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What dimension will Donnel Pumphrey bring to the Eagles offense next season?

27 March 2018 Eagles News


After coming into the league with a lot of promise, Eagles running back Donnel Pumphrey missed the entire season with a hamstring injury. Now, Pumphrey is more motivated than ever and will be on the field for the Eagles next season.

Coming into the league, Pumphrey was a hot prospect and the NCAA’s all-time leading rusher. The Eagles wanted him so badly that they actually traded up for him in the fourth round. Before his injury, the Eagles actually had a big role for Pumphrey despite his poor preseason performance. The Eagles planned to use him as a running back, slot receiver and punt returner.

With the emergence of Corey Clement, trade to bring in Jay Ajayi, is there room for Pumphrey? Well, with LeGarrette Blount a free agent and Darren Sproles turning 35 this year, the Eagles will most likely still keep him on the team. We have seen the Eagles use all their running backs in numerous games this season and that even includes Kenjon Barner. Barner, who is also a free agent can be replaced by Pumphrey on the team as well.

Somewhere, Pumphrey has the talent to be a pretty elusive running back. Even though by no means is college football equivalent to the NFL, Pumphrey still ran for 6,405 yards and 62 touchdowns in four years. The Eagles will have looked at all of that tape and will hope to get just some of that production out of Pumphrey.

In an interview with Turron Davenport of USA Today, Pumphrey gave us insight in the role he will be given and expand on this season with the Eagles, saying, “I have talked to the coaches. They want to continue working on different packages with me. I am going to work on all route running this offseason, working on getting stronger and my catching ability.”

Last season with Sproles, the Eagles lost that pass-catching running back. We saw Clement have some big plays catching the ball, especially in the Super Bowl, however, with Pumphrey the packages will be different. Think of Pumphrey rather than just a running back, but a weapon this offense can use to their advantage. This is his first full offseason with the Eagles and probably his first fully healthy offseason with the Eagles. Last year we saw just a sample of what he brings to the table and the Eagles bought into it. Now, he is healthy and hungry and will without a doubt prove people wrong this Summer.

 

Photo Credit: USA Today

 


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