Rookie Spotlight: Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M
Height: 6’ 0”
Weight: 217 lbs
Hands: 8 5/8”
Arm: 31 3/4”
40 yard dash: 4.63 (pro day)
NFL Comparison: Wayne Gallman, Joe Mixon

College Production (Final Season)
44% team rushes
12% team receptions
25% total team yards
19% total team TDs

Pros
Good contact balance
Quick in space
Hard to bring down
Masterful jump cuts
Decent pass protector
Soft hands
Patient
Aggressive runner

Cons
Miserable combine/pro day testing
Lacks game breaking speed
Indecisive at times
Limited route tree

Scouting Notes:
Isaiah Spiller is about as polarizing a player in this year’s draft as you can fathom, but it’s hard not to love him from his tape. A long strider, who maintains good pad level, Spiller is a patient runner who waits for his block, sees the hole and hits it with fury. Quick, not fast, Spiller is a big back who’s light on his feet – Sometimes this leads to indecisiveness, but it’s a positive on the whole. His lateral agility is something to behold, as he has a jump cut that can leave even the most nimble of corners grasping air. He’s not necessarily a big play guy, but his ability to make his first tackler miss allows him to chew up yardage – He had a 5.6 YPC average at A&M. Even when the defender does get a handle on him, Spiller is difficult to bring down, as he keeps churning his long legs through tackles. As a pass catcher, Spiller has soft hands and gets upfield in a hurry, though his route tree has been simple so far in his career. As a blocker, Spiller could use a little sharpening, but he’s willing and generally effective in this department. The elephant in the room is Spiller’s terrible showing at the Combine and equally unimpressive Pro Day performance. With an official 40 time of 4.63 – I clocked him at 4.54 in his fastest heat, but oh well – Spiller is among the slowest RB contenders in the draft. His vertical jump of 30” didn’t do him any favors either, and he had equally dismal agility drills. I did notice him favoring a leg at his Pro Day and subsequently found out he’s dealing with an abductor injury that goes back to the Combine. This news puts his poor displays of athleticism in a new light, as his tape shows a different player.

Fantasy Outlook:
Spiller’s draft status depends on if teams weigh his tape or his recent measurables heavier, and I hope they choose the former. Spiller was considered to be one of the top backs in the draft before March, and I’m inclined to keep him there. He’s a power back with solid hands and enough elusiveness to stay in on 3rd downs. No, he’s not the fastest guy on the field, probably not even the 5th fastest, but Spiller has shown that he can handle a workhorse role with great success – He was productive in every season he played for the Aggies. I honestly hope he falls in dynasty drafts, so I can take him on the cheap. Spiller’s upside makes him a small risk to take right now in any format. He could very well be a day one starter who only comes off the field on 4th downs.