Even when a defense knew Kimani Vidal was going to be handed the ball, it was tough to stop the running back out of Troy.
Against Kansas State this past season, the Trojans possessed the ball at their own 30-yard line on second-and-8 while trailing 28-10 late in the third quarter. Eight Kansas State defenders lined up in the box, ready for Troy’s ground attack, but that proved to be inconsequential.
Vidal spotted a seam in the offensive line and turned up field in an instant. He only needed one second after taking the handoff to cross the line to gain, and he picked up quite a few more yards before finally being taken down.
Vidal is an explosive player and can gain yards when his team badly needs them, even when a defense’s focus is on him.
“I can run between the tackles well, pass block, and catch out of the backfield,” Vidal said at the NFL Combine. “I would say I’m the best three-down back there is in this draft.”
Where Did Kimani Vidal Get Drafted?
Vidal was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He was selected with the 181st overall pick.
Vidal brings a lot to the table. The former Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year was one of the best Group of Five running backs the past couple years. His performances at the NFL Combine and Senior Bowl prove he has the traits of a good pro running back and can play well against elite competition.
“I think the Sun Belt is one of the best conferences there is. It’s almost like a bloodbath every Saturday. It’s competitive, physical, and it’s fast. I think it’s one of the best,” Vidal said. “It’s very physical. A lot of guys understand the game. It’s not a whole of big-name guys, but it’s a lot of guys who can play football really well.”
What Was Kimani Vidal’s 40 Time?
Vidal ran the 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds at the NFL Combine, which was sixth among running backs.
He was top 10 at his position in every measurable drill. He was fourth in the 20-yard shuttle (4.15 seconds), fifth in the three-cone (7.01 seconds), sixth in the vertical jump (37.5 inches), and ninth in the broad jump (10 feet) and bench press (18 reps).
Kimani Vidal’s Stats And Highlights
Vidal put together an impressive career at Troy. This past season, he ran for 1,661 yards, which ranked second in the FBS, and 14 touchdowns while adding 201 yards and a score on 18 receptions.
The 5-foot-8, 213-pound running back earned all-conference accolades going all the way back to his freshman year in 2020. That year, he ran for 516 yards and four touchdowns on 101 carries on his way to all-conference honorable mention accolades.
He earned All-Sun Belt honorable mention honors again in 2021 as he ran for 701 yards and five touchdowns on 152 attempts. In 2022, he recorded 1,132 yards, which was third in the conference, and 10 touchdowns, which was tied for fourth, as he averaged 4.9 yards per carry on 231 attempts.
“Coach (Jon) Sumrall made us better people, better men,” Vidal said. “And I feel like that more so prepares you for life, not necessarily being a professional athlete but really just being a great person overall will help me.”
Kimani Vidal’s NFL Comparison And Draft Profile
I project Vidal’s playing style in the NFL will be similar to Maurice Jones-Drew. Vidal said he emulates his game after him, and it’s easy to see why.
Like Jones-Drew was when he played, Vidal has been compared to a bowling ball on the field. He’s not a tall running back, but he’s explosive and isn’t easy to take down.
Vidal runs with determination. He showed impressive balance as he bounced off of countless tackles in college and wouldn’t go down after the first tackle attempt very often.
In fact, according to Pro Football Focus, Vidal tied for second in the country with 1,056 yards after contact and was also second with 94 missed tackles forced this past season. He ranked seventh in PFF’s overall grades of running backs.
Vidal obviously has the speed to get to the edge and break off long runs. He led the nation with 47 rushes of 10-plus yards. But he did occasionally get chased down in the open field.
He said he’s put a recent emphasis on learning more about defenses and what they’re trying to take away. That knowledge has helped him, as he often is two or three steps ahead of his opponents. He uses that to his advantage to set them up and run one way before juking or cutting the other way.
“A one-cut (running back),” Vidal said when he was asked to describe his playing style. “Being able to hit the hole, make guys miss in tight spaces, and make big plays.”
