Posted by Kevin Weidl
Scouts Inc. made the trip to the beautiful new TFC Bank Stadium on the Minnesota campus over the weekend, and the impressive atmosphere created a perfect setting in which to get a look at some excellent NFL prospects in the California-Minnesota game.
The headliner, of course, was California RB
Jahvid Best. Many people we've talked to feel Best is the top back in the nation and his five-touchdown performance against the Golden Gophers convinced this scout as well. Best continued to impress with his patience and overall vision, seeing the hole well and using his lateral quickness and tremendous burst to get to the edge with regularity.
He has an uncanny ability to maintain body control while accelerating and making cuts, outrunning defenders to the edge and then showing the second gear to run by them when he gets to the second level. Best is much like 2009 first-round pick
Donald Brown in that regard.
His ability to evade defenders was also on display on a second-quarter run when Best was corralled by four Golden Gophers for what looked like a sure 4-yard loss, but Best spun back inside and accelerated to the middle of the field for what became a 6-yard gain. That's a 10-yard swing and the kind of play that keeps drives alive.
We came into the game hoping to see more toughness out of Best and he proved something in that area, too. He was able to break some tackles over the course of the day and on California's first drive of the game lowered his shoulder to pick up a first down.
There are questions about whether the 195-pound Best will be able to hold up physically at the next level given his injury history in college, but he is put together well and certainly passes the eyeball test. The only other remaining concern is in pass protection, which is often the toughest part of the NFL transition for college running backs.
Best needs to show better technique and be more physical in pass pro. He let a defender inside at one point against Minnesota and QB
Kevin Riley was forced to throw the ball away as a result.
Still, we have little doubt that Best will be a first-round pick if he chooses to enter the draft after this season, and it would be a shock to us if he lasts past the first few picks of the second round.
For a look at two more Cal prospects, a standout Minnesota wide receiver and notes from around the country, become an ESPN Insider. 
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
