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Washington football training camp profiles: Running backs

By Ian Cummings

LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 17: Derrius Guice #29 of the Washington Redskins warms up prior to playing against the New York Jets at FedExField on November 17, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 17: Derrius Guice #29 of the Washington Redskins warms up prior to playing against the New York Jets at FedExField on November 17, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /
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MOBILE, AL – JANUARY 25: Runningback Antonio Gibson #24 from Memphis of the South Team during the 2020 Resse’s Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 25, 2020 in Mobile, Alabama. The North Team defeated the South Team 34 to 17. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
MOBILE, AL – JANUARY 25: Runningback Antonio Gibson #24 from Memphis of the South Team during the 2020 Resse’s Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 25, 2020 in Mobile, Alabama. The North Team defeated the South Team 34 to 17. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

Antonio Gibson

Experience: 1st season

Draft Status: 2020 third-round pick, 66th overall

2019 Stats (College): 14 games, 33 carries, 369 yards, four touchdowns, 37 receptions, 735 yards, eight touchdowns, 23 kick returns, 645 yards, one touchdown

2020 Outlook: There was, at first, some confusion when the Washington football team selected Antonio Gibson with the 66th overall pick in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Gibson wasn’t as well-known as other running back options still on the board, and his production, at first glance, underwhelmed.

But the key appeal with Gibson is not the volume he shouldered in college, but the efficiency with which he produced. He averaged almost 16 yards per touch in 2019, and scored a touchdown on a whopping 17 percent of his plays. Gibson is clearly an elite athlete from his tape and NFL Combine numbers, and he has the versatility to line up all around the field, something that Scott Turner should have a lot of fun utilizing.

Expected Role: Washington football offensive coordinator Scott Turner has spoken about his excitement to use Gibson in his new offense. Gibson is listed as a running back, but he clearly has more natural receiving ability and receiving upside than most, if not all, of Washington’s running backs. He should be a position-less player, who can help create mismatches against the defense by moving around and lining up in different spots. Whether it’s spreading the defense out by running out of a four-wide set, or opening up the corners by passing out of 21 formation, Gibson can unlock a ton of edges for the Washington football team.

Status: Gibson is a lock, hands down. Even if he doesn’t show the progress that Rivera and Turner desire in training camp, he still has the kind of upside that they can’t risk losing on the waiver wire. Gibson may need time to acclimate to the pace of the NFL and carry a greater volume, which may limit his production in Year 1. But he’ll show flashes of his true potential early on, and his versatility will be a very important part of Washington’s offense.

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