Dallan Hayden, RB, Colorado
Height:
5’10” | Weight: 205 lbs
Accomplishments:
Four-star recruit
“Dallan Hayden is a talented young running back equipped with a strong, dense frame who runs well behind his pads, offering a physical one-cut slashing potential lead ball-carrier.”
Strengths:
NFL-ready body/frame
Great zone-scheme fit
First/second-level burst
Contact balance and run strength
NFL bloodline
Concerns:
No experience as “The Guy”
Pass protection technique
Negotiating quick defensive pressure
Film Analysis:
Dallan Hayden played in Ryan Day’s system for the past two seasons before transferring to Colorado. Hayden thrives in zone-oriented run schemes where he can be a one-cut slasher. He runs with a physical mindset downhill along with his strong, NFL-ready frame.
Hayden possesses strong zone eyes and processing. He is a good outside-to-inside reader, pressing the outside hip of the OT before planting and cutting upfield when the time calls for it. He flashes the processing speed to read from the first level up to the second as he works his way upfield. He is a zone concept versatile runner, efficiently working inside, wide, and outside concepts. Hayden runs with good patience and tempo, allowing his blockers time to engage and create alleys for him to burst through. Speaking of burst, he has enough juice to explode through running lanes into the second level of the defense. Hayden showcases pretty good long speed—not elite, but more than enough to win the edge and take advantage of poor pursuit angles from the defense.
Hayden is a physical downhill runner and finisher—lowering his shoulder as he collides with a defender. He has good contact balance to absorb hits and stay on his feet for extra yards. Hayden possesses fluid and active footwork to press and escape gaps as defenders close in. With a strong lower body, he can drive a pile forward with his leg drive for more yards after contact. In the passing game, Hayden is a functional receiving option out of the backfield. He catches short dumps-offs and swing routes in the flats as a check-down option.
Hayden has not been tasked to handle a full workload as the top RB. Though he does have the skill set and physical build to be a bell cow RB in college football, expectations are that Hayden should own the RB1 role for a Colorado offense in desperate need of a reliable RB. Hayden displayed the “want to” in pass protection situations but his technical approach needs improving. He does a good job scanning to find threats but he waits for them to engage at top speed barreling downhill. He would benefit from meeting them in the lane with proper technique to give his QB confidence that pressure will not impact his decision to throw.
At times, Hayden runs too high with his chest/torso exposed for big hits from blindspot defenders. Dropping his hips and shoulders will allow him to brace for any impact nearby—it also puts him in the position to power through would-be tackles. He does not have a lot of wiggle or elusiveness to make defenders miss quickly with the ball in his hands. Hayden does not negotiate quick defensive pressure greatly.
Hayden has the ability and physical build to be a legitimate lead running back. He projects as a developmental zone-concept running back. That combination of patience, vision, burst, and finishing strength/violence will set the tone early in games if given carries. With a clearer picture as a starter, Hayden can become an adequate starter at worst in the NFL.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Developmental Traits
Written By: Damian Parson
Exposures: Purdue (2023), Maryland, (2022), Indiana (2022), Toledo (2022), Michigan State (2022)
