Matt Waldman’s RSP Boiler Room profiles the 2019 NFL Draft prospect Travis Homer and his strengths as an edge runner and finisher. 

Although not known as ‘Running Back U,’ the University of Miami has fielded its share of stud NFL runners, including Ottis Anderson, Alonzo Highsmith, Edgerrin James, Clinton Portis, Frank Gore, and Willis McGahee. Recent Hurricane backs haven’t been as successful.

Lamar Miller and Duke Johnson are solid NFL starters of note. However, Mike James, Joseph Yearby, and Mark Walton are battling to maintain a foothold in professional football. Yearby and Walton had fans in the evaluator community — Yearby, who is playing for the Orlando Apollos of the Alliance of American Football — was one of my underrated favorites.

The best former Hurricane runner this year has been Gus Edwards, who left the program for Rutgers in 2017 and earned a significant share of playing time as the banger in Baltimore’s offense. As is the case with Yearby and Walton, Travis Homer lacks the prototypical size and speed of a feature back. Yet like Edwards, Homer has a finisher’s mentality.

Homer will drop the pads and run over safeties. He’s also the aggressor in collisions — often delivering a forearm to force opponents off balance. Combine this behavior with sharp footwork, acceleration, and skill with perimeter runs and Homer offers potential as a contributor for an NFL offense.

If the fit is right, Homer could offer some similar positives to a team as Phillip Lindsay. He lacks Lindsay’s suddenness, but he’s quick enough to reach the open field and there’s a ruggedness to Homer’s game that he could exploit further with some work.

For the most in-depth analysis of offensive skill players available (QB, RB, WR, and TE), get the 2019  Rookie Scouting Portfolio. If you’re a fantasy owner the Post-Draft Add-on comes with the 2012 – 2018 RSPs at no additional charge.

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