Running with the Bull: Jaret Patterson- Buffalo RB
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26 Jaret Patterson
5’6 1/2″ 195 RB- Junior
Running with the Bull: Jaret Patterson Buffalo RB
The junior Buffalo Bull running back has made a mark with his elusive yet powerful running style. He currently ranks as the 212th best player on our Big Board.
What makes this player NASTY…(Strengths): Built well. Outstanding boxer-like feet. Can tap dance in the hole and make safeties miss (Wade, 1st QTR/14:48, Penn State ’19). Sticks his foot on inside spins to find room on the edges and will look to not go out of bounds. Spins on first contact instinctively (3rd QTR, Bahamas ’19). Four-or-five-yard runs turn into highlight film runs. Shifty stop-and-start quickness is aided by acceleration (42-yd TD, Rutgers ’18). Sticks his right foot in the ground, drops his right shoulder into tackler and leans forward for three or four yards (1st QTR, Penn State ’19). Displays energy on his stiff-arms when bouncing runs (EMU ’18). On gap-schemed runs to the right, he flashes quick burst. On goal line runs, he lowers his pad level and runs through LBs with a low center of gravity (TD, Bahamas ’19). Takes a hip away from LBs in the open field. Lead blocks for fellow RBs with vengeance. Translates speed-to-power along the sidelines vs. CBs who come up to tackle (runs over Castro-Fields, 2nd QTR, Penn State ’19). He’s an instinctive open field runner in the screen game.
Weaknesses: Lacks a true home run gear once he gets into the open field. Eighth men in the box surprise him at times and his reactions have been less than stellar (3rd QTR/8:01, Liberty ’19). Can he get himself out of a mess (3rd QTR/6:33, big hit along sidelines, Liberty ’19)? Speed begins to die out at the 25-yard mark. Struggled with injuries down the final back half of his junior campaign. Injured his right leg in the 2020 MAC Championship game, left the game and came back with a brace on the leg. Struggled in that game and did not play in the team’s bowl game. Zero receptions in 2020.
Other Notes: Attended Saint-Vincent Pallotti HS (Md.) and rushed for 2,045 yards and 23 TDs as a senior • Accounted for 558 all-purpose yards in one high school contest (Riverdale Baptist) • Twin brother, James, plays football for Buffalo • 2018 (14 gms, 6 sts, 2nd Team All-MAC, MAC Freshman of the Year): 183 carries for 1,013 yards (5.5 YPC) and 14 TDs; 7 receptions for 62 yards • 2018: Started 11 games at RT • Rushed for 298 yards and 6 TDs vs. Bowling Green on 11/29/19 • 2019 (1st Team All-MAC): 312 carries for 1,799 yards (5.8 YPC) and 19 TDs; 13 receptions for 209 yards (16.1 YPR) and TD • 31 carries for 301 yards and 4 TDs vs. Bowling Green on 11/17/20 • 36 carries for 409 yards and 8 TDs vs. Kent State on 11/28/20 • 2020 (6 gms, 1st Team All-MAC): 141 carries for 1,072 yards (7.6 YPC) and 19 TDs • Career Stats: 636 rushes for 3,884 yards (6.1 YPC) and 52 TDs; 20 receptions for 271 yards (13.6 YPR) and one TD • 2021 Buffalo Pro Day: 9 1/4″ hands, 28 3/4″ arms, 68 3/4″ wingspan, 19 reps-25 lbs, 4.57 40-yd, 30″ VJ, 9’9″ BJ, 7.03 3-cone, 4.35 20-yd SS
Time to get NASTY (Our Summary): One of the big things that Patterson has improved on is ball security. After fumbling the football four times in 2018, he has put the ball on the ground just once the last two seasons. He didn’t finish the 2020 season as strong as he did in 2019, when he finished the season with six straight 100-yard rushing games. He plays low, balanced and contains excellent vision to find cutback lanes. While he doesn’t have blinding speed, Patterson gets to his top speed in a hurry and surprises opponents with his low center of gravity. On top of that, he actually shows better receiving skills than one would imagine from a running back with zero receptions in 2020. Much like former Buffalo running back Branden Oliver (Chargers), the wear-and-tear of so many carries began to add up for Patterson. Backup running back Kevin Marks, arguably as good of an NFL prospect, carried the load for the Bulls much of the postseason in 2020.
Running with the Bull: Jaret Patterson Buffalo RB
Grade: 5.33 (4th Round)
DraftNasty Big Board Rank: 212
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