Athleticism:

Polk isn’t much of a burner because that’s not his game. He’s a big, physical back who prefers to run through you rather than around you. He has a strong lower body that allows him to break through arm tackles with ease. He doesn’t have much of a burst and he only runs at one speed. You won’t see him breaking very many long runs in the NFL because he lacks that 2nd gear to pull away from defenders. He’s not very shifty either, although he’ll make some nice cuts he doesn’t really make guys miss consistently.

Grade: 2.5

Power:

Easily Polk’s best attribute. He is a very tough runner who will keep his legs moving on contact and can consistently push the pile. He always seems to fall forward and he can run through arm tackles with ease. He runs a little bit too upright at times and this hurts his ability to get leverage on defenders and he can get stood up at times. While he’s a powerful runner I feel as though he maybe overrated slightly. He’ll have a much tougher time running through NFL linebackers if he doesn’t consistently play low and hit the hole hard.

Grade: 3.5

Vision:

Polk has solid vision although it’s not something to brag about. He follows his blockers and can spot the open hole. He would much rather attempt to run through defenders as opposed to finding a cutback lane but that’s just his game. What’s more concerning to me is that he is way too indecisive at times. He chops his feet and slows down when approaching the line of scrimmage and he looks to bounce runs outside far too often. He doesn’t have the speed to turn the corner so naturally he gets tackled for a loss quite a bit when he does so. He has to hit the hole harder especially with his size because he’d be able to push the pile for at least a 2 yard gain but instead he hesitates and waits and ends up with a loss. I’d like to see him be a more decisive runner and don’t want to see him earn the “tippy toe” tag so many “power” backs in the NFL get labelled.

Grade: 2.0

Hands:

A really underrated part of his game is Polk’s ability to catch the football. He routinely displays soft hands and the ability to catch the ball away from his body. He’s a very reliable receiver and while he isn’t much of a threat on screens he is a dependable check-down in the passing game.

Grade: 3.5

Blocking:

Polk is a willing blocker which I always like to see. His technique is still poor as he struggles to stay engaged and will miss on his cut blocks, but the fact that he’s aggressive and willing to initiate contact is a plus. He can easily be coached up in this area.

Grade: 2.5

Intangibles:

Has the size and strength to carry the load at the next level but I feel as though he’d be better off splitting carries. Has a very tough running style which opens him up to a lot of hits. Has already had multiple issues with his shoulders which is concerning. He’ll likely struggle with nagging injuries throughout his career unless he is kept fresh as part of a dual back system. Never got into trouble in his time at Washington and was a big part of the successful turnaround at the program.

Grade: 2.5

Outlook:

Like I said earlier, Polk would be better off in a 2 back system in the NFL. He’s already had quite a bit of wear and tear on his body and his physical running style only makes him more susceptible to injuries. His ability to catch passes out of the back-field and his willingness to block is a big plus in my book. However, I can’t ever see Polk being an elite runner at the next level. He’ll be a solid contributor but I can’t envision him ever being someone like a Michael Turner or Brandon Jacobs in his prime.