Isaiah Pead has an initial step out of his stance that is comparable to some of the best backs currently in the league. He hits the hole explosively and gets up to top speed quickly, which allows him to get upfield and find a seam without getting touched - After destroying two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin’s 35-year old high school record by rushing for 2,204 yards (Griffin had 1,787) and 39 touchdowns as a senior at Eastmoor Academy in Columbus, Ohio, Pead’s abilities were hardly a secret as he entered college. Using exceptional bursts of straightaway speed, he kept right on running in at Cincinnati, where he started 26 of his 44 games, carried 545 times for 3,288 yards (6.03 per carry) and 27 touchdowns and caught 87 passes for 721 yards. If that wasn’t enough to convince scouts, he put on a show of footwork at the Senior Bowl, including punt returns of 60 and 38 yards. At the scouting combine he validated his athleticism with a 40-yard time of 4.47 seconds and a vertical jump of 33 inches. Toughness is not is forte as Pead prefers to elude rather than hit, but can run through arm tackles. His versatility as runner, receiver returner should be considered.
POST-CINCINNATI: Named MVP of the 2012 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. … set a Senior Bowl record with 98 punt return yards … also carried the ball eight times for a North team-high 31 yards … participated in the 2012 All-Star Football Challenge during Super Bowl week in Indianapolis, Ind. … selected to participate in the 2012 NFL Combine.
2011: The 2011 BIG EAST Conference Offensive Player of the Year and AutoZone Liberty Bowl Most Valuable Player … claimed Offensive Player of the Year honors and was a first-team All-BIG EAST selection in 2011 after leading the conference with 1,259 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns … averaged 96.85 yards per contest, which ranked 27th best in the nation this season and added 319 receiving yards and three more scores for a total of 15 on the year … capped off the year with an MVP performance in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, going for 149 yards and a touchdown in the Bearcats’ win over Vanderbilt … leaves Cincinnati ranked third on the school’s all-time list with 3,288 rushing yards and 27 rushing touchdowns … ranks in the top ten in several other rushing categories including attempts (545, 6th), 100-yard games (11, 6th), 200-yard games (1, T-3rd) and rushing average (6.03 ypc-4th) … also ranks tied for second with 33 total touchdowns and tied for seventh for total points with 198 … opened up the season with 87 yards on seven carries for two touchdowns against Austin Peay … scampered for a 40-yard TD on his first touch of the game … had a 65-yard TD run on his first touch at Tennessee … finished with 155 yards on 14 carries along with a touchdown … had six carries for 15 yards and a TD in limited action against Akron toted the ball 27 times for a season-high 167 yards and a TD against NC State … also added three catches for 24 yards and a touchdown … had a pair of touchdowns on 49 yards rushing at Miami (OH) … ran for 151 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown against Louisville … his 50-yard touchdown scamper late in the game handed UC the lead for good … named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week following the UofL game … caught four balls for 48 yards and a touchdown along with 79 yards rushing on 22 carries at USF … ran for 118 yards on 22 carries at Pittsburgh … carried the ball 19 times for 113 yards and two TDs against West Virginia … also had five catches for 67 yards … finished with 28 yards rushing at Rutgers … had a career-high nine catches for a career-best 112 yards receiving and a touchdown at Syracuse … also carried 17 times for 80 yards and a touchdown … returned his first two career punts against the Orange, including a career-best 34 yarder … finished with 68 yards against Connecticut … had a season-best 28 carries for 149 yards and a touchdown in the 2011 AutoZone Liberty Bowl against Vanderbilt.