With their first selection in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts selected running back Nyheim Hines.
Hines, a 5’9″, 196 pound running back from NC State, played three seasons for the Wolfpack. In his career, he had 258 rushing attempts, 1400 rushing yards, and 13 rushing touchdowns. He also had 89 receptions, 933 receiving yards, and one receiving touchdown. He also played as a kick and punt returner during his time at NC State.
Hines’ best trait as a runner is his speed. He recorded the fastest 40-yard dash time for a running back this year, doing it in 4.38 seconds. This is the first skill position player that general manager Chris Ballard has selected in this draft.
Hines will compete for playing time in the backfield with Marlon Mack, Matt Jones, Josh Ferguson, and others. At best, he will likely split time with Marlon Mack in his rookie season. He could also compete for snaps on the special teams units, considering his experience returning kicks and punts in college.
Although the Colts do have many running backs on their roster, this is a smart pick by Chris Ballard. None of the running backs on the Colts roster have proven to be a consistent NFL starter, and maybe Hines can step in and be that guy.
Being a fourth round pick, Hines has some weaknesses. He sometimes struggled with drops in his college career, and also may not be a great pass-blocker in the NFL because of his small stature. However, his speed should make him at worst, a solid special teamer, and potentially, a quality running back similar to Darren Sproles.