From now until the 2023 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way down to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Today, I will be profiling Minnesota running back, Mohamed Ibrahim.
#24 Mohamed Ibrahim, RB, Minnesota (rSR) — 5076, 203 lbs.
Combine/Pro Day
Measurements
| Player | Ht/Wt | Hand Size | Arm Length | Wingspan |
| Mohamed Ibrahim | 5’7 3/4”/203 | 9 | 28 5/8 | 69 5/8 |
| 40-Yard Dash | 10-Yard Dash | Short Shuttle | 3-Cone | |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Broad Jump | Vertical | Bench Press | ||
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
The Good
— Highly productive career
— Very good patience and vision
— Decisive when choosing his gap
— Accelerates quickly to get to the second level
— Good contact balance and runs behind his pads
— Nose for end zone; can get through small creases
— Good ball security and finishes forward on his runs
— Can catch the ball despite limited usage
— Willing pass protector with good effort
The Bad
— Short in stature
— Adequate change of direction
— Doesn’t make defenders miss with quickness/agility
— Long speed is adequate; not going to outrun defenders
— Routes out of backfield are flat; doesn’t create good angle to receive
— Not a hands catcher; looks a little unsure on passes
— Gets over his toes in pass pro
— Needs to move his feet laterally to maintain pass block
Bio
— 2022: 320 carries, 1,665 yards, 5.2 YPC, 20 TD, 7 receptions, 50 yards, 7.1 YPR
— Career: 867 carries, 4,668 yards, 5.4 YPC,53 TD, 22 receptions, 145 yards, 6.6 YPR
— 41 games
— Second-team All-American (AP, FWAA, Walter Camp)
— First-team All-Big Ten 2020, 2022
— East-West Shrine Bowl invitee
— 2022 Academic All-Big Ten
— Set seven school records in 2022, including attempts, yards, YPG, TDs, 100-yard games (10)
— Torn Achilles in 2021
— Birthday 9/8/1998 (age 24)
Tape Breakdown
Mohamed Ibrahim had a productive career in Minnesota. Despite missing all but one game of the 2021 season he managed to put together 24 career 100-yard games including a 19-consecutive game streak from 2020-2022. He had 11 150+-yard games and five 200+yards games. He has been consistent game in, game out.
Minnesota was a zone running team. On the inside and outside, Ibrahim showed very good patience and vision to find the right gaps. Decisive in his gap choice, he has good acceleration to get to the second level. With good pad level, he was able to run with surprising power to run through arm tackles and run over second and third level defenders with good leg drive and contact balance. Occasionally, he will use a spin to avoid tacklers. He has a nose for the end zone, can get through small gaps and finishes forward for the extra yard. Ball security was not an issue in the games watched. Blocking for teammates, he puts in the effort to lead the way.
He runs behind his pads and drives his legs, making him seemingly bigger than his size.
The spin is a move he used from time to time to make a defender miss.
His vision and patience are two of his better qualities.
He will block for others. On this play he takes care of two.
In the passing game, he was not used often, and it was all from the backfield. His routes included the swing, flat, leak and I saw one seam route. His hands are solid overall. He is able to secure the ball and get up field to get the yardage that is there. In pass protection, he is willing and showed good effort to maintain the block.
A couple of catches from the backfield.
In pass protection, a lot of his opportunities came from run fakes. The effort is there but the technique could use improvement.
On outside runs, Ibrahim has adequate change of direction. Rather than plant and go it takes him a few choppy steps. He’s pretty much a one-cut, downhill runner. He isn’t going to create a lot with additional cuts. His long speed is adequate overall and isn’t going to run away from defenders. As a receiver, he looked a little unsure on balls thrown his way. His routes were adequate, but he didn’t create good angles to receive the pass. In pass protection, he got over his toes and lunged at the defender rather than moving his feet to mirror.
On this play, he has one man to beat but he doesn’t show the quick change of direction to make the defender miss.
Conclusion
Ibrahim is a downhill runner with good vision and patience to find the right gap. He has very good decisiveness and good acceleration to hit the hole. Running behind good pad level with good leg churn he can run through arm tackles and with physicality on the second and third levels. While not used often in the passing game, he can secure the ball and get up field. He is willing in pass protection and makes the effort needed to maintain the block.
Areas to improve include creating more for himself when the block isn’t there or when he is in the open field. Improving his route running from the backfield to create good angles could make it more comfortable for him to receive the throw. Showcasing the ability to be effective with a larger route tree could add to his value. In pass protection, improving his technique and footwork could lead to more options on third down.
Ibrahim is a grinder. He’s not going to wow you with speed but plays with more power than you would expect from his frame. In the red zone, he was very effective and his ability to hide behind the offensive line could provide a role at the next level. He’d fit in and inside zone scheme or a power scheme reading his blockers. The Steelers need a number three running back and won’t spend an early pick, if any, on the position. Speed has not been a big concern for the Steelers with the position, but they do like highly productive players and Ibrahim fits that bill.
For the comp, I’ll go with Ito Smith from Southern Miss. He was a highly productive workhorse runner who lacked explosiveness. He was a rotational back for a few years after being drafted by Atlanta.
Projection: Late Day Three
Depot Draft Grade: 6.2 End of Roster/Practice Squad (7th Round)
Games Watched: 2022 – Vs Colorado, At Illinois, At Penn State, At Nebraska, Vs Iowa
