KC Chiefs meet with J.K. Dobbins, other RBs at Combine
By Matt Conner
Anthony McFarland, Maryland
There’s a lot to like about Maryland running back Anthony McFarland, Jr., the first of which is that he’s not related at all to Booger McFarland of the Monday Night Football broadcast crew.
#Maryland RB Anthony McFarland said the #Chiefs have paid a lot of attention to him at the Combine. Said he met with them on his first night, and is meeting with their running backs coach later this week.
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) February 26, 2020
All joking aside, McFarland has been described as an Energizer bunny who has pro-ready athleticism and acceleration out of the backfield. At the NFL Combine, the numbers should back up the game tape that shows him as a dynamic player in space, someone with the jackrabbit ability to make immediate cuts with top-end speed to match.
As a redshirt sophomore, the tread on the tires is also lighter than other backs coming out into the draft which might bode well for a stronger NFL career than expected. He has 245 total college carries and sat for two years before that (missed his entire final high school season due to injury).
Given all of this, however, McFarland is considered a day three pick for a few reasons. First, his pass protection needs a lot of work and Darwin Thompson sat most of the year for the Chiefs for the same reason. He also fought through an ankle injury for some of the year, which explains the drop in production from 1,034 rushing yards to 614 (and a drop from 7.9 yards/carry to 5.4).
Other backs taken higher will have a more well-rounded game with pro-ready strength and better stats to show for it all.