2022 Dynasty Draft Profile: Hassan Haskins

To kick off each dynasty profile from the 2022 skill position draft class, a dated positional ranking will be presented, relevant to that prospect’s position. As profiles are published, the rankings will evolve. The number of RBs that are either declared underclassmen or seniors exhausting their eligibility – at least the ones that have publicly declared their intention to pursue a career in the NFL – currently stands at 90. And that is far from an exhaustive number with news difficult to attain on some of the many players from the FBS, FCS, Division II, etc. Without further delay, here are the top-15 RB rankings from the 2022 class as of publication:

We continue our exploration of the ‘22 class of RBs with Hassan Haskins out of the University of Michigan. Haskins ate up the high school competition in Missouri as a member of the Eureka Wildcats. He improved in every statistical category in each subsequent season as the focal point of the offense. Measuring in as a 6-foot-1, 202-pounder as a 16-year-old sophomore, Haskins generated 819 rushing yards (5.69 YPC) and seven TDs. He nearly doubled that yardage with 1,509 as a junior (6.24 YPC), more than doubled his TDs with 19 and added a 36/294/2 receiving line. Packing an additional eight pounds of muscle to his frame, Haskins erupted for 2,197 yards (8.62 YPC) and 31 TDs as a senior.

Hassan ran for 100-plus in 23-of-26 games (88.5%) over his final two seasons in Eureka, Missouri. For his efforts, Haskins was honored as the Class 6A Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-State at RB. His football pedigree didn’t magically materialize, his older brother, Maurice Alexander, played LB and strong safety at Utah State University and was selected in the fourth round of the 2014 draft by the St. Louis Rams. Alexander ended up playing six seasons in the NFL for three different teams.

Hassan also dabbled on defense during his junior and senior seasons with Eureka, assembling 59 tackles and 21 sacks. Scouting outlets buried him down the list of RBs in the 2018 class after labeling him with three-star ratings. The only Power Five programs to offer him ended up being Michigan and Purdue. Jay Harbaugh, the son of Jim Harbaugh, immediately saw Haskins’ potential and lured him to Ann Arbor. Following his exploits as a Wolverine, Haskins made his presence felt at the Combine with physical measurements most only dream about:

The only addition to Haskins’ athletic profile from Indianapolis was his 27 reps at 225 pounds – 77th percentile:

We also have the athletic measurements Haskins submitted at The Opening Regionals, presented by Nike Football to showcase the nation’s top high school talent. Testing was completed on the home field of the Browns, FirstEnergy Stadium, with Hassan participating prior to his senior season as a 17-year-old:

Among the benefits of an older brother matriculating to the NFL, we also have Maurice’s testing from the 2014 NFL Combine.

Built like a tank with tree trunks for legs, for a RB with height at the 91st percentile, it’s of massive importance that Haskins lowers his pads to protect his legs. He not only accomplishes that task, he does it well enough that he leverages quite a beating back on the defenders he encounters. In one-on-one encounters, Haskins places LBs on skates, frequently driving them back multiple yards. He may not have Zamir White’s one-cut ability — it would be insane at his size if he did — but what Haskins does possess is the actual size to have a power back’s mentality. He eats up yardage in chunks, without using the crown of his helmet as a weapon to get it done. Haskins’ approach to engaging contact clearly details his understanding of the consequences from the alternative.

Take note: this kid will deliver the punishment when it’s to his benefit. Hassan isn’t chasing after defenders, he provides more than enough evidence he’s not above getting down to avoid taking big hits. Tapping into one of his many impressive skills, Haskins possesses excellent balance when turning a corner. An edge-attacking trait he shares with Kevin Harris. And, like his brother, his Pro Day is going to reveal some explosive leaping metrics. Hassan hurdles lower tackle attempts without issue, even at his size — just check out his games against Nebraska, Michigan State, Ohio State, etc.

It’s notable how Haskins grinds his way throughout a game to assemble big outputs. One of the keys to the success is that his cutting ability is sharp enough to shift gaps, making him a lethal force with Inside Zone blocking. With the expectation that he’ll run in the low 4.5’s, it’s not out of the question that he’ll also turn out to be a weapon behind Outside Zone (stretch) blocking in the NFL. Leaving no doubt as to an area of his game that will instantly translate at the next level, Haskins joins a growing list including Kenneth Walker III, Harris and White in destroying the competition by attacking the playside edge of Man blocking.

Perhaps his superior trait – at least one of them, Haskins displays outstanding balance. With that balance in tow, he remains under control and stashes his boost in his back pocket in order to change speeds on a dime. Haskins never stops fighting for additional yardage and, like a lengthening list of RBs in this class, keeps those feet cycling until his body hits the ground.

Haskins consistently extends his off arm to feel for and push off defenders. Just don’t assume only applying one arm to secure the ball led to turnovers. Taking the fact that he never lost a fumble during his high school or collegiate career (1,183 touches) a step further, Haskins never put the ball on the ground a single time during his days as a Wolverine.

Haskins also hoards a sudden spin move within his arsenal. One would reasonably assume that a RB of Haskins’ size would be difficult to ground, and that expectation would be an appropriate assessment. He carries one-or-more defenders forward on nearly every attempt. The opposition better get their gang-tackling ready. If you try to tackle him high, he’ll carry you. If you forecast that you’re going low, he’ll jump right over you.

It wasn’t due to a lack of effort in searching, but the singular weakness in Haskins’ game from his ‘21 tape was displaying some impatience while waiting for pull blocks to develop early in games – a time when his adrenaline is obviously roaring. But that patience appeared to grow by the carry. While all of his tools may not be found among the very elite in the class, every one of them are above average. And combining them into one package results in Haskins’ imposing presence.

Short of wrapping him up at the handoff, Haskins is nearly unstoppable at the goal line when he is able to build momentum. Tapping into that explosive leaping ability yet again, Hassan will hurdle the entire pile to hit color if he gets the opportunity — see the Ohio State and Iowa games. And, another trait he shares with Harris, this kid has zero issue rebuilding momentum when forced off of his initial path. As with the other power backs analyzed in this class, you’ll find Haskins tabled alongside some of the most dominant bruisers in NFL history below. Yadda, yadda, yadda, please don’t get carried away with the name-dropping proximity.

*Three seasons of data from Eureka Senior High School and three seasons at the University of Michigan

Initially assuming the receiving work from Haskins would stand as an obvious eye sore, his hands ultimately turned out to be far better than anticipated. During his interview with John Hansen at the Combine, Haskins explained that the presence of Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards – both highly-skilled UM receivers at RB, with bright NFL futures – led the Michigan coaching staff to have him focus most of his attention toward commanding his ground game. But he still displayed an instant transition to work after the catch. There is zero doubt that Haskins could easily repeat the receiving numbers he put up in high school if his future team allows him the opportunity.

Haskins combines with Breece Hall and Harris to offer teams a tremendous trio of bruising options in the upcoming draft. Hassan may not run in the low 4.4s, but he moves a lot like Adrian Peterson. Just check out the OSU game. On one play, you have Haskins carrying up to three defenders on his back for multiple yards. Then he’s breaking defenders off at the ankles with one-cuts on the following play. And then, recalling a specific run, Haskins barrels through an off-center tackle attempt for a chunk gain, before clean-hurdling another Buckeye for additional yardage. At least on offense, Michigan doesn’t defeat Ohio State and later advance to the playoffs without Haskins.

This kid has everything. However, for whatever reason, Haskins chose to sit out the athletic testing at his UM Pro Day on March 18. Hassan will be placing all of his trust into his interviews and tape capturing the heart of a franchise. It’s still expected that Haskins will generate a considerable market — don’t believe any analysis stating otherwise — as teams will simply keep that interest close to the vest in order to avoid being forced to overpay. Dynasty junkies will want to do the exact same, just don’t expect him to fall too far in drafts against the sharps. Sans industry drafts, we will have an outstanding opportunity to build exposure to Haskins by waiting until the closing rounds. The moment his team goes searching for a durable athlete to eat up volume, we will be in serious business — of the bell-cow variety.

Attempts may be made to call his developing pass protection fundamentals into question. Let’s be serious, try asking Jonathan Taylor, Alvin Kamara, D'Andre Swift, Dalvin Cook, Joe Mixon, etc., if a lack of pass pro technique has stunted their NFL careers. Others might criticize the amount of contact Haskins absorbs. Seriously? Is there another position in the game that is asked to absorb more contact in return for their paycheck? Negatory, my friends.

Haskins is a power back. The bruising RBs listed with Haskins in the table above earned the entirety of their reputations thanks to the achievements gained through absorbing contact. The key to being a top-flight power back is avoiding significant injury. And, even at 6-foot-1 ¾ inches, Haskins has never suffered a significant injury dating back to his first game of high school. To really drive home the love for Haskins, do not discount the fact that he has dedicated a massive amount of his football career to special teams. It’s a revolution that should pay off big down the road, providing him with an extended window to claim featured opportunities.

We are still waiting on Isaiah Spiller’s March 22 Pro Day to update the Combine testing he submitted with a strained abductor muscle, but he is firmly locked into the top-eight, no matter what numbers he generates. Take it to the bank, the top-eight RBs in this class are a sight to behold.

2021 Video Recommendations: Week 2 vs. Washington, Week 5 at Wisconsin, Week 6 at Nebraska, Week 8 vs. Northwestern, Week 9 at Michigan State, Week 10 vs. Indiana, Week 11 at Penn State, Week 13 vs. Ohio State, Big Ten Championship vs. Iowa, Capital One Orange Bowl (CFP Semifinals) vs. Georgia.

Optimal Landing Spots: Washington Commanders, Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers

Film Review Comp (2021): Adrian Peterson Jr. – you haven’t heard of him? He plays just like his pops, only a touch slower.

Overall Comp (Factoring size, athleticism, tape and level of collegiate production): Gus Edwards