Evan Hull Scouting Report
Running Back, North Western Wildcats, # 26
Evan Hull Scouting Report Measurements
5-11” / 210 lbs
Evan Hull 40 time: According to Evan Hull himself he ran a 4.4 out of highschool.
Evan Hull NFL Draft Profile
Sometimes we are assigned players to scout, or hired to scout a certain player. Today it’s neither. I chose Hull as I don’t think he is getting enough recognition among the scouting community. I say this because every time I have to watch a Northwestern game, he just stands out. So let’s answer the question of who is Evan Hull first.
Evan Hull may not be a household name, but he is a name true football fans should pay attention to. Evan played high school ball for Maple Grove in Osseo, Minnesota and would earn enough attention to be named a three star recruit by 247sports. His senior season he would be named team captain and amass 1,915 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns on his way to being named the sixth best player in Minnesota. 2 years prior, in 2017, he scored 10 touchdowns and averaged 226 yards in Maple Grove’s four state-tournament games. Not too shabby.
I must point out Hull also maintained a 3.9 GPA and was targeted by great academic schools such as Northwestern and even some IVY league schools. Evan had this to say on his ncsasports recruiting page:
“I have a 3.9 GPA, and all through junior high I was an A and B honor roll student. I take high placement classes, AP US History, HP Algebra 2, and I also take HP English. Like in football, I have consistently worked hard at my academics and I believe my success in the classroom is just as important, if not more important than my success on the football field.”
Not a ton of power houses came calling, but he would eventually choose the Wildcats over offers from Kansas State, and Air Force as well as Penn, Princeton, and Yale.
College Stats
In 2022, Hull would carry the ball 221 times for 913 yards and 5 TDs. He would add on 54 receptions for 546 yards in the air with 2 more touchdowns. In the previous season, he had 196 carries for 1,009 yards and 7 TDs. Again, he was a prolific receiver out of the backfield with 33 catches, 264 yards, and 2 TDs. His 54 receptions this season led all FBS running backs and as his profile says on the team website:
“He is only the 16th player since 2000 to average over 75 rushing yards and 45 receiving yards a game over an entire season, most recently done by Travis Etienne and Saquon Barkley.”
Evan Hull Strengths
Versatility
When you watch Hull play, it takes just a few plays to see that he is more than just a running back. Hull can be utilized in a variety of ways. As his stats above show, he is more than just a ball carrier. He is regularly used out of the backfield as a receiver and he is also split out wide at times. Not many college backs have as much experience in the “X” or the “Y” role as Hull. A team looking for a versatile weapon out of the backfield need not look any further.
Intelligence
Hull has obviously taken his schooling seriously hence his statement quoted above. It is not his book smarts I’m interested in here though, it is his football IQ. Hull has shown the ability to take to a playbook and learn not just the running back position, but also the playbook for some of the receivers positions as well.
Many couch quarterbacks and stay at home GM’s think they know best, but being able to comprehend multiple positions and play them well in an NFL playbook is much harder than it may seem. Many players may have the athletic ability, but they lack the mental ability. Let me tell you that with Hull there will be no problems in this department. Go watch some game film of him reading a blitz and making the perfect block because he saw it coming. Or how about a simple option route where he has to choose his route based off of the coverage? He simply makes the right call almost always.
Vision and Patience
Hull isn’t afraid to let the play develop. You see him regularly wait for the hole to open before moving through the line. This is most evident on zone blocking plays and delayed hand offs. His ability to read and react like a linebacker on the offense allows him to slip through for steady gains. Something of importance for a player who lacks home run speed. His ability to see what the defense is doing and capitalize will allow him to regularly have positive yardage plays. Something head coaches love!
Receiver
Have we mentioned his ability to catch the ball? Hull can play all over the field and he has great hands to go with. Today’s NFL is more pass heavy than ever be, so having the ability to contribute through the air is becoming a must. Hull uses his soft hands and not his body to make plays. He isn’t as crisp a route runner as Christian McCaffrey, but he can line up as a WR and eat up zone coverage and most linebackers with his routes.
Evan Hull is also a killer in the screen game. He sells his block before breaking out to make a catch. Often he is able to cause the first defender to miss allowing him to once again gain positive yardage.
Fresh Legs
Hull has really only been the starter for the last two seasons. He has only 488 carries over his four years at Northwestern. In today’s NFL, we know running backs have short shelf lives so with his relatively light usage he should be good to contribute for years to come. Especially if he is used in a running back by committee format. Some teams covet this trait more than others, so expect to see him drafted in April for sure.
Evan Hull Weaknesses
Not a Burner
In a league that tends to love speed, Hull may leave a little bit to be desired. That being said, he is far from slow, but I don’t think he will be blowing by many teams for 80 yard scampers. He will probably run somewhere in the 4.45-4.5 range, but his ability to produce in so many other ways should more than be adequate to land him an NFL role.
Breaking Tackles
Some will disagree with me here. Especially Northwestern fans, because Hull is more than willing to lower his shoulder and take on a defender. I even think in space he can regularly make one man miss. However, at the NFL level, I don’t see him running through too many people or breaking the ankles of so many linebackers. He does however look like the type of runner who will tend to fall forward rather than be driven back thanks to his strong legs.
Evan Hull NFL Draft Stock
Hull is currently projected to go in the 5th round of the 2023 NFL Draft as you can see at NFLmockdraftdatabase. That’s probably close to where he will be drafted, but don’t be surprised to see him go sooner. Last season I felt very highly about the Texan’s Dameon Pierce, who I had in my top 5 running backs. This year, Hull is my late round guy who I have a much higher grade on. I would feel comfortable taking him at the top of the fourth round.
Final Thoughts on Evan Hull Scouting Report
Evan Hull, for me, is the type of player I want in the locker room and on the field. He seems like a consummate professional and an incredibly intelligent young man. His versatility and willingness to compete have won me over after watching all of his film. Hull should quickly put himself into a position to contribute and I have no problem making a 53 man roster.
Evan Hull Player Comparison
The player comparison is always one of the hardest parts of a report. Every player is their own and no two players are obviously the same. When you think of running backs who can line up as a receiver and truly contribute the obvious names like Christian McCaffrey or Alvin Kamara pop up. Hull isn’t quite on their level yet, he could really be a steal. I see him as an Aaron Jones type player who was very similar to Hull coming out of college. Hull will probably never produce Jones like stats, but he can play the same role.
Evan Hull Scouting Report Analyst-Ken Noble.
