If Rasheen Ali proved anything during his Marshall career, it’s that he isn’t easy to take down.
During a game against Georgia Southern, Marshall had the ball on its own 30-yard line midway through the third quarter on first-and-10. Ali lined up behind center in the wildcat formation, so the defense likely had an idea of what was coming.
But the Thundering Herd running back gained yards anyway. He ran into a defender near the line of scrimmage, then bounced off of that potential tackle and ran to his right.
There, he found open space. He cut upfield as his teammate blocked for him near the sideline to help him gain a first down.
And just a few minutes later, Ali finished a drive off by punching in a 1-yard touchdown run.
Ali was one of the top Sun Belt running backs last season. And now he could be on his way to making an impact in the NFL this year.
Where Did Rasheen Ali Get Drafted?
Ali was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He was selected with the 165th overall pick.
Rasheen Ali’s Stats And Highlights
Ali was an all-conference running back in both the Sun Belt and Conference USA.
As a freshman in 2021, he ran for 1,401 yards, which ranked 10th in the country, and 23 touchdowns, which tied for first in the nation, on 250 carries. He added 334 yards and a touchdown on 45 catches and was on the All-CUSA first team.
He missed most of the next season due to injury. However, he still rushed for 273 yards and a touchdown, including 92 yards and a score on 15 carries against UConn to help him become the MVP of the Myrtle Beach Bowl that season.
This past year, he tied for 11th in the FBS with 15 touchdowns on the ground while rushing for 1,135 yards on 212 attempts as he made the All-Sun Belt second team. He also caught 28 passes for 213 yards and another score.
Rasheen Ali’s NFL Comparison And Draft Profile
I project Ali’s playing style in the NFL will be similar to Joe Mixon, who now plays for the Houston Texans. Both are well-rounded players who can help offenses in myriad ways.
Ali is a tough runner between the tackles. Among running backs in this draft class with at least 60 carries, Ali was 25th in the country with 536 yards after contact.
He’s also explosive, as he was 12th in the nation with a 47.5% breakaway percentage. He tied for 23rd in the FBS with 24 runs of 10-plus yards and tied Blake Corum of Michigan for 28th with 13 carries of 15-plus yards. He also ranked 17th with 52 first downs.
Ali has great vision and is patient, as he’s willing to allow blocks to develop. He also does a good job of mixing up his speed in the open field, which makes him tough to chase down.
As proven with his receiving stats, he can also help a team through the air. He’s obviously skilled in the open field, and over the past three years at Marshall he had just seven drops, so he’s a dependable pass catcher as well.
While his injury history might give franchises some apprehension, Ali is clearly a capable playmaker and could be a helpful addition for an NFL roster.
