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The two running backs, Chad Spann of Northern Illinois, and Darren Evans of Virginia Tech, were both signed by the Indianapolis Colts. I’ll start with my favorite, Chad Spann. Spann is 5’9” 198 lbs and ran a 4.53 40 time. Spann went against lesser competition having 258 carries for 1,388 yards (5.37 average) with 22 touchdowns while catching 9 passes for 45 yards. I became first aware of him during the Texas vs. the Nation Game in February. What stuck out to me were his hands, as he wasn’t known for that, Spann caught more yards in this all-star game (70 yards) than the rest of his senior year. He runs with a glide that doesn’t give defenders a big target to hit/tackle. In an interview I did with Spann, he told me Johnny Knox told him that he looked like Priest Holmes while they were practicing together. I’m not saying Spann will be that effective. If he can pass block for Peyton Manning and make some plays in the passing game, then the sky is the limit.
Darren Evans is a much different runner than Spann. At 6’0” 220 lbs the Hokie was a very determined runner, and was splitting time with the oft injured Ryan Williams. Evans was productive when he was given the chance as he had 151 carries for 854 yards (5.65 average) with 11 touchdowns and added 9 receptions for 100 yards. His speed compared to Spann’s speed isn’t far off 4.56 40 (4.53 40 of Spann’s). I contacted Matt Waldman of footballguys.com to see whom he thought had the best chance of making the team. Waldman agreed with me that Spann can do things that 4thround pick Delone Carter, out of Syracuse, cannot and liked his chances to make the team. These are very interesting times for the Colts running backs with Joseph Addai’s future unknown along with Donald Brown’s ineffectiveness in 2010. I have a feeling the Colts might clean house and there may be opportunity for Spann, Evans, and, of course, Carter. Why not hedge your bets?
