Jets Scouting Long Island Native Running Back at NFL Combine?
With the NFL Scouting Combine just hours from its commencement, the New York Jets contingent will be hard at work in scouting potential prospects in April’s draft.
Though the collective eyes of the fan base, and perhaps the scouts, focused on improving Gang Green’s beleaguered offensive line, New York will also be searching for some pass-catchers to make life a bit easier for starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
The team's receivers jointly struggled last season due to poor quarterback play [in the wake of Rodgers’ season-ending ACL tear in Week 1] and ineffective talent management. In fact, Pro Football Focus ranked them 31 of 32 NFL teams. The exception to the rule, star receiver Garrett Wilson, caught 95 passes for 1,042 yards and three touchdowns.
Though the team would undoubtedly enjoy tapping into a deep well of talent at the receiver position, they might be well-suited to scout the services of a backfield receiver at the running back in the mid-to-late rounds.
One player on which Jets fans may want to keep watch is University of New Hampshire running back Dylan Laube.
Butch Dill/Associated Press
A native of Long Island, Laube began his football journey at Westhampton Beach High School. He ran for 2,680 yards as a senior and co-won the Hansen Award in 2017.
Due to his explosive burst and sure hands, Laube has the chance to become a solid fit within a Rodgers-led Jets’ offense. At 6-1, 225 he is well-sized and sufficiently-skilled to settle into a change-of-pace role at the pro level. In 2023, Laube averaged 4.5 yards per carry for 715 yards and nine touchdowns. He showed impressive receiving ability as well, recording 68 catches for 699 yards and seven scores. Still, his best season actually came as a junior at New Hampshire, when he averaged 4.9 yards per carry for 1,205 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also caught 49 passes that season for 464 yards and two scores. Laube clearly impressed both scouts and media members during Bowl practices and could be a smart fit for New York — who has a need for a versatile pass-catcher and situational rusher.
Most importantly for Laube, he would be coming back home to Jets Country.
"Being able to stay home and live my dream back home would be so awesome," Laube told newyorkjets.com earlier this month. "You see a lot of big-time lacrosse players, but there's not a bunch of football players that make it out and get to the NFL. I think when we see a Long Island kid make it through, especially go to the Jets, you become a huge fan again and you kind of have the whole state and Island around you."
Despite the presence of feature back Breece Hall, New York is entering 2024 a bit thin at the position — especially when it comes to deploying a pass-catcher out of the backfield. Unsurprisingly, Hall led the way in the category last season by catching 76 passes for 591 yards and four touchdowns. The production dropped significantly thereafter, with Dalvin Cook (who was released in December) catching 15 throws for 78 yards and Michael Carter [released in November] who also earned 15 receptions for 68 yards. Neither Cook, nor Carter logged a receiving touchdown.
Behind Hall, the Jets currently employ Israel Abanikanda, Xazavian Valladay and Jacques Patrick on their running back depth chart.
