Brace yourselves for a spring full of Danny Woodhead comparisons, even if they’re only accurate at a skin-deep level.
Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey just announced on Twitter that he’s leaving the Cardinal after three seasons and entering the 2017 NFL Draft.
He joins a deep group of early entry running backs including LSU’s Leonard Fournette, but has a unique combination of talents which will intrigue some coaches and should enable him to contribute immediately.
He set the FBS single-season record for all-purpose yardage last year, rushing for 2,019 yards, adding 645 receiving yards and 1,200 yards worth of kick and punt returns. That earned him a runner-up finish for the Heisman Trophy (losing to Derrick Henry).
While his numbers weren’t bad this year (1,603 rushing, 310 receiving, 414 returns), his team didn’t have the same kind of success and he was less of an object of fascination.
He’s the son of former Broncos, 49ers and Giants wide receiver Ed McCaffrey, who played 13 seasons in the league.