DeWayne McBride RB UAB: Scouting Report

Height: 5’10”

Weight: 215

Overall

DeWayne McBride is a powerful runner in UAB’s run-heavy offense. In his 3 college seasons, he has played in 30 games, starting all of them. He is a very experienced player garnering a lot of carries in his college career and he runs with NFL level patience and toughness.

Run Game

In the running game, McBride was a true bellcow runner at UAB. He was used in every situation and they relied on him heavily in crucial situations. Behind the line of scrimmage he shows very good vision and has the lateral movement to bounce his runs to the outside or make a cutback when his designed running lane is filled. He runs with a good burst through the line of scrimmage but lacks home-run hitting speed to get past defenders at the second level. He created a lot of big gains on the ground, but that was mostly due to his ability to break tackles and find the open space rather than his speed and explosiveness. He has a strong stiff arm and consistently breaks arm tackles down the field. He has the shiftiness to make cuts at the line of scrimmage if necessary but he tends to run more downhill rather than get to the edge. He had a few fumbles on film which is concerning but I do not feel that it will be a big issue in the NFL.

Pass Game

In the pass game, McBride was almost never used as a receiver or pass blocker. Although he played in a run-first offense, his lack of experience in the pass game is a major red flag for his value at the next level. He will need to prove that he can catch the football consistently, make plays after the catch and be reliable in pass protection before he can be used at all in the pass game.

Last Word

McBride projects best as an early down runner in a run heavy offense. He has experience running on both zone and gap plays but his downhill running style is suited best for a power run scheme where he can follow his pulling lineman through the designated running lane. His lack of experience in the pass game will greatly limit his usage to begin his career but for now he can excel on the ground, especially on short yardage/goalline situations. 

One-Liner: DeWayne McBride is a pure north and south runner who runs with power and vision but his lack of play in the pass game will greatly limit his ceiling in the NFL.

Grade: 6.6 (Lower End Starter on 1st and 2nd Down)

Games Watched: 2022 - Georgia Southern, Western Kentucky; 2021 - BYU

Team Fits: Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys