5th-round RB Wendell Smallwood answers for checkered past

Wendell Smallwood (West Virginia) — One of the better pass-catching running backs in the draft, he recorded the fastest three-cone drill at the combine (6.83) after a 2015 season in which he was named the team's Offensive Player of the Year (1,519

West Virginia running back Wendell Smallwood has garnered interest from the NFL's top passing offenses during the pre-draft process, and the New England Patriots reside within that group. According to ESPN Boston's Mike Reiss, New England's “level of 

Wendell Smallwood will be carrying the ball for the INSERT TEAM after they selected Smallwood with the INSERT OVERALL PICK NUMBER in the INSERT ROUND. Smallwood saw his stock rise through the pre-draft process after impressing NFL scouts and 

At West Virginia's pro day Monday, the junior running back posted a 4.4 according to the school's chart. Smallwood heard more encouraging results from NFL onlookers, including Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, whose times showed 4.37 to 4.39.

Smallwood showed tremendous short-area breakaway ability last season. He led all running backs with 100 or more carries in percentage of rushes that gained 5 or more yards (50.9 percent) and had the second-highest percentage of rushes that gained 10