Rookie Spotlight: Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss
Height: 5-7
Weight: 199
Hands: 8 3/8”
Arm: 29’
40 yard dash: 4.50 (projected)
2024 Age: 22
NFL Comparison: Kyren Williams, Michael Carter

Pros
Gets upfield quickly
Excellent pass-catcher
Durable
Instinctive runner
Elite change of direction
Awesome pedigree, obviously

Cons
Lacks size for a 3 down back
Not a power back
Played mediocre competition

Scouting Notes:
Expectations are going to be high for the son of one of the NFL’s most prolific backs in history, but so far, Frank Gore Jr. has not disappointed. Gore Jr. spent his college time at Southern Miss, a lower profile program than his father who went to Miami, and though he faced a level of competition that many will malign as subpar, he produced at a high level. His last 2 years were his best, both of which he eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark in, and his 2022 season actually culminated in Gore setting a NCAA bowl record 329 yards rushing against Rice. He’s not as big as his dad, nor is he as powerful a runner, but Gore still possesses a special set of skills. The most glaring of these is his cutback ability, which is razor sharp. It gives him an elusive edge that makes him hard to get a handle on in the open field. He’s also quick to get to top speed, which isn’t blazing, but he’s fast enough to get to the edge and leave defenders wanting. His ability to bounce off tacklers has aided in his durability, a factor that can often mire smaller backs in nagging injuries. He’s durable and instinctive as a runner, seeing the field clearly enough to navigate traffic with relative ease. As a pass-catcher, Gore doesn’t falter. He caught 27 balls for 224 yards and 3 TDs in his senior season, and he stood out as a receiver at the Shrine Bowl, catching targets in heavy traffic before jetting upfield for big gains. In fact, his Shrine Bowl performance was so solid that it earned him MVP status at the event. The biggest liability in Gore’s game is his pass-blocking. No back was stellar at it during Shrine Bowl practices, but Gore is going to have to improve in this area if he’s going to be a 2 or 3 down back at the next level.

Fantasy Outlook:
Gore’s impressive Shrine Bowl and potential Combine performance will get more teams on his side in the draft process – His name will also do some heavy lifting. Being sub 5’8 and less than 200 lbs will be high hurdles to clear though, so I don’t see him going higher than the 3rd round in a league where RBs are becoming less and less of a premium. Right now, Gore profiles as more of a complementary back or lightning to someone else’s thunder, but we’ve seen smaller backs thrive in bellcow situations on RB needy teams in recent history, a la Kyren Williams. Gore has the athletic pedigree and soft hands to be a fantasy asset for years to come, but he’s going to have to get a little lucky to get the opportunity to really shine.