Chris Polk' Player Profile

Chris Polk has been a very productive under the radar performer for UW and is going on his 3rd 1,000yd season in a row. At 5ft11 225lbs he has a very good build for RB, not as chiseled as Trent Richardson but very thick legs and upper body which allow him to be very effective running inside. Polk’s tough inside running and yards after contact are his greatest strengths which is becoming uncommon in todays NFL. He almost never loses yards and has a knack for always falling forward to stretch and get the extra yard. Despite having his true freshman season wipe out with a early season injury he has been a durable workhouse carrying a 20+ carry load the last 3 years and until this year he was playing behind a terrible o line. He also has surprising quickness and what I like about him is he usually uses it to turn it inside rather than outside and has enough breakaway speed to pick up a 40 yard gain. He is playing in a pro type offense and even though he doesn’t catch a lot of passes he has showed the ability to. For a inside runner he also has showed good peripheral vision and success running draws and plays out of shotgun where he doesn’t have a lead back. Doesn’t seem to have character issues to speak of and with his consistently you feel good about his work ethic.

As far as weaknesses I think NFL scouts could question his burst. He is more of a patient runner with a good leg drive to pick up yards even in traffic but I don’t see him having the instinctive burst to hit a hole hard and get to the 2nd level now, in college he hasn’t needed to partly because holes haven’t been there but also his power has allowed him to pick up yards through contact when holes close. Also, he doesn’t show a lot of ability in space or game changing big plays.

Chris Polk is the perfect RB to have to grind out leads at the end of games. With his power and inside running he has showed that he can pick up yards even when you know run is coming. Scouts are also going to like the regularity at which he gets 100yard games the last 3 years. Marshawn Lynch is a really good NFL comparison.
Profile submitted by: Tom Patterson

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Chris Polk Videos

Chris Polk 2010 Highlights

CHRIS POLK for HEISMAN 2011 | Highlight Reel

Chris Polk vs Nebraska 2010

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