Draft 2008: Browns Look at a Back

Low draft choices aren't stopping the Browns from covering the planet with scouts. Here's an exclusive report from Scout.com's Chris Steuber about a small-school running back who has caught the eye of the Browns, among other teams...

Northwest Missouri State held its Pro Day on March 10th and all eyes were on late round prospect RB Xavier Omon. Omon is coming off of a good workout at the NFL Scouting Combine, and on Monday, he had a strong workout despite cold and windy weather.

Omon participated in all drills during the Pro Day except the bench press; he stood on his 17 reps of 225 pounds from the Combine. He ran the 40-yard dash, even though conditions weren’t ideal, and was timed at an unofficial 4.62, after being timed at a 4.59 at the Scouting Combine. He also ran a 4.28 in the short shuttle and a 6.57 in the 3-cone drill.

Omon scores a touchdown in the third quarter of the 2006 Division II National Championship football game.
AP Photo/Butch Dill

The 5-foot-11, 230-pound Omon flashed a 38.5-inch vertical, which was seven inches better than his Combine mark (31.5) and posted a 9.7-inch broad jump in front of at least eight teams: the Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

There were a few teams with multiple representatives in attendance, but the Chiefs had the strongest contingent at the NWMS Pro Day. The Chiefs running back coach, Curtis Modkins, worked Omon hard. Modkins wanted to see how Omon would respond mentally and physically, and he responded really well and was impressive.

Green Bay Packers scout Lenny McGill also spoke with Omon after the workout and expressed interest in the draft hopeful.

In addition to Omon, seven of his NWMS teammates worked out at the Pro Day as well as three small school prospects.

Xavier Omon Scouting Report

Strengths: He’s a well-built ballcarrier with good explosion and vision. He runs low to the ground and is strong between the tackles. He moves well laterally and can get around the end. He allows his blockers to set up in front of him, finds the running lanes and is shifty in the open field. He runs with great balance, puts his shoulder into defenders and falls forward when tackled. He flashes good hands and is a weapon out of the backfield.

Weaknesses: He didn’t play against top competition at the collegiate level. He has a lot of tread on his body and has accumulated 1,271 carries over his four-year collegiate career. He lacks top-end speed and has to get on the edge quicker. He has to pick up blitzes better and chip when a defender closes in.

A member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America, Chris Steuber has provided his analysis of the NFL and NFL Draft prospects on the web and on the radio since 1999.