"Unpacking Jaret Patterson: A Closer Look into the Athlete's Rise"

Our perspective on 2021 rookie Jaret Patterson.

Jaret Patterson, running back out of Buffalo, measured at five-six and a half, 195 pounds. Patterson's best Pro Day forty-yard dash time clocked in at 4.52. Patterson exceeded his two-star recruit rating by setting the Buffalo touchdown and single-season rushing yard records and the Mid-American Conference game yardage record while tying the MAC game TD mark at eight.

"Patterson is a wrecking ball looking to do damage."

Jaret led the entire NCAA in 2020 with 178.7 rushing yards per game and has not lost a fumble since his freshman year. Most of his production came from rushing up the middle in heavy traffic, but the concern would be that he competed in the MAC. Patterson finished in the top ten of every meaningful college stat last two years.

One might think that Patterson's size is less than ideal, but he is built like Maurice Jones-Drew and looks like him on the field. Success at his height is clearly possible. He looks like a pinball through the line and bounces off and runs through would-be tacklers, very reminiscent of MJD. His balance, size, and physicality help him get more yards than would otherwise be expected.

In college, Patterson only caught 20 passes but has looked good in preseason action by recording 7 catches for 55 yards in just two games. He won't break any ankles in the open field but stops on a dime. One might hope for more speed, but Patterson is built to run through you rather than run away.

Scouting Report

Patterson has a chip on his shoulder and has felt overlooked for a long time. We believe that players with a chip on their shoulder tend to outperform expectations. Jaret Patterson has had a strong showing so far this year. Antonio Gibson and J.D. McKissic are the top two backs but expect Patterson to replace McKissic in the long run. If you wanted to back up Antonio Gibson, we believe Patterson is the best option. Draft him late and stash him on your roster for the long run.