Zamir White was a five-star recruit coming out of high school in North Carolina and ranked as the No. 1 running back in the nation. That followed a senior season in which he rushed for 2,086 yards and 34 touchdowns in 11 games, averaging 14.1 yards per carry. Unfortunately, his Georgia career didn’t get off to a good start, as he tore the ACL in his left knee during a team scrimmage in 2018. That caused him to redshirt that season before he put up a solid three seasons with the Bulldogs.
“Zeus” played in 13 of 14 games in 2019 while finishing the season with 408 yards on 78 careers. He was the team’s leading rusher in 2020 with 779 yards and 11 touchdowns on 144 carries (5.4 ypc) in 10 games. The North Carolina native was the school’s leading rusher in 2021 as well, with 775 yards and 10 touchdowns on 148 carries (5.2 ypc) in 15 games. White was voted as a team captain for the 2021 season.
Make sure to check out all of our other NFL Draft Scouting Reports.
Player Bio
Name: Zamir White
Jersey: No. 3
Position: Running Back
School: Georgia
Class: Junior
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 215 lbs
Games Watched: Florida (2020), Tennessee (2021), Kentucky (2021), Clemson (2021)
Major Injury History: Torn ACL (2017, 2018)
Player Breakdown
Vision (12.75/15)
White has fairly solid vision, especially at the first level as he can find holes before they are available. He also is patient in waiting for an opening, then explodes through it for a big gain. On the second and third levels, he can anticipate the defenders while bouncing and cutting into the open field. His vision was a question mark early on, but when he is patient he will find the holes.
Contact Balance (7.5/10)
He absorbs contact well and constantly churns his legs to earn extra yards after initial contact. Over his career, he averaged 5.3 yards per carry while lowering his shoulder to deliver a blow to hopeful tacklers. One thing that hurts him is his susceptibility to being tripped up by ankle tackles that stop him from a potential house call.
Explosiveness (7/10)
For a player his size and the injury history, White is surprisingly explosive. When he gets open grass, he can run away from defenders and take it for six. He can weave in and out of traffic while planting his foot in the ground and moving upfield quickly. The injuries certainly didn’t slow him down as he still has a lot of acceleration to get into the second and third levels of the defense.
Long Speed (7.75/10)
White ran a 4.40-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine as he showed off his great straight-line speed. Not only is he quick, but he can maintain that speed for long periods upfield. There are times he might slow down and need to gain his acceleration again, but not before he already gained several yards.
Short-Area Burst (8/10)
As soon as White gets the ball, he has the burst to get by defenders at the line of scrimmage. That makes him built for short-yardage situations and goal-line attacks. He has a sort of spring in his step to move swiftly by defenders and get to the second level. His 40-time will show up in games to create a bruising duo with his power.
Change of Direction (8.25/10)
With his size, strength, and power, White is actually pretty elusive as well. He has some really impressive jump cuts and can weave through traffic to break off a big run. His explosiveness and burst help him get by would-be tacklers and leave them in his dust.
Power (10/10)
With his strength, his power is his best trait. He can keep his legs churning through contact, deliver blows while lowering his shoulder, and carry piles for several yards. White never gives on a play until the whistle and has a commitment to strengthening his lower half.
Ball Security (9.25/10)
White only fumbled the ball three times over his three college seasons and makes sure to secure the ball. He knows when to adjust his grip on the ball or to switch hands in order to avoid it being popped free. This will not be any sort of concern at the next level.
Receiving Ability (5/10)
White only caught 14 passes in his college career and doesn’t look to be a big part of the passing game at the next level. James Cook took most of the receiving duties in the backfield for Georgia. He has solid enough hands to make catches when he has the chance, but his route running ability is below average. White won’t be a liability as a receiver but isn’t really an asset either.
Pass Protection (2/5)
White provides little in the blocking game, as he doesn’t use his full power in that part of his game. Not that he isn’t willing to do work in that aspect of the game, but it isn’t up to par with the rest of his game right now. After a year or two as a rotational red zone and short down back, he may be able to improve this part of his game. But it is still very much a work in progress.
Player Summary
White has a lot of question marks, despite having a third-round grade. His injury history is a cause for concern and he may fall more towards the later rounds. The traits are there, but his inexperience with receiving out of the backfield could make him just a two-down back at least early on. That being said, power backs like him can be used well in goal-to-go and short-yardage scenarios but he also has the explosiveness to be used in early downs at times. His strong vision and ability to show explosiveness even after the injuries give him an edge.
Rookie Projections: Red Zone/Rotational Back
Third Year Projections: Possible Starter/Committee Back
Final Grade (77.5/100): Late Third-Round Pick
Player Comp: Saquon Barkley
Check us out on our socials:
Twitter: @PTSTNews and @TalkPrimeTime
Facebook Page: Prime Time Sports Talk
Join our Facebook Group: Prime Time Sports Talk
Instagram: @primetimesportstalk
Follow Alex Kielar on Twitter @AlexKielar
Main Image Credit: Embed from Getty Images
