Rookie free agent profile: Malcolm Brown, RB, Texas

USA Today

Malcolm Brown, 5'11.5" 224
RB, Texas

Rankings
NFLDraftScout: #178 player overall, #16 running back. 5th-6th round grade.
Nawrocki: #15 RB, not in top 150 players. Grade: 5.24, should make a roster and contribute on special teams.
Kiper: Not in top 300 players. Kiper ranked at least 24 RBs, including players from North Dakota State and Azusa Pacific.
Draft Countdown: #179 overall, #14 RB. Late-round / free agent grade. 
Sports Illustrated: #209 overall, #21 RB.
Scouts Inc: #224 player overall,  #18 RB. Grade: 43,  borderline draft prospect. 

Biography/Honors
2014: Second team all-Big "12". Started all 13 games. 186 carries for 708 yards (3.9 ypc) and 6 TDs, 16 receptions for 58 yards (3.6 ypc). Played in East-West Shrine Game.
2013: Second team all-Big "12". Played in 13 games, starting 4. 214 carries for 909 yards (4.2 ypc), 17 receptions for 195 yards (11.5 ypc). Had five 100-yard games, including 130 in bowl game vs. Oregon.
2012: Played in 8 games, starting one. 61 carries for 324 yards (5.3 ypc) and 4 TDs, 15 receptions for 112 yards (7.5 ypc).
2011: Played in 10 games, starting 7. 172 rushes for 742 yards (4.3 ypc) and 5 TDs, 3 receptions for 17 yards (5.3 ypc). Conference Newcomer of the Year and first freshman to lead Longhorns in rushing since Cedric Benson in 2001.


Academics: Graduated in December 2014 with degree in physical culture and sports with a minor in social work. Conference academic  honors in 2013 and 2014.
Twitter: @MallyCat_28


Medical

2014: Missed first four games due to knee injury.
2013: Played through nagging ankle injury but did not miss any games.
2012: Missed six games due to a high ankle sprain.
2011: Missed two games due to turf toe. Also missed one game and part of another due to a right knee injury.
2008: Ankle injury ended his sophomore high school season after seven games.

  
NFL Combine Stats
(Combine averages for running backs in parentheses)

40-yard dash: 4.62 (4.64)
10-yard split: 1.64
Vertical: 34.5" (35")
Broad: 9'9" (9'9")
3-cone: 6.86 (Top-five time at RB. Average was 7.13)
Shuttle: 4.15 (4.25)
Bench: 19 (19)

Scouting Report
Pluses: Has an NFL build. Excellent height/bulk and thick frame. Has big hands and long arms. Very agile for his size. Quick-footed. Effective one-cut runner with good playing speed and vision. No hesitation or dancing in his game. Has a good jump-cut. Strong finisher, gets yards after contact, delivers the blow on initial contact. Runs hard, stays square to the line, stays behind his pads. Plays with good pad level. Follows his blocks well. Productive short-yardage back. Physical, grind-it-out, move-the-pile runner. Difficult to bring down one-on-one or with arm tackling. Played behind a terrible offensive line. Ball protection is textbook and he fumbled only twice in over 800 career carries at Texas. Capable receiver. Takes pride in his blitz pickup. Very good at identifying blitzers and blitz-protects with excellent technique. Team player, good worker, high-character individual and player. Productive short-yardage back who keeps his feet moving and always seems to gain positive yardage.

Minuses: Pretty average back with no elite traits. Won't make people miss, just-average power and explosion. No extra gear. Not a big-play threat or a threat around the edge. Doesn't seem to have the instinct to string together moves to make a big play. Not a sharp cutter and doesn't change directions well. May not be physical enough a runner. Lengthy injury history.

Compares to: Zac Stacy, Chris Ogbonnaya

Fun Facts

Malcolm is well-traveled: he was born in Mississippi and has lived in Texas, Florida, D.C., Turkey and Guam. He ran the 4x200 relay in high school and earned four letters in track. He is not related to Longhorn teammate and Patriots first-round draft pick Malcom Brown. Malcolm volunteers time to his church, helping the homeless, children's reading programs and working with special-needs students.


RamView
This year's Rams camp will have many interesting position battles, and RB5 should be one of them. Trey Watts looks like the favorite to hold the spot for his special teams play, and Isaiah Pead will likely get every possible chance to come back from the ACL tear that ended his 2014 season early. All that considered, Brown still has an excellent shot to make the team. With Zac Stacy having "Yikes"ed himself to the Jets on draft weekend, Brown comes to camp as the Rams' best hammer back, and he seems like the kind of back Jeff Fisher always likes to have around. He seems a solid bet to keep the seat warm while Watts is suspended the first four weeks and could take the seat out from under him by hustling on special teams. At worst he'd mark time on the practice squad after a return by Watts. The uncertainty of Pead's injury, as well as Todd Gurley's, also work in Brown's favor. Seems like Brown would really have to drop the ball to miss out on an opening day roster spot, and he doesn't do that much.

Chance of making team: 70%. (Sorry in advance for the jinx.)

Sources: University of Texas athletics, SBNation, NFL.com