After a sterling career at Ryan High School in Denton, Texas, Emani Bailey signed with the University of Louisiana where he was never more than the No. 3 running back for two seasons. Bailey transferred to TCU as a junior but played behind Kendre Miller and Emari Demercado that year. He finally had his shot as the primary back in 2023, when he led the team with 1,393 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns.
He projects as a Day 3 selection in the draft due mostly from his smaller stature, lack of experience, and a slower 40-yard dash time.
Height: 5-7
Weight: 202 pounds
40 time: 4.61 seconds
Table: Emani Bailey NCAA stats (2020-23)
| Year | School | Games | Runs | Yards | Avg. | TD | Catch | Yards | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Louisiana | 5 | 10 | 60 | 6.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | Louisiana | 11 | 102 | 642 | 6.3 | 8 | 15 | 153 | 0 |
| 2022 | TCU | 14 | 31 | 250 | 8.1 | 2 | 7 | 43 | 0 |
| 2023 | TCU | 12 | 223 | 1209 | 5.4 | 8 | 25 | 184 | 1 |
Pros
- Decisive North-South rusher that always falls forward
- Tough competitor
- Patient runner that waits for his blockers and the vision to see the cutback lanes and then find the clear space for big gains
- Excellent burst that translates into being able to navigate traffic and break into the open
- Elusive with superior footwork and acceleration
- Minor experience in receiving but has always been sure-handed with sharp routes
- Plays faster than his 40-time thanks to burst and top-end gear
Cons
- Pass protection needs improvement
- Will run wide looking for big play and give up the shorter but certain yards inside
- Smaller size will challenge even more on inside runs in the NFL
- Lack of long speed will be more apparent in the NFL
Fantasy outlook
Emani Bailey only produced one notable season in college and that took four years and two schools to get there. But he was a tough, competitive runner that could slice his way through the Big 12 as the best weapon for TCU last season. But his 40-time at the NFL Combine was a 4.61 for the fourth best time among running backs and each of the slower runners carried 15 to 20 more pounds.
History has not been kind to 5-7 running backs either.
Bailey had many impressive runs last year and he has a place in the NFL as a depth player or in a committee, but he’ll need to show up with impressive plays in the preseason to expect much 2023 fantasy value. As with many of the deeper drafted players, his production will rely heavily in the backfield situation that he lands and some luck in having the depth chart shaken up enough by injuries to allow Bailey the opportunity to produce as a rookie.
