Marcus Yarns RB Delaware | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Marcus Yarns RB Delaware
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: DUAL-ROLE Back | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 01/31/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.42 seconds (89%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: DUAL-ROLE Back | |
| Last Updated: 01/31/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.42 seconds (89%*) | |
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 81.8 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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55% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Rushing: |
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92% |
| Break Tackles: |
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94% |
| Receiving/Hands: |
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83% |
| Pass Blocking: |
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56% |
| Run Blocking: |
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63% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
7th
Overall Rank:
#215
Position rank:
#24
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| College Games: 42 College Snaps: 1064 | ||
Draft Profile: Bio
A three-sport standout from Parkside High School in Maryland, Marcus Yarns brought his explosive athleticism to Delaware in 2020. After a freshman campaign limited by a broken leg, Yarns steadily climbed the depth chart, evolving from a situational back into Delaware's primary offensive weapon. The 5'11", 195-pound runner saved his best for last, racking up over 1,250 all-purpose yards and 18 total touchdowns in 2023 en route to Third-Team FCS All-American honors.The versatile back continued his ascension in 2024, showcasing his dual-threat capabilities with 844 rushing yards and six scores on the ground while hauling in 17 receptions for 297 yards and five touchdowns through the air. His explosive performances earned him First-Team All-CAA recognition and invites to both the East-West Shrine Bowl and Senior Bowl, validating his NFL potential.
While his frame suggests change-of-pace back, Yarns' production tells a different story. His career 6.4 yards per carry average and 34 total touchdowns demonstrate his playmaking ability, while his evolution as a receiver (64 catches for 812 yards) hints at his three-down potential.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Devastating initial burst through the hole - hits top gear in a hurry and consistently outpaces second-level defenders when he sees daylight
- Natural hands catcher who plucks the ball away from his frame - shows advanced route-running chops rare for a back of his experience level
- Exceptional straight-line acceleration - GPS tracked at 22+ mph in game action, turning routine runs into explosive plays when he finds a crease
- Patient runner behind his blocks with subtle lateral movements to set up defenders - shows veteran savvy in letting blocks develop
- Lethal dead-leg move in space that freezes defenders - creates missed tackles without losing momentum or forward lean
- Keeps the ball high and tight through traffic - just one fumble on 429 career touches speaks to his ball security awareness
- Shows natural receiving instincts from various alignments - threat on wheels, options, and screens with smooth transitions upfield
- Maintains balance through arm tackles with good forward lean - doesn't let minor contact derail promising runs
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Lean frame limits his ability to move piles or break tackles consistently - gets stood up too often in short-yardage situations
- Struggles to create when forced east-west - lateral agility doesn't match his straight-line juice and limits his creativity
- Pass protection needs significant technical refinement - too often catches rather than punches and gets driven back into the pocket
- Vision remains inconsistent - will occasionally miss cutback lanes and bounce runs outside prematurely rather than pressing the hole
- Can get too cute in the backfield looking for the home run - needs to learn when to just hit the hole and take what's there
Scouting Report: Summary
Yarns profiles as a dynamic complement to an established NFL backfield, bringing home run potential and third-down versatility to keep defenses honest. His acceleration and receiving ability make him an immediate mismatch weapon out of the backfield, particularly in spread formations where he can operate in space.His best fit comes in a zone-based system that can maximize his one-cut ability and get him involved in the screen game. Teams like the Ravens, Eagles, and Dolphins could view him as an ideal change-of-pace option to diversify their running attacks. While his frame may limit his early-down role, his receiving prowess and explosive play potential make him an intriguing Day 3 target.
Given his athletic traits and production against elevated competition (see: 66-yard touchdown run against Penn State), Yarns has the tools to outperform his draft position. His immediate impact likely comes as a rotational back and special teams contributor, with the upside to develop into a valuable offensive weapon as he adds play strength and refines his pass protection.
Marcus Yarns percentiles vs other Running Backs (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Marcus Yarns (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
207.7
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
28.0
*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.