Prospect Bio

Isiah Pacheco was a two-way player at Vineland High School in New Jersey, garnering all-state honors on both offense and defense as a senior. He was a three-star recruit that didn’t receive a lot of attention. He opted for Rutgers where he ran 111 times for 551 yards and three touchdowns during his true freshman season. Starting 10 of 11 games in 2019, Pacheco led the team in rushing with 729 yards and seven touchdowns on 169 carries.  He added 13 receptions for 83 yards. It was more of the same in 2020 when he started all nine games and rushed for 515 yards on 116 carries and added another 130 yards on 19 receptions. Pacheco was named honorable mention all-conference after leading the Scarlet Knights in rushing for the third-straight season in 2021. He ran 167 times for 647 yards and five touchdowns. 

College Stats

Isiah Pacheco College Stats Courtesy of sports-reference

Positives

+Size

+Led the team in rushing in three-straight seasons

+Runs with urgency

+18 kick returns in 2018

+4.37 40-time; 98th-percentile Speed Score (PlayerProfiler.com)

+9.6% reception share in 2020

+31.8% best season touchdown share

Negatives

-Impatient

-32nd-percentile Burst Score (PlayerProfiler.com)

-4.1 YPC

-Never had a 20-catch season

-0.98 best season yards per team play 

Highlight Reel

Comparable Player: Anthony McFarland

NFL Draft Projection:Late Day 3/UDFA

Yards Per-Formance Grade: 46.5

Bottom Line:

Isiah Pacheco has a unique running style with his feet moving a mile-a-minute and a high sense of urgency to get to the next level. He likely won’t offer much production in the passing game but he’s competent as a check-down option. His speed allows him to be more than a between the tackles grinder and makes him an intriguing late-round pick in dynasty rookie drafts.

Post Draft Analysis:

Isiah Pacheco has a real chance to earn an opportunity in the Chiefs offense. With the other backs on the team being Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Ronald Jones, and Derrick Gore, it’s not hard to envision an athletic back like Pacheco coming in, impressing the coaches, and creating a role for himself.

Yards Per-Formance Prospect Grade

Resources: DLF, PlayerProfiler, PFN, PFF, TDN