Denver Broncos: Bruce Anderson a possible day three steal

The Denver Broncos should be in the market for running backs on day three of the 2019 NFL Draft. Bruce Anderson is a prime candidate.

The Denver Broncos very rarely take players from small schools in the NFL Draft, but North Dakota State is not your typical small school. They are an FCS powerhouse.

Bruce Anderson is also not your typical small school running back.

In the past three draft classes, the Broncos have taken players from mostly ‘Power Five’ schools, but they did take some shots in 2017 on smaller school players like Brendan Langley (Lamar) and De’Angelo Henderson (Coastal Carolina).

The ‘smallest’ school represented in the 2018 Draft class was SMU where Courtland Sutton played.

A dual-threat player coming out of high school as a running back and safety, Anderson made his way to North Dakota State all the way from Florida. That’s a bit of a culture shock, to be certain.

He made an immediate impact for the Bison on special teams, averaging almost 37 yards per kick return on 16 returns with two touchdowns. He showed very early on that he’s a gamer and is not only willing but able to do whatever it takes to help his team win.

Not only is he exceptional as a returner, but Anderson is a phenomenal all-around back, capable of beating defenders with physicality, elusiveness, and acceleration. He is more than willing to stick his nose out for a big block in pass protection or even on designed quarterback runs, and he’s a very good receiver out of the backfield.

He put together two straight seasons with over 1,100 yards from scrimmage and 27 total touchdowns from 2017-18.

This might be the most impressive touchdown run I have seen while scouting a running back.

The Denver Broncos don’t have a pressing need for a running back but a player like Anderson would be a nice luxury to add on day three.

Royce Freeman battled through an ankle injury his rookie season and Phillip Lindsay had wrist surgery, ending his rookie season prematurely.

I’m not going to speak ill of the Broncos’ running back stable, but it’s not a bad idea for John Elway to ask his scouts about some backs who have flashed.

It will be interesting to see what the 5-foot-11, 210-pound is able to do in pre-draft workouts. He plays extremely fast on tape and is not only capable of running past guys but through them.

There are things to consider here with Anderson having played at the FCS level but he’s a talented back and he plays with a chip on his shoulder. He would be a great pickup for the Broncos as a day-three option in the 2019 NFL Draft.