Christian Rhodes

Physical Profile

Stands at an impressive 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, possessing a high-cut, athletic build that is well-suited for the running back position. His frame suggests he can add more mass and strength without sacrificing his explosive athletic traits. A multi-sport athlete who also competes in track and field, he has a verified 11.30 100-meter time, which is the foundation of his breakaway speed. While he has an upright running style, he shows impressive agility and burst.

Play Style

Rhodes is a one-cut-and-go runner who excels in schemes that allow him to get downhill quickly and utilize his elite speed. He demonstrates good vision to find running lanes and the explosive jump-cutting ability to make defenders miss in space. His production speaks for itself, having rushed for 1,271 yards and 14 touchdowns on 8.6 yards per carry as a junior. He is a home-run threat every time he touches the ball and is becoming an increasingly versatile weapon with his improved receiving skills.

Strengths

• **Big-Play Speed:** Possesses legitimate track speed that allows him to erase angles and consistently generate explosive plays. Once he gets to the second level, he has the top-end gear to outrun defenders to the end zone.
• **Ideal Size and Frame:** At 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, he has the prototypical size for a Power Four running back, with the ability to run with physicality and withstand a significant workload.
• **Developing Receiver:** Has shown a concerted effort to improve as a pass-catcher, becoming a reliable option out of the backfield. As a junior, he tallied 23 receptions for 243 yards and 2 touchdowns, and followed that up with 30 catches for 413 yards and 3 scores as a senior.

Areas to Improve

• **Pad Level:** Tends to run with an upright gait, which can expose him to bigger hits and limit his power at the point of contact. Lowering his pad level consistently will be a key development point at the next level.
• **Physicality Between the Tackles:** While he has the size, he can further develop the physical, grinding aspect of his game for tough yardage situations inside. He has focused on getting more physical and adding strength to address this.

College Projection

As a nationally-ranked, four-star prospect (No. 172 in the 247Sports Composite), Rhodes projects as an impact player at the Power Four level. He has the talent to contribute early in his career, likely as part of a running back rotation, before developing into a feature back. His skill set should allow him to be a multi-year starter and a key offensive weapon for SMU.

NFL Outlook

Given his verified athletic traits, ideal size, and upward trajectory as an all-purpose back, Christian Rhodes possesses a significant NFL upside. His combination of size and speed is highly coveted at the professional level. If he continues to develop his receiving skills and refines the nuances of the position, he has the potential to be a mid-round NFL Draft selection with the capability to become a starting running back.

Best Fit

A spread or zone-blocking scheme that allows him to press the line of scrimmage and utilize his one-cut ability and breakaway speed would be an ideal fit. His development as a receiver also makes him a valuable asset in passing-down situations, fitting well in a modern, up-tempo offense that looks to create mismatches with its running backs in space.