[Elvis]

[PARAM]

I sure hope this kid gets worked into the rotation. Should be fun to watch.

[BobCarl]

Jarquez Hunter - Full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Dossier

Prepared by: Nate Kessler (AI-Generated Scouting Report)
Date: April 29, 2025

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1. Player Profile

- Name: Jarquez Hunter
- School: Auburn University
- Height: 5'10"
- Weight: 210
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.49s (Pro Day)
- Bench Press: 19 reps (225 lbs)
- Vertical Jump: 36.5"
- Broad Jump: 10'1"

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2. Running Ability

Vision: Patient runner with above-average ability to set up blocks. Sees second-level creases well.
Burst: Smooth accelerator with good burst through the hole, especially off inside zone concepts.
Power: Finishes runs with authority; excellent leg drive. Rarely goes down on first contact.
Agility: Good foot quickness, above-average lateral movement, and subtle change of direction.
Balance: Keeps his feet under contact, fights through glancing hits, strong contact balance.
Top-End Speed: Not a true burner, but fast enough to hit chunk plays (4.49 verified).

Notable 2024 Stat Line: 179 carries, 927 yards, 12 TDs (5.2 YPC)

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3. Pass Protection

Strength: Compact and powerful build; he anchors well vs. LBs.
Recognition: Improved significantly in 2024 - reads inside blitzes and adjusts protections.
Technique: Squares up, punches inside-out, good leverage.
NFL Readiness: Can stay on the field in 3rd-down passing situations immediately.


4. Receiving Ability

Hands: Reliable and soft hands. Catches away from his frame with confidence.
Routes: Mostly screens, swings, and flat routes at Auburn, but flashed ability to turn upfield.
YAC: Natural runner post-catch; slips arm tackles and finishes.
Ceiling: Could develop into a true three-down back with improved route tree.

2024 Receiving Stats: 22 receptions, 178 yards, 1 TD
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5. Football IQ & Intangibles

Toughness: Consistently plays through contact and never backs down in pass pro.
Leadership: Vocal presence and team-first reputation in the Auburn locker room.
Durability: Durable frame with no major injuries across three college seasons.
Work Ethic: Known as a weight room warrior; reliable offseason trainer.
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Summary: Jarquez Hunter is one of the most well-rounded RBs in the 2025 class. While not elite in any single category, his balance of power, pass protection, vision, and receiving ability gives him a high floor as an early rotational back with long-term starter upside.
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Scouting perspective rooted in tape, traits, and positional value.
April 29, 2025

Sources:

Jarquez Hunter Scouting Dossier – Source List
🎥 Game Film (2023–2024)
YouTube Full Games & Condensed Replays (via channels like "Matthew Loves Ball", “PSC Highlights”)

🧪 Combine & Pro Day Metrics
DraftScout.com (historical testing estimates)
Auburn Pro Day Results 2025 (reported via 247Sports, On3, unofficial trackers)
Relative Athletic Score (RAS) System – estimated based on publicly available data

📊 Statistics & Performance Metrics
Sports Reference – College Football (https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/)
ESPN Player Stats (2023–2024 seasons)
Pro Football Focus (PFF) Snap Counts & Blocking Grades (where publicly summarized)

🧠 Scouting & Analysis Frameworks
Brandon Thorn (OL/Pass Pro specialist) – analysis methods for RB blocking
Dane Brugler (The Athletic) – comparison and positional value
Lance Zierlein (NFL.com) – phrasing and structure inspiration
NFL Draft Bible / Draft Network Archives – player comp methodology
Zone vs Gap Blocking Concepts – from Cody Alexander and MatchQuarters resources

🧰 AI Contextual Knowledge (Sports GPT Model Pretraining)
Integrated understanding of:
Auburn’s 2023–2024 offensive scheme under Hugh Freeze
Common RB evaluation rubrics used by NFL front offices
Draft trends, positional value, and role projection

[Joe Pendleton]

cool article on our new RB (high,high praise fm coaching staff)!

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/452 ... ed-rb-room

[ramman2999]

Got a good one.

[Dare]

I love the pick. I thought for sure he would be gone on day two. But I'm very happy with Hunter. He has the power and speed to threaten a defense and must be accounted for when he's on the field.

Williams is a good RB but Hunter increases the run threat in ways Williams simply doesn't. It's why I see a change coming in 2026 in the Ram offense. I think drafting Hunter simply is the beginning of the change in the ground game for the Rams. It's why I think the next Ram QB will be one that can throw and run. If the defense must account for a QB with say 4.6 speed as well as a fast RB with breakaway speed it changes how the front 7 of a defense plays the Rams particularly on first and second downs.

Yeah I'm very happy with Hunter and think he will be a clear upgrade to Williams. Most of all Hunter has only fumbled 5 times in the past 3 years. Hunter in a monster in the weight room outdoing Barkley. He's more explosive than Barkley, and only .04 slower in the 40. How he dropped as far as he did actually surprised me. I think he got lost in the shuffle because this draft was deep at RB.

Corum IMO is a good #2RB with decent speed at 4.53 but he lacks the explosiveness. I think if Hunter looks like he can be a rotational back this year in OTAs I think it makes Williams expendable.

I can see a different offense in 2026 especially with a mobile QB1 that is mobile. It will be interesting how much 12 personnel if any Sean will play this year. With Adams, he can pair him with Puka on the outsides. With Hunter in the backfield facing a 12 personnel front teams will find it harder to simply tee off on Stafford. Yeah Hunter and Ferguson might change the Ram offense this year.

Hunter and Ferguson should change the Ram red zone offense. Hunter is a bigger threat in the red zone particularly when they are outside the 10. I don't see drives stalling in the red zone as has been the Ram's tendency. It's why having Adams, Hunter and Ferguson to add to Nacua and Higbee that's a whole lot of pressure on a defensive secondary and LBs in the red zone.

When the offense hits it's stride it will be able to go head to head with anyone.

[Flash]

How is he at pass protection? In this offense he must be able to protect Stafford or will not see the field much.

[PARAM]

How is he at pass protection? In this offense he must be able to protect Stafford or will not see the field much.

And when you have a RB who isn't adept at pass pro, not only does he not see the field often, when he does it's a tell to the defense it's a run or quick pass.

HE says he can pass protect but what THEY believe is what counts. I hope he can so we can use him in the offense.

[Dare]

Virtually all RBs coming out in college aren't up to NFL standards in pass protection as few programs even coach it. That's why most rookie RBs are rotational in their first year. Corum should be up to par hopefully. It took Williams a full year to develop in pass protection. It's why they had Sony Michel in that role in 2021.

Corum has had a full year to be coached up on it so hopefully he can play on third downs. Corum also has decent hands for swing passes, etc. But on early downs with Hunter in the backfield the defense isn't simply going to tee off on Stafford. If they pass on an early down it would be off of play action. That will give Stafford an extra second, and it's why McVay was big on play action originally. With a RB that can burn a defense with his power and speed they must honor the play action.

With Hunter they now have a credible threat at RB that they haven't had since Gurley and to a lesser extent Akers. Both Gurley and Akers were best on the perimeter, and Williams is an inside RB. Hunt can run both schemes, with his power, speed and vision. That is the other aspect Hunter brings to the RB position, i.e. scheme flexibility. With Gurley and Akers you knew it was probably going to be perimeter if they ran. With Williams it was going to be inside. With Hunt he has the speed to run outside, and the vision and burst to run inside.

The next QB1 doesn't have to be a true dual threat, but he must be mobile enough to force the pass rush to play contain. It's why I like Klubnik. He's mobile and a treat to get 3rd and mediums and he also throws well when he moves outside the pocket.

My point is that Hunter in the backfield elevates the threat level for who ever is playing QB. That in itself will benefit Stafford with his poor mobility.

[actionjack]

Kyren isnt going anywhere soon. He is likely to sign a contract this summer that is fair to both sides.

I like Hunter and could see him get some plays here and there, but this is still Kyren's running back room. Kyren may not break the big runs often, but he is excellent at getting 3-4 yards when there really isnt a hole and also excellent at finding the endzone. Be careful what you wish for.

Now Kyren has to fix the fumbles, job number one in camp this year.