Caleb Komolafe RB Northwestern |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #5 ROLE: Work-Horse Back | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.54 seconds (57%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #5 | |
| ROLE: Work-Horse Back | |
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.54 seconds (57%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
74.0 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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75% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Rushing: |
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75% |
| Break Tackles: |
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74% |
| Receiving/Hands: |
|
58% |
| Pass Blocking: |
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29% |
| Run Blocking: |
|
50% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#466
Position rank:
#27 (RB)
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| College Games: 34 College Snaps: 885 | ||
ESPN RATING: 76/100
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247 RATING: 84/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.4 (89%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Keaontay Ingram - USC |
|
79% |
| Carson Steele - UCLA |
|
77% |
| Xazavian Valladay - Arizona State |
|
72% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Caleb Komolafe played strong safety at Tompkins High School in Katy, Texas, until midway through his junior year. In his final high school season he was first-team all-district at both safety and running back and the district's Defensive Player of the Year, running for 895 yards and 15 touchdowns. He held 19 offers, only three of them as a running back.Komolafe redshirted at Northwestern in 2023 and played through a leg injury in 2024. He took over as the lead back in 2025, running for 941 yards and 11 touchdowns on 190 carries, eighth in the Big Ten in rushing yards, though he missed the Illinois game with an injury.
He stayed at Northwestern for 2026 rather than enter the portal. Komolafe ran for a career-high 188 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries in the 34-13 win over Penn State on 2 October, earning Shriners Bowl National Offensive Player of the Week, and added 150 yards against Rutgers.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Ran for 188 yards on 25 carries in the win over Penn State
- Breaks tackles at a high rate, with 25 avoided tackles this season
- Added 150 yards against Rutgers, showing he can carry the offense
- Steady receiver out of the backfield, with 15 catches on 18 targets
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Average speed limits his ability to finish long runs
- Pass protection is a clear weakness for his size
- Indiana held him to seven yards on six carries
- Fumbled three times in 2025 and once this season
- Has eligibility left and could return to Northwestern in 2027
Scouting Report: Summary
Komolafe is a tough, physical runner who has become the engine of Northwestern's offense. He breaks tackles, runs with good balance and has carried the ball well in big games, with 188 yards against Penn State and 150 against Rutgers.However, his speed is only average, and he does not hit many long runs. His pass protection is a weakness, his ball security has slipped at times, and Indiana kept him quiet.
Overall, Komolafe is a productive, physical back who fits a downhill scheme. He projects as a priority free agent who must improve in pass protection to earn third-down work.
How other scouting services rate Caleb Komolafe (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
338.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
26.0
*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.