INDIANAPOLIS – Even after racking up 3,622 rushing yards and 31 total touchdowns in two years as a starter at Stanford, Christian McCaffrey arrived at the NFL scouting combine facing questions about how he’ll be able to transition to the NFL.
McCaffrey has no idea why, and those sorts of doubts are why he said he feels disrespected among this class of running backs.
“I feel like a lot of people don't give me credit for my skills and talents," McCaffrey said Thursday. "That's just the way it is."
Though he might not have the size of some of the other running backs here in Indianapolis – McCaffrey measured in at 5-11, 202 pounds – he’s hoping to show NFL teams here that he’s the most versatile player in this class.
“I don't think there's anyone else that can do all the things I can as far as running between the tackles, outside pass protect, play X, Z, slot and do a lot of things in the return game as well,” McCaffrey said. “I think that's what sets me apart.”
He will do all of the running back drills Friday as well as running the 40-yard dash. Later this spring at Stanford's pro day in Palo Alto, Calif., McCaffrey will run receiver routes to further display his positional flexibility.
McCaffrey said he’s been blunt with teams here that have asked him about his decision to skip Stanford’s bowl game in December. He said discussions about that controversial decision don't last very long.
“It was a career decision; it was a man decision to try to protect my dream of playing and succeeding in the NFL,” McCaffrey said. “I'm here now moving on; that's probably all I'll talk about that anymore. I'm moving on to NFL football now.”
Follow Lindsay H. Jones on @bylindsayhjones.
