Jonathon Stewart, 2008 NFL Draft Prospect
 | Running Back Oregon Junior Height: 5' 11" Weight: 235 lbs. Speed: 4.48 Strengths: Size, power, Build, Balance, Potential Weaknesses: Durability Scouting report by Daryl Breault |
Playing in a major conference Oregon RB Jonathon Stewart has been on scouts’ radar since his freshman season. Stewart has torched some of best teams in the nation over the last two seasons. Michigan, Cal, Washington, USC, Arizona State, South Florida… not one was able to shut Stewart down. Stewart ran for a Sun Bowl record 253 yards in their 56-21 drubbing of South Florida and was named the C.M. Hendricks MVP of the game. 111 yards and a TD against Michigan in Ann Arbor, 120 yards and a TD against Cal, 251 yards and 2 TD against Washington, 103 yards and 2 TD against USC, 99 yards and 1 TD against Arizona State while also adding 2 passes for 26 yards and a TD and returned 5 kicks for 122 yards. Big time opponents, big time games, big time pressure and big time results. Stewart finished his junior season with 1,722 yards and 11 TD for the 9-4 Ducks. He ran for 981 yards and 10 TD in 2006.
Named AFCA Coaches All-America and Pac-10 1st Team All-Conference, Stewart is the complete package as a runner. He has excellent size at 230 lbs, a solid, muscular build, elite overall and lower body strength, abundant athleticism and the complete game to be an every down, franchise running back. Stewart is a hard worker who could evolve into a leader one day. He has enough speed to turn the corner and run away, the shiftiness to make defenders miss and the power to steam roll someone when all else fails. He added 49 catches for 334 yards and 3 TD for his career, so he has the potential to develop his abilities as a receiver. His stock has risen quickly over the season and it continued to rise after he ran an impressive 4.48 at the NFL Scouting Combine. He is battling Rashard Mendenhall to be the 2nd RB chosen in the 2008 NFL Draft.
There is very little negative to say about Stewart, except maybe durability, he has fought injuries off and on throughout his career. He is in the same class of prospect as Adrian Peterson and Darren McFadden, he just is a shorter running back who runs with shorter compact steps. He gets impatient at times and forces things. His physical running style could lead him to wear down over a long season and prone to injuries, but he projects to be a workhorse in the pros.
Stewart, Mendenhall and McFadden are the only three running backs that are certain to be 1st round picks in the 2008 NFL Draft. Stewart could possibly go as early as #15 to Detroit, but will more likely go to the Cardinals at #16, the Texans at #18, the Buccaneers at #20 or maybe the Cowboys at #22.
Update: Stewart had toe surgery on March 10th, but I don't think it will hurt his draft stock much because he ran a 4.49 at the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine. Stewart measured in at 5' 11" 235 lbs.