Tennessee's Jaylen Wright Is Modeling His Game After Superstar Pro Bowl Running Backs
Former Second-Team All-SEC Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright is considered one of the most elite prospects at his position in this spring's impending NFL draft.
He spoke with Bleav In Tennessee Football's Jay Graham and Aaron Hayden about his opportunity to achieve at the next level, and about the Pro Bowlers whose game he was hoping to emulate.
"This past season, before my junior season, I was in [the] film room," Wright said. "I was watching a lot of backs. I mean, my favorite [is] Adrian Peterson. His run style, the way he runs for the ball. He runs the ball so [physically], he's explosive, it gets to where he can catch the ball in the backfield.
"Christian McCaffrey, he's a guy that everybody knows [can] do everything. So, you know, those two guys are really two guys I... model my game after... and I can see myself being like [them]."
These are lofty figures to emulate.
From 2007-21, Peterson, a 6'1", 220-pound back out of Oklahoma, was a seven-time Pro Bowler and a seven-time All-Pro, as well as the NFL's MVP and Offensive Player of the Year while with the Minnesota Vikings. He was thrice the league's rushing yards leader and twice its leader in rushing touchdowns. Peterson was named to the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team, and is seemingly destined to be a shoo-in selection to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He also enjoyed stints with the New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions, Tennessee Titans, and finally the Seattle Seahawks.
McCaffrey, 27, is the best player on the Super Bowl runners-up in the San Francisco 49ers. He's the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, and already a four-time All-Pro selection and three-time Pro Bowler. He was the league's leader in rushing yards last season. Should he stay healthy, McCaffrey, too, is well on his way to a Hall of Fame pro career.
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