FB, California
Rankings: NFLDraftScout: 9th-ranked fullback, #347 player overall, 7th-round/free agent grade.
Scouts Inc: 27th-ranked fullback, rated as a free agent. Grade: 30, borderline draft prospect.
Biography/honors:
2012: Started 5 of 12 games. 13 carries for 51 yards (3.9 ypc), 9 receptions for 55 yards (6.1 ypc), two tackles. Received team honor for courage, attitude and sportsmanship.
2010: Started 5 of 11 games. One rush for two yards, 4 receptions for 27 yards (6.8 ypc) and a TD. Also had four tackles.
2009: Played in 12 games on special teams, with six tackles. Also had an 11-yard kick return.
2008: Redshirted.
Brother Craig is a tight end for the Titans, originally drafted by, yes, Jeff Fisher.
Major: graduated in December with a degree in legal studies.
Injuries:
2011: Missed entire season after tearing ACL in right knee in training camp.
2010: Missed one game due to a broken finger that required surgery.
Pro day results: (NFL Combine fullback averages in parentheses)
4.72 40 (4.83)
1.64 10-yard split
31” vertical jump (32”)
9'3" broad jump (9'5")
7.28 3-cone drill (7.28)
4.33 20-yard shuttle (4.47)
25 bench press (25)
Positives: Prototypical fullback and reliable short-yardage back. Athletic enough to block in space and get down the field when you put the ball in his hands. Quicker than average for the position. Uses his blocks well as a runner. Very good blocker on the edge. Great effort blocker, tenacious, will stay on top of his man until he runs him over. Blocks to the whistle. Solid hitter with a strong stiffarm. Catches well. Reliable receiver in the flat who doesn't go down on first contact. Gets turned upfield quickly on swing passes. Reliable hands. Flashes of surprising athleticism - can hurdle guys in the open field and gets downfield well on punt coverage. Good fundamental runner and tackler. Stays low and always keeps his legs churning. Hard worker on and off the field. Wrestled in high school and brings that mentality to his game. Plays with desire and won a team lifting award.
Negatives: Below-average acceleration and explosion. Doesn't explode into his blocks. More of a steam roller than a thumper. Strictly a fullback, didn't run tight end or H-back-type routes. Short arms. Unknown quantity as a pass protector; Cal ran more than they passed.
Compares to: Mike Karney, as a Saint, not a Ram.
Fun Facts: Eric averaged 30 yards a catch his senior year of high school, and also had 110 tackles, 7 for loss. He was also an all-league wrestler.
RamView: Eric Stevens has the makings of a pretty nice NFL fullback. Put 10-15 pounds on him and you can see him contributing at the position like Karney did in New Orleans, in an all-purpose fashion. Eric's problem, though: the demise of the fullback position in the NFL, including St. Louis, where the Rams went without a traditional fullback after cutting Brit Miller before last Thanksgiving. RamView doesn't see Stevens as a real thumper with a future here at fullback. He's not going to be an in-line tight end, so I imagine his best shot is to show well in a move TE role and on special teams. He'll need to make a lot happen.
Chance of making team: 10%.
Sources: NFLDraftScout.com, University of California athletics, ESPN.com, CBSSports.com, Contra Costa (Cal.) Times, BearInsider.com, YouTube
Photo: Associated Press
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