Return to the CNN/SI home page

 
Rounds
1 | 2 | 3 | 4
5 | 6 | 7
NFL Draft front

Mock Draft
Top 100
Free agency shakes up NFL draft picture
Players jockey for position on the boards
Grading the draft by position
1998 Team Needs
• Stacking the Draft Board:
Off. | Def.
Draft basics
All-Time No. 1s
Trades
AFC Moves
NFC Moves
1997 Draft
NFL News
College News

Peter King's Top 10 of 1997
Peter King's 1997 Draft Report Card

Dr. Z's Mock First Round
The Dr.'s top five at each position

Judgment Day
The heat is on personnel chiefs to draft college players who will have immediate impact
The Sky's the Limit
Andre Wadsworth has become the defensive player most coveted by the NFL
Montville:
Drafting Moss a risk worth taking

Showdown:
Leaf vs. Manning

A Decade of Drafting

War Room Grading System - What Scouts are looking for - How to Read the War Room Charts
War Room Value Board
Previous Player - Next Player


Robert Holcombe
RB, Illinois

Name
Jsy
College
HT
WT
Robert Holcombe
35
Illinois
5107
216

40
BP
SS
LS
VJ
BJ
Grade
Rd.
4.55
23
4.15
11.59
35
10’06”
6.45
2


Background

Greatest RB in Illinois history...rewrote Illinois record book...ended career 9th on the all-time Big Ten rushing list and 3rd in career attempts...set 8 Illinois rushing records, becoming 1st UI back to top the 1000 yd. mark in 3 consecutive seasons...started 33 consecutive games...1997- Team’s leading receiver with 35 catches for 277 yds...leading scorer with 38 points...topped the 1000 yard mark with a school record...two-time finalist for the Doak Walker Award...two-time honorable mention All-Big Ten selection...three time recepient of the UI Offensive Player of the Year award...two-time Illinios MVP...academic All-Big Ten selection with a cum of 3.0...1996- Rushed for school record of 315 yds. on 43 carries, 5th single-game total in Big Ten history...

High School

Listed among tom Lemming’s 28 A’’-America RB...rated AZ’s top prospect and one of the top for in the West...1st team all-state tailback as a senior...led team to state title...graduated from Mesa High School...Majjoring in Speech Communication...

Stats

Rushing-’97- 294 att...1253 yds...4 TD...’96- 260 att...1281 yds...12 TD...’95- 264 att...1051 yds...5 TD...’94- 125 att...520 yds...4 TD...Receiving-’97- 35 No...277 yds...2 TD...’96- 23 No...241 yds...1 TD...’95- 8 No...57 yds...’94- 6 No...44 yds..

Summary

This may be the best “bang for your buck” RB in this draft.. He has been a very productive, work horse type player on a very bad football team (Illinois finished the season 0-11). The best way to describe him might be “efficient”...He has an excellent feel for the hole. He always falls forward, and he runs with good lean and balance. He has good quicks to the hold, and he shows good COD and cutting ability, although he is not a real creative or elusive type RB. He has adequate, but not great speed to the outside, and he is not an explosive, big play type guy. He also catches the ball well out of the backfield, and does a good job following his blockers.. There is no wasted motion with this guy, and he will simply take what is there and make the most of a play. He may not put up Pro Bowl type numbers, but he will give an NFL team an honest day's work and moves the chains.

From the War Room



To the top

Copyright © 1999 CNN/SI. A Time Warner Company.
All Rights Reserved.

Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.