An incredibly productive running back for UCLA last season, Zach Charbonnet hopes his production will help boost his draft stock as he enters the 2023 NFL draft.
Here is everything you need to know about the Bruins workhorse:
Vitals
Height: 6-1
Weight: 220
Class: Senior
40 Yard Dash: 4.53
Strengths
One of the most productive backs in college football last year, Zach Charbonnet was a true three down back for UCLA. Last season he carried the ball 195 times for 1,359 yards, 14 touchdowns and averaged an eye popping 7.0 yards per carry. He added onto this total in the receiving game as well, hauling in 37 catches for another 321 yards.
As a runner Charbonnet is powerful and well built for the position, able to blast forward and use his momentum and size to churn out tough yards or blow past initial contact and take chunks out of the defense, he is not easy to bring to the ground especially with good momentum. He keeps his leg churning through contact and is good at picking up extra yards upon initial contact, he makes it a true chore to tackle him. He is patient in waiting for his gaps to open and follows his blockers well, building up excellent run speed and momentum when he hits the outside shoulder of his tackle, and can out speed a majority of linebackers even with his impressive size.
As a pass catcher and blocker Charbonnet shows true three down skills and a proven blocker, reading the incoming rush well and willingly laying out his body for his quarterback and dishing out punishing blows to free rushers, using his solid base and size to great effect. He can run a a variety of routes, and while he is not the most explosive of weapons, he can reliably find openings in coverages and slip away from defenders to nap footballs and using that same momentum to take chunks out of the defense. He has solid hands and does not drop many balls nor does he make a habit of fumbling the ball, both excellent traits for a back who wants to be on the field the majority of the game.
Weaknesses
While Charbonnet can build up impressive momentum on his runs, he lacks a true second gear he can burst into, rather it developing over the course of the run. The same is true for his stopping and starting ability, once he loses his initial speed he does not have a true way out of tackles outside of muscling through. This also effects his ability to find a gap and hit it right when it opens, sometimes being late to hit the whole and having to fight for yardage he should be able to burst through for big gains.
He will need to learn to use his feet a little better and work with coaches to come up with a better plan B once he is in the open field and making cuts if he wants to become an upper tier back in the league.
Projection
Zach Charbonnet is a reliable three down back with immediate starting potential. He can be trusted in all phases of the game and particularly excels in pass blocking and short yardage situations. While his burst and straight line speed isn’t quite what you would want in a full time back, he tends to make up for it with a tough and punishing run style that can churn upwards quickly. While he doesn’t have the ceiling you look for in an early investment at running back, there is going to be teams that see his value in all phases of the game and make a move early to get him in their backfield.
Projection: Third Round Pick
