DUAL-ROLE Back | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 05/12/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.54 seconds (57%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: DUAL-ROLE Back | |
| Last Updated: 05/12/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| 40 time: 4.54 seconds (57%*) | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 83.4 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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76% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Rushing: |
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80% |
| Break Tackles: |
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80% |
| Receiving/Hands: |
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76% |
| Pass Blocking: |
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63% |
| Run Blocking: |
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49% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
4th
Overall Rank:
#124
Position rank:
#7
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| College Games: 18 College Snaps: 795 | ||
ESPN RATING: 79/100
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247 RATING: 89/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Roschon Johnson - Texas |
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71% |
| Jashaun Corbin - Florida State |
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68% |
| Ollie Gordon II - Oklahoma State |
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68% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Coming out of Walled Lake Western High School in Michigan, Darius Taylor wasn't exactly a blue-chip recruit despite rewriting his school's record books. The three-star prospect (by most services) shattered single-game marks with his 438-yard eruption against Milford and found the end zone six times in three separate contests during a monstrous senior campaign where he piled up 2,450 yards and 36 touchdowns on the ground. His wrestling background (23-6 record as a state qualifier) foreshadowed the contact balance that would become his calling card at the collegiate level.Taylor wasted no time announcing himself in the Big Ten, ripping off consecutive 100+ yard performances in his first two starts as a true freshman. His 208-yard masterpiece against Bowling Green in the Quick Lane Bowl (where he earned MVP honors) capped a truncated but explosive debut season where he averaged a staggering 133.2 yards per game—the third-highest single-season mark in Gophers history. Taylor's freshman campaign featured three 200+ all-purpose yard performances despite appearing in just six contests due to injury.
The sophomore leap saw Taylor evolve into Minnesota's offensive centerpiece, starting 11 of 12 games while showcasing his dual-threat capabilities. Though his per-game rushing average dipped slightly, he compensated by hauling in 54 receptions for 350 yards and becoming a legitimate weapon in the passing game. Taylor even channeled his inner quarterback against Virginia Tech, tossing a 10-yard touchdown—the first Gophers running back to accomplish the feat since 2015. His 1,336 all-purpose yards and team-leading 12 touchdowns established him as one of the Big Ten's most versatile weapons heading into his junior campaign.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Contact balance borders on elite—consistently maintains equilibrium through arm tackles and glancing blows, rarely going down on first contact thanks to powerful lower half and wrestling background.
- Decisive north-south runner who hits the hole with conviction and wastes minimal time getting upfield—sees the crease and accelerates through it without unnecessary hesitation.
- Natural hands catcher who transitions smoothly from backfield to legitimate receiving threat—capable of running actual routes rather than just functioning as a checkdown option.
- Runs with outstanding body lean and consistently falls forward, maximizing every carry and grinding out the hidden yardage that moves chains and wears down defenses.
- Displays impressive short-area burst to exploit momentary gaps before defenders can recover—the explosiveness to his game shows most in tight quarters rather than open field.
- Reliable pass protector who brings solid technique and willingness to engage blitzers—his 63% pass-blocking grade reflects solid fundamentals rather than just effort.
- Shows excellent vision to identify and exploit cutback lanes—anticipates flow of defense and counters with well-timed changes of direction without losing momentum.
- Maintains durability despite physical running style—rebounded from freshman injury to handle 259 touches as a sophomore without significant decline in effectiveness.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Long speed is merely adequate—can break chunk plays but lacks the top-end acceleration to consistently take runs the distance when daylight appears.
- Still developing as a route-runner despite natural receiving skills—too often telegraphs his intentions and rounds off breaks rather than making sharp cuts.
- Could stand to add more functional strength in upper body—tends to rely on lower-half power rather than developing complete physical profile.
- Sometimes runs too tall through the hole, presenting a larger target for defenders and negating some of his natural power advantage in short-yardage situations.
- Needs to show more creativity when initial lanes are clogged—occasionally too committed to designed point of attack when improvisation would yield better results.
Scouting Report: Summary
The tape doesn't lie about what makes Taylor tick as a runner. When he gets downhill with conviction, this kid plays like he's still on the wrestling mat—leveraging defenders, maintaining his center of gravity, and finishing runs with authority. Though his middling long speed will cap his ceiling somewhat, the natural receiving ability gives him third-down value that many early-down hammers simply don't possess.His struggles in traditional run-blocking situations are concerning—he's no lead blocker and won't wow anyone as a traditional fullback option. But when isolated in space as a receiver or asked to pick up blitzers in pass protection, Taylor shows surprising technical proficiency for a college back. The contrast between his rushing prowess and receiving capability creates an intriguing package for the next level, though he'll need development to overcome his tendency to run upright through traffic.
What ultimately separates Taylor from dozens of productive college backs is his rare contact balance combined with legitimate pass-catching chops. He's not going to outrun angles at the next level, but his vision, patience, and ability to absorb hits without losing momentum will translate. The durability concerns from his freshman year will need further investigation, but his sophomore workload suggests those issues may be behind him. In a league where true three-down backs are increasingly rare, Taylor offers that skill set without the draft premium that often accompanies it—a potential value pick for teams willing to look past his athletic limitations and focus on his football-playing ability.
How other scouting services rate Darius Taylor (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
155.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
10.0
*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.