Las Vegas Raiders: Ten 2021 NFL Draft Sleepers to know

Las Vegas Raiders: Ten 2021 NFL Draft Sleepers to know

Kene Nwangwu: Running Back, Iowa State

• Consensus Ranking: Not Ranked

Iowa State has been a good spot for running back in recent years with David Montgomery and now Breece Hall. But sandwiched in between them is a raw but incredibly talented player in Kene Nwangwu.

The Raiders were looking for speed when they signed Kenyan Drake this offseason to pair with Josh Jacobs. But when it comes to speed, there may not be a faster player in this entire draft than Nwangwu. He clocked a 4.29 at the Iowa State pro day along with a 37” vertical and 6.75 three-cone. So not only is he fast, but he’s also able to change direction, which is not always the case—all of these numbers by a guy who is 6’1 and 210 lbs.

Nwangwu came to Iowa State extremely raw as more of a track athlete than a football player, so it has taken time for him to learn the game. A torn Achilles in 2017 set him back, but he proved from his pro day that it didn’t hamper his athleticism one bit. Nwangwu got a few more opportunities to carry the ball in 2020, and the physical talent is very apparent. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry and broke off plenty of long runs to show off the speed.

The Raiders do not need any running back help, but in the 7th round or even as a UDFA, Nwangwu is a prospect worth taking a flyer on. Elite athleticism like that is not ordinary, and there are almost zero treads on the tires for him. Perhaps he could become a Raheem Mostert level steal.