RB Rankings: Ulysses Bentley

Updated: 01/20/2022

With the season underway players have had the opportunity to raise their stock and move up the rankings. Before we jump into Ulysses Bentley, here’s a few reminders about the rankings themselves:

• The rankings will be updated throughout the season.
• Players who have not played college football are not eligible for the rankings.
• Players are graded on their college ability, not their pro potential.
• We are judging players on their film, production and physical tools.

You can view the College Football RB Rankings here.

SMU running back, Ulysses Bentley has been a play-maker for the Mustangs since the 2020 season. He burst on the scene with a 227 yard game against North Texas in week two of the 2020 season and has been an impact player since. He was been a key part of the offense in 2021 and turned in a 20 carry 153 yard performance in a week 4 win over TCU. An injury in the middle of the season limited Bentley’s availability and he rushed for 610 yards and 4 touchdowns on 90 carries to go with 19 catches for 90 yards and a touchdown as a receiver. Bentley is a star for SMU and has become one of the best running backs in college football.

Bentley has excellent vision and patience in the backfield. He understands the blocking schemes in front of him and does a good of allowing the play to develop. Bentley sets up his blocks and finds the hole as it develops with a quick burst that helps him get through the line quickly. He does not panic in the backfield and will wait for the defense to get itself out of position then find a cutback lane or a crease on the outside. Bentley has an innate ability to feel where the opening is and take advantage of it before the defense can get back in position.

Bentley is light on his feet, displaying the ability to change speed and direction effortlessly. He gets defenders off balance with his hesitation move and accelerates past them before they can react. Bentley has the ability to make defenders miss in tight spaces, dancing through the defense and creating lanes that would not otherwise exist. He has big play ability because as good as he is at getting to the second level with his patience and vision, he is equally effective making defenders miss in space and turning a good play into a great one.

Bentley is not the biggest back, but shows some pop at the end of his runs and can break some tackles. He is difficult to square up which accentuates his ability to break tackles. Bentley is a good receiver out of the backfield and has been a weapon for the SMU passing game. He has become a force in the backfield who can take over games with his running ability or in the passing game.

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