Rookie Spotlight: Terrance West, RB Cleveland Browns
The Trashman, RosterWatch.com

Terrence West, RB CLEVELAND BROWNS

Height: 5’9
Weight: 225 pounds
40 yard dash: 4.54 (Combine)
NFL Comparison: Eddie Lacy

Scouting Notes:

A man among boys for much of his college career, West led all 2013 college football players with a Football Championship Subdivision single-season record 2,509 rushing yards and 42 touchdowns. He’s a natural downhill runner, who generally makes one cut and then leaves defenders searching for their contacts on the field. It’s true that his accolades might largely be the product of the division he plays in, Jamaal Branch and Omar Cuff previously held the aforementioned records, and we’ve never heard of them again, but anyone who works with West will tell you that he’s a special player who is primed to succeed on the next level. He doesn’t have breakneck speed, but West glides through the field with long strides and doesn’t slow down until he reaches the end-zone, which he often. He scored at least one TD in every game his final year at Towson. West lowers his pads when he makes contact, but he tends to run more upright than we’d like for such a stout back. West isn’t a shifty runner. He doesn’t out-maneuver players with his feet, but he hasn’t really needed to.

We were particularly impressed by West at the 2014 Combine. He told us stories of not being wanted at any big football programs, and his career at Towson was not easy. He had to get up at 4:30AM every day to catch the first of two buses that would take him to campus where he would stay until late in the evening taking care of football and school business before doing the same thing to get back home every night. A true “character player” in every sense of the word.

Fantasy Outlook:

Though he hasn’t yet played a down in the NFL, West is already in competition for major carries this season. Ben Tate, who the Browns brought in to assume the role of lead back, is anything but a lock. His past injuries and inability to handle a full load leave the door wide open for a big physical back like West to take over. Even if Tate stays healthy, West will be in line for considerable carries, as the Browns may run the ball more than any other team this year. Miles Austin and Nate Burleson are currently at the top of their receiving corps, so you see why that might be the case. In dynasty leagues, West is a must own as one of the rookie backs with the best chance to make a first year impact. In redrafts, he’s a mid to late round pickup.